Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 07, 1999 03:24am | #1

   *
   Another question that will get asked sooner or later (so I'll ask it sooner) is: What is underneath the siding? Felt paper? House wrap?

   Rich Beckman

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 07, 1999 03:43am | #2

   *Are downspouts on or very near the cornerboards?Stephen

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 07, 1999 06:51am | #3

   *Is there plumbing in the wall nearby? Do you have practical jokers for neighbors?

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 08, 1999 03:57am | #4

   *It's the caulk....The caulking creates capilary joints that are very good at sucking the surface water in when it;s there and then the seal is very good at slowing the reverse drying diffusion process....thats how trees work if you remember your earth science...A lobster trap, near the stream,aj

2. 
   Joe_Oldfield | Sep 10, 1999 05:26am | #5

   *
   Thank you all for your responses.

   FredL: There is barely any peeling.

   Rich Beckman: Tyvek house wrap

   Stephen Hazlett: The house has no gutters or downspouts.

   Rich: No plumbing in the wall. And very nice neighbors : )

1. 
   Joe_Oldfield | Sep 10, 1999 05:30am | #6

   *I've talked to two contractors who said they calked the joint between the corner board and the shingles or clapboards. Is this a bad practice? Or might it have been done incorrectly? If so how should it be done.Thanks,Joe

3. 
   Guest_ | Sep 10, 1999 06:41am | #7

   *
   Joe,

   The caulking should not be the problem. By corner boards I assume you mean the vertical trim at the corners. Where specificallyis the rot? is there ground contsct? is there an exposed end grain at the top of the board? Is the house subject to wind over water? Were the boards installed & painted during a monsoon?

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 10, 1999 04:22pm | #8

   *Where is the clothes dryer vent?

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 11, 1999 08:46am | #9

   *Were the corner boards made from poplar? I've seen people buying that at the lumber yard intending to use it for exterior use. One guy was planning to make adirondack chairs out of it. Disposable ones, anyway.

1. 
   Guest_ | Sep 11, 1999 08:07pm | #11

   *Joe, is the cornerboard rotted or the sheathing or both? It might be worth checking all the details above the cornerboards starting with the roof. It may be possible that that runoff after a rain is getting in some place and running down to the corner ..... seen a few cases of it. Ditto Mongo's advice, poplar is a poor choice for any exterior work. Backprime the new cornerboards.

4. 
   Joe_Oldfield | Sep 11, 1999 08:07pm | #10

   *
   The corner boards on the north side of our summer home have rotted. They're about 10 years old. We removed the boards and although it hasn't rained in a couple of weeks it was damp and rotted underneath the boards. The clapboards that butt the cornerboards were calked when installed. Is this standard and would this contribute to the rot? Any other ideas as to what could cause this rot would be appreciated.

   Thanks in advance.

   Joe