How to Identify Tongue & Groove Siding
At first, tongue-and-groove wooden siding may be hard to distinguish from other types of siding; but once you become familiar with the construction technique for installation, the task of identification becomes considerably easier. Here are a few pointers for identifying tongue-and-groove siding. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Examining the Siding
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1
Look at the bottom edge of the siding and take a guess at the thickness. Shiplap siding will have the whole edge of the board showing and nailed tight against the flat surface of the board below it. This should range between 1/2 inch and 3/4 inches. On the other hand, a tongue-and-groove board will have less than half the thickness of the bottom edge showing. This could range from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch.
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2
Look at the manner in which the piece of wooden siding butts up against the vertical pieces of corner, door or window trim. A tongue-and-groove board will lie flat against the side of the house; while shiplap will have a slight angle to the surface.
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3
Pry the bottom end of the board away from the side of the building with a flat pry bar and a 16-ounce, wooden-handled hammer. Do this in a very easy and gentle manner, for the tongue-and-groove board will hold tight while the shiplap can be pulled free.
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Tips & Warnings
Tongue-and-groove will not have any visible nail heads along the bottom inch to 1/2 inch of board area.
Do not try and pull a tongue-and-groove board free at the bottom edge with a pry bar and hammer. Just use these tools to do an examination.
