Dutch lap has a curved or beveled notch at the top of each board that casts a deeper shadow. Traditional lap has a flat face with a crisp, simpler shadow line.
Get My Free Estimate →Dutch lap siding has a curved notch along the top of each board, which casts a deep shadow line and gives the wall a more textured, traditional look. Traditional lap siding has a flat, straight face with a crisp, simpler shadow line.
The difference is how the siding looks, not how it performs. In the same material and product line, both profiles shed water the same way and install over the same house wrap.
Buckshot installs vinyl siding in both profiles as part of our siding replacement work. This guide compares the two so you can choose the look that suits your home.
What Dutch lap siding is
Dutch lap is a horizontal siding profile with a curved or beveled notch at the top of each board. LP, a siding maker, describes it as having a curved notch at the top of each board, with deep shadow lines and a textured appearance.
Our vinyl siding page describes the same feature as a beveled shadow line at the top of each course, for added depth. The notch makes each board read as two shapes, a shadowed groove and a flat face below it.
What traditional lap siding is
Traditional lap siding, also called straight lap or clapboard style, is a horizontal profile with a flat face on each board. Each board overlaps the one below, which leaves a clean line at the bottom edge.
LP describes straight lap as clean, flat boards installed horizontally, with crisp shadow lines and a subtle, modern look.
Dutch lap vs traditional lap at a glance
| Factor | Dutch lap | Traditional lap |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Curved or beveled notch at the top of each board | Flat, straight face |
| Shadow line | Deep | Crisp and subtle |
| Overall look | Textured, traditional | Clean, timeless |
| Home styles it suits | Colonial and suburban | Farmhouse and contemporary |
| Most common in | Vinyl siding | Vinyl and engineered wood |
| Performance in the same material | The same | The same |
Which profile suits your home
Choose by the style of the house and the look you want up close. LP notes that Dutch lap suits colonial and suburban homes, while straight lap suits farmhouse and contemporary homes.
Many homes pair a lap profile on the main walls with shakes or board and batten in the gables. Our guide to board and batten siding covers that vertical look.
Durability, weather and cleaning
In vinyl, both profiles are the same material and are hung the same way, so they hold up the same in Wisconsin weather. The panel's thickness and product line matter far more than the profile, as our guide to vinyl siding cost in Wisconsin explains.
Both profiles clean the same way with a soft brush and a mild cleaner, as our guide to cleaning vinyl siding explains. Look closely at a sample before you choose, so you know how the notch looks on your walls.
If you want a wood look in a lap profile, engineered wood siding is another option, and LP lists its engineered wood with the straight lap profile.
Choosing a siding profile for your home? Our siding estimate is free, and you can compare profiles and colors before you decide.
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Matching an existing siding profile
If only part of the house is being re-sided, the new siding has to match the profile, exposure and color already on the walls. A Dutch lap wall patched with straight lap boards shows at once.
That matching problem is a common issue after storm damage, as our guide on whether insurance will replace all your siding explains. A full replacement lets you pick a new profile without matching anything.
What to ask at your siding estimate
These questions help you compare the profiles fairly.
- Can I see both profiles in the same color and product line?
- What exposure, meaning the height of each visible course, does each profile come in?
- Is there a price difference between the two in this product line?
- How will the trim and corners look with each profile?
If your siding is cracked, faded or loose, our guide to the signs siding needs replacing helps you decide whether it is time.
Get a free siding estimate
Buckshot Exteriors is family-owned, has served homeowners since 1979, and has offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Centerville, Iowa. We install vinyl and other siding types in the profile that suits your home, and our on-site estimate is free.
Call (608) 909-9109 to schedule your free estimate, or send us a message and we will set a time. If you would rather look first, note which profile the homes you like on your street have.
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