Chestnut bark was once a popular choice for home siding, until a blight killed off nearly the entire species in North America in the 1940s. Today, poplar bark is a top choice and provides rustic beauty as well as effective protection from the elements.

To harvest the bark, a kerf, or groove, is cut down the length of a newly cut log, and the bark is actually pried and peeled off. The curved bark is then stacked, flattened and air-dried. When the bark siding is applied, a vapor barrier placed behind it helps prevent moisture buildup and deterioration.