Exterior Cladding & Siding

Use the red-to-green product guidance below to select safer product types by avoiding those in red and preferring yellow and green, which are safer for occupants, fenceline communities, and workers.

When choosing cladding and siding:

• Prefer plant-based materials (wood, cork), and mineral-based materials (stone, terra cotta, brick, ceramic, plaster/stucco), or certain metals.
• Avoid plastic products (vinyl/PVC, phenolic, polypropylene/polymeric, polycarbonate, polyurethane).
• If mortar is specified, identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate its use. These may include:
  • Mechanically anchored installations of materials like modular brick, concrete masonry unit (CMU veneer), and stone
  • Preferring thinset over thickset
• Pay attention to coatings and finishes.
  • Avoid PVDF, FEVE, and other fluoropolymer coatings which contain per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals”
  • Prefer water-based coatings over solvent- or oil-based coatings
  • Prefer mineral silicate and lime-based paints where they can be used
  • Avoid anti-graffiti coatings, which can contain PFAS
  • Avoid sealing stone and portland-cement based products with oil-repelling sealers