As some of the area's oldest structures, German Village's frame buildings accent its historic character. A number of these frame structures are still protected by their original siding and there is considerable diversity in design and appearance. The earliest and most common siding is beveled siding. Another form of siding is overlapping wood shingles shown in photo 14.
Wood siding requires some maintenance and regular painting.
Aluminum or vinyl siding may require cleaning, its color may fade, and repair is extremely difficult. Artificial siding comes in standard designs and dimensions that often do not match historic material, especially in width. Dampness caused by leaking gutters or water pipes, or from improperly installed insulation, can build up behind unvented artificial siding. This results in dry rot of wood members, peeling paint, or damaged plaster. Artificial siding eventually needs to be painted and extensively cleaned and repaired.