appropriate installation of barnboard
Can I get the F.H.B. online community’s opinion of something that I have grave doubts about? I am working with a homeowner who is serving as his own general contractor on a new house. He has found some old barn board, (what condition is it in? Don’t know. I haven’t seen it yet) He wants to install it vertically, like board and batten, leaving a quarter inch gap, but without the battens. It will be over osb/plywood covered with typar. The housewrap was used on another part of the job, so it is not in perfect shape. I think he will have water and insect infiltration issues, possible uv damage, and possible freeze/thaw issues if water gets back there in a thaw, then freezes. This project is in Ontario Canada, in a windy, exposed location. This is keeping me up at night. Am I over-reacting? Thank you for reading and thinking about this.
Replies
What are these, 1x10s or 1x12s? Leaving the housewrap exposed thru the gaps is foolish, I would not touch that if I were you. If he wants "reverse" board and batten then battens go on first and the boards nail over them. In general, vertical siding is a whole 'nother thing and requires a fair amount of forethought. We are doing a big B&B job now and we have a lot of horizontal blocking in the walls, over and under windows, etc. You can't just tack a bunch of 1x12 to the sheathing and expect it to stay there.
I agree with the post above. Housewrap is NOT meant for permanent exposure and wind-driven rain is almost certainly going to get behind the siding and cause havoc.
I also agree that vertical siding requires horizontal blocking or exterior horizontal girts for proper nailing.
Insist on board on batton (reverse) or batton on board (better, as this allows movement of the boards and minimizes splitting if boards are nailed only one side or in center).
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
why on earth would someone want to do that?
just more more thought ... any hopes it's vertical lap siding?
last barn I worked on had that ... no need for battens.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa