Attaching Cedar Siding

Wall construction like all siding materials western red cedar performs best when installed properly on a suitable frame.

Attaching cedar siding.

Let cedar siding flex and breathe. Using the nail gun drive a single nail at one end of a cedar shake piece of siding and then carefully align it along the snap line attaching another nail at the opposite end. Ensure joints meet on studs blocking or furring strips with the nail penetrating solid wood at least 1 1 4 inches. Step 4 choices of design.

Cedar is a material that needs to be allowed to flex once installed. The fastest and most thorough method to apply stain to cedar siding is with a thick natural bristle brush. Use an air nailer if possible to speed nailing and minimize damage to siding surface from hammer dents. Drive the heads flush with the wood but don t allow them to penetrate.

Go back and nail subsequent nails along the top edge of this cedar shake siding piece. Attach the shingles with 1 inch roofing nails. When butt jointing siding cut ends at 45 degree angles to form an overlapping joint. This will guard against splash back rain water hitting the ground and splashing back against the siding which can cause a finish failure.

Also placing spacers between the slats will help to ensure a straight piece of siding. It is best that the siding slats be kept six to 12 inches off the ground so that the exposure to water is limited. We see a lot of people installing their wood siding all the way to the ground. For cedar siding over wood sheathing nailed at studs for application over foam sheathing add the thickness of the foam to the tabulated nail length.

Splash back water damage. This is particularly important for vertical installation. The brush bristles distribute the stain evenly into the wood grain reaching into the small undulations on the surface of the cedar planking. Installing cedar siding planks requires at least three workers.

It is important to keep siding at least 18 inches off the ground if possible.