How to Build with Wood Siding
Wood siding has been used successfully for thousands of years. It has a solid, well-built appearance and provides good insulation. It can be painted or stained to provide positive curb appeal. With proper caulking and protection from the elements wood lasts for centuries. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Level
- Chalk box
- Miter saw
- Hammer
- Nails
- Wood sheathing
- Rigid foam sheathing
- Waterproof building paper
- Paint primer or stain
- Ladder or scaffolding
Instructions
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How to Build with Wood Siding
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1
Cover the outside of the house with wood underlayment. Sheets of plywood or Oriented Strand Board (OSB) can be used. Cover the underlayment with waterproof building paper. Sheets of rigid foam sheathing can also be added for insulation.
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2
Apply the paint primer or stain to the wood siding on all surfaces and allow drying time.
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3
Locate the lowest side of the house. Use a tape measure to mark and chalk a level line where the top of the first bottom piece of siding will be placed. Allow the siding to be installed below any places where the underlayment edges exist, and cover any cracks where the building walls meet the foundation. Draw the chalk line all the way around the house by starting it at the same location on each wall and keeping it level. After you chalk the line, recheck it with a level to make sure it is truly level. If some walls are at different heights, be sure to match the bottom edge of each piece of siding at the inside and outside corners of the house.
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4
Determine the design to be used for the inside and outside corners of the house. Different types of siding lend themselves to different approaches. Depending on the desired look and amount of maintenance desired, you can place vertical boards at each corner. If vertical boards are placed first, the siding aligns up against these corner boards. Vertical boards can be placed on top of the siding at the corners if desired. If no vertical boards are used at the corners, the siding is extended past the corners to align into one another, and each piece must have 45-degree angles cut on the ends with a miter saw.
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5
Use the proper nails and nailing procedure for your particular type of siding. Too many nails and nails placed in the wrong location can cause splitting and warping of the siding.
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6
Check each piece of siding as it is nailed to maintain proper distance of overlap to the preceding piece, and check that it stays perfectly level. Different installation procedures apply to beveled siding, tongue and groove siding, lap siding or board and batten siding.
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Place ladders and or scaffolding as needed to continue working up the building.
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Tips & Warnings
Inspect each piece of siding before installing for straightness and flaws such as knot holes. Pieces that are crooked or damaged should be removed or only partially used. The project proceeds better if three people are working together. A crew with two people to nail on the siding and one person to cut pieces and hand them up to the others is convenient.
Always take safety precautions and wear proper safety equipment while operating machinery or using hand tools. Use extra caution when working from ladders or scaffolding.
