Allura

Allura siding is fiber cement siding for the outside of a house or light commercial building. You can choose primed siding for painting on the job or Spectrum prefinished siding to take that painting stage out of the installation schedule.

Allura also goes by Allura USA, and its legal company name is Plycem USA LLC. The company manufactures fiber cement exterior building products. Its siding range includes wood-grain textures.

Choose the wall pattern and finish together

Horizontal lap gives you familiar overlapping courses, architectural panels give you larger uninterrupted areas, and cedar-look shingles give you a smaller repeating pattern that works well as an accent. Choose the main wall pattern first, then decide whether the gables need a different texture.

Primed siding suits a job where painting on site is already part of the plan. Spectrum comes prefinished, which removes the preparation and painting stage after installation. That’s a useful scheduling advantage. With primed siding, allow for preparation and painting after the boards are installed.

For color, a physical sample beside the roof, masonry and window frames tells you more than a screen image. A color that looks quiet on a little sample can dominate a whole wall. Compare it outside in both sun and shade.

Cut edges need attention with either finish

Have the right edge treatment ready when cutting starts. Allura requires every cut edge on primed products to be sealed with 100% acrylic latex paint or primer. Every cut edge on Spectrum products requires Allura Spectrum touchup paint.

Match the warranty to the siding and coating

Allura lists a 30-year transferable limited product warranty for plank, panel, soffit and shake. The coating has its own warranty, so both belong in the decision. Match the product and coating entries below to the exact siding and finish you’re specifying.

Plan the installation before the boards go up

The installer’s familiarity with the specified siding matters because handling, cutting and wall preparation affect the finished job. Allura recommends rigid sheathing for a smooth, flat surface and warns that wall irregularities can show through. Straighten the wall before covering it, and install the water-resistive barrier with flashing at penetrations and junctions.

Installing wet boards is a mistake worth preventing. Allura warns that wet or saturated boards can develop open butt or end joints and other problems after installation. Keep siding covered, flat and off the ground, and let saturated pieces dry completely before installing them.

Protecting a prefinished face during handling is easier than repairing damage after installation. Keep the slip sheets between Spectrum pieces, lift boards instead of sliding them against each other, and carry them on their narrow edge with even support.

Cutting fiber cement can release fine dust containing crystalline silica. Plan dust control before work starts, and follow Allura’s cutting instructions and the product Safety Data Sheet. Keep power-saw cutting and grinding outdoors, as Allura requires.

Product and finish specifications

Product or finish	Specification
Siding material	Fiber cement
Finish options	Primed or Spectrum prefinished
Primed cut-edge treatment	100% acrylic latex paint or primer
Spectrum cut-edge treatment	Allura Spectrum touchup paint only
Plank, panel, soffit and shake product warranty	30-year transferable limited warranty
Spectrum coating warranty	15-year transferable limited warranty
Spectrum The Wood Series coating warranty	20-year transferable limited warranty
TerraPlank product warranty	25-year transferable limited warranty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Allura siding?

Allura siding is fiber cement exterior cladding with options that give you the look of wood grain. The manufacturer describes it as resistant to rot, termites and hail damage. That hail resistance isn’t a promise that a severe storm can’t damage it.

What colors does Allura siding come in?

Allura offers colors and stains across much of its range, with Spectrum providing a system for coordinating and matching colors. Custom colors are offered in most markets. You shouldn’t assume every color comes in every siding style.

Does Allura make shake siding?

Yes. Allura offers cedar-look shingles, and its TerraPlank line includes shake products. You get the cedar look in fiber cement, so you’re choosing a wood appearance rather than a wood shingle.

What warranty comes with Allura siding?

The warranty depends on the product and finish you choose. Allura lists a 30-year transferable limited product warranty for plank, panel, soffit and shake, while TerraPlank has a separate 25-year transferable limited product warranty. TerraPlank’s terms exclude labor and accessory-material costs, so the warranty length alone doesn’t tell you what a repair could leave you paying.

Does Allura have a siding installation guide?

Yes. Allura’s guide covers single-family residential and light commercial structures and is intended to work with your project drawings and specifications. One handling detail worth planning for: products wider than 24 inches should always be carried by two people. Installation that doesn’t follow the written requirements can affect performance and void the product warranty.