Hello all.
I’m removing the aluminum siding from my house and I want to salvage the cedar shakes on my house. Before you say that’s a bad idea, I simply can’t afford to replace with new. I was going to sand them with one of these –
Most seem to be in great shape except for some nail holes. Any rotten shakes will be replaced with new. I lucked out and found them at my local HD. Not all of the stores carry them. Anyway, what is the best wood filler to use for these small holes? Also, as far as stain goes, is good old minwax good or could you recommend something that works/lasts better/longer? I decided to go with a stain instead of paint thinking the shake may warp if only painted on one side-hoping it wont do the same with stain. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
Replies
Whether you can afford new siding or not, it is still a bad idea. Those shakes/shigles will split on every nail hole, sooner or later and they have been compromised by that.
Your time is better spent at your day job and saving for new siding, instead of pizzin in the wind and THEN having to reside.
Sorry, but thems the facts, jack.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
You're thinking those big fat ugly aluminum nails poked too big a hole in the shingles?
Oughta be a law agin that....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Actually, I wonder why he took down the alum to begin with..did he know he had cedar behind there?
And who's the dipstick at HD that told him they stock "the shakes" ( I question that BIG TIME, they stock starter shingles and shims, in cedar, AFAIK) and go head and fill the holes and stain the old AFTER you strip and replace the ROTTED ones..
WTF? Is this a test?Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
Hey--if the dipstick knew anything, would he be working at Gnome Creepo?
The OP probably took down the aluminum because it made him nauseous when he looked at it. Now he wants the house to look the way it was designed to look...but he's a bit short in the pocketbook department (a not unknown scenario) and is looking for a magic bullet.
Can ya blame him? At least he had the smarts to come here for a second opinion....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Tru-datSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
I have no idea whether it is a good idea in this case, but there is a house on the waterfront in a little town about ten miles down the road that has 50 year old shake siding. The owner removed and turned them over about 20 years ago and they still look fine. Old growth cedar with butts a good 1".
Thank you all for your replies. I think that's a great idea with the caulk and I think I may go that route with a solid stain or paint. I'll also check some lumberyards and see if I can get better cedar shingles than the one's I picked up at HD, and I'll also check the price. HD has them for $90.00 for 25-30 shingles. Can't remember exactly at the moment. The HD in Milltown, NJ is the only one close by that sells them. (It's not undercourse). Unfortunately, I don't have any close up pics of the shingles, but I'll see if I can take one. I've attached a pic of the back of the house that has a fairly good view of them. As far as why I'm removing the aluminum siding is the simple fact that I don't like it. It's banged up, and is not the narrow kind. I need a new roof. I had to remove it to repair the soffit built in gutter and the insulation behind was wet and stinky. As was I when I was done. I should note the cardboard insulation was not wet on the shakes. Well, at least not yet. Has anyone had luck with a Behr stain?Many Thanks!
Jim
Edited 6/12/2008 7:41 pm ET by JimmyJim
I personally don't think it's a bad idea to try to get by for a while with what you got. Obviously you aren't going to wind up with the queen's jewelry box, but as long as you are OK with that... It's your house after all.
I can't see what kind of shakes you have and how big the nail holes are. You could use any wood filler that says it is OK for exterior. Personally I would use a paintable caulk and go with a solid color stain or even paint.
For stain, you want to use a stain designed for exterior applications. Names like Olympic, Cabot, Ben Moore to name a few. The thing about stains is that they have to be redone more frequently than paint. Clear finishes on cedar just about have to be redone anually, while a solid color stain will get you 5 or more years. The less pigment they have, the more often they have to be redone. It depends on how much color you want, how many times you are willing to re do it, and what shape the current shakes are in.
Whether they cup or not from paint probably depends a lot on what kind of shakes they are. Vertical grain sidewall shakes get painted all the time successfully. If they are cheaper flat sawn shakes they might cup paint or no paint.
Do you have real lumberyards around you? The staff at lumberyards are usually a lot more knowledgeable about building products and often are no more and sometimes less expensive than the big box stores. Really.