Getting close to the siding stage of building my cottage and could use feedback on my plans. I want a siding that will be both rustic and low maintenance. My plan is to use a rain-screen wall construction (as posted on this web site) and install cedar siding horizontally (either shiplap or tounge and groove). my question revolves around what, if anything, I need to do to the siding before installation. I like the idea of it weathering over time to a light grey and I am thinking that I can get the most even colouring if I put it on with no applied finish. Is this a flawed plan? What would you do differently?
Mark
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Your climatic area?
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sorry, should have included that. Turns out we are neighbors...I am building in southern New Brunswick so Pretty much the same conditions you get in Maine. About 30 miles Inland so no coastal concerns.
No matter what you have to apply coatings to all side first. I see way too many cedar siding jobs turn out badly because noboday primes the back side. Rain screen will also help.
was actually hoping to not have to put any finish on at all. If I do apply a finish I expect I will dip each piece. Any suggestions on what to use?
Dip?Would take a mighty big vat to dip 12' long piece of siding.Cabot's weathering oil is probably what you want - definitely both sides.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I said the same thing about dipping....then I saw an article titled "Installing Horizontal Wood Siding" by Felix Marti on FHB and he basically built a long shallow trough. Looks manageable. Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out.
Mark,
I am currently working on a house that was built in 1978. Beveled cedar siding with no finish.
The owners were hoping for a nice even silver-gray weathered finish. Unfortunately, rain and sun have combined to produce uneven staining. Cedar has tanins in it which bleed to the surface when exposed to moisture (rain). Sun causes the tanins to turn black. This house has what looks like water stains everywhere the siding regularly gets wet.
Other than the appearance, the siding appears to be holding up reasonably well. There is definitely some erosion of the wood on the south and west sides (presumably UV rays breaking down the wood fibers). I did have to replace some sections that were near the ground and got a lot of splash water from the roof.
House is in northern Vermont by the way.
-Rich
Terrific feed back, thanks. Any suggestions on how to get that nice silvery gray look?
Check out Cabot's Bleaching Oil and Weathering Stain (2 different products).
http://www.cabotstain.com/cabot/pdf/BOIL3241.pdf
thanks. actually going with either tounge & groove or shiplap siding but the points are well taken.
i must have misread :) oops. still i'll reiderate that a rainscreen is an excellent idea and will do more than anything else to preserve your siding
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Edited 7/17/2007 8:13 pm ET by arnemckinley