Our builder installed Cyprus board and batten siding on our home two years ago. We are experiencing siginificany amounts of water infiltration on on the north and south facing walls that I believe is entering around the windows. I have notice quite a bit of shrinkage in some areas, exposing gaps around the battens. I have also discovered the windows and doors were not flashed or sealed. I am planning to replace the siding on and seal the widows and doors with a polymer flashing tape.
Can anyone suggest any thing else I can do to, or check for, to minimize repeat problems down the road?
Thank you
Replies
Its a good bet that the B&B siding is shedding water properly. But note that virtually any kind of siding has some water permeability. The housewrap, and the flashing, are your defense-line against water intrusion.
And if the openings are not flashed properly, you'll get lots of water.
Pull the siding around one of the windows, and check for flashing. Try to think like a drop of water, and see if you can get in somehow. Now think like a stream from a power washer, and ask the same questions.
And its unfortunate that this problem (whatever it is) is already two years old. That's enough time for a bunch of water intrusion, and a bunch of rot.
Also, note that when water gets behind B&B siding (and it will), it need to have a reasonable path back out. If the siding is unpainted, it will probably wick out through the wood -- cypress seems to have that ability. But if the cypress is painted, you might need a drainage plane.
Good luck.
To do it right you need to pull the windows. Wrap felt (or housewrap if you prefer) into the openings, install sill pans under each window, install the windows and tape them. Tape at the top tucks under the felt.
Most guys don't install the right blocking for B&B siding, so you might be able to get a lot of it off intact. Chances are it's just nailed to the sheathing.