I am installing #1 Western Red Cedar sidewall shingles in my gables. They aren’t dry and they are unfinished. Is it recommended to put them up unfinished and wet or is it preferred for them to be dry and finished? I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest (specifically southwest Washington). If I do install them wet, do I leave a space between each shingle for expansion/contraction or should I put them tight to allow for the gap created when they dry? I plan on finishing them with a Sikkens Cetol 1 and Cetol 23Plus product.
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Wet is fine and lay them tight. Let them dry before applying finish.
They will shrink substantially if still wet when applied, if you don't mind about 1/4" gap between shingles, go for it, otherwise, lay them out in the sun for a day, flipping them every few hours. Another problem with wet, they'll cup a bit as they dry on the house, but eventually will equalize.
Greg