Process for manufacturing and finishing improved engineered wood siding

. A manufacturing process for producing a strand-based product, comprising the steps of:

• blending cellulosic strands with one or more additives or chemicals;
• forming a base mat from said cellulosic strands, said base comprising at least a bottom layer of cellulosic strands, a core layer of cellulosic strands, and a top layer of cellulosic strands;
• applying one or more layers on the top layer of the base mat, said one or more layers comprising
• a fines layer, said fines comprising wood particles smaller in size than the cellulosic strands and separate from the core layer, wherein the fines layer has a basis weight from about 225 pounds per thousand square feet to about 300 pounds per thousand square feet;
• a first overlay layer;
• and
• a second overlay layer;
• applying heat and pressure to the base mat, the first overlay layer, and the second overlay layer in a pressing process to form a board, wherein the pressing process comprises application of a plate to produce an embossment on the upper surface of the board;
• and
• applying, in a factory during a manufacturing process, a paint primer layer to the embossed upper surface of the board, wherein the paint primer contains a fine aggregate adapted to provide light diffraction of the embossed upper surface.