Cottage Style Siding Require A Gap Between Them

These are vulnerable to penetration by driving rain.

Cottage style siding require a gap between them.

The original cottage siding remains a favourite for its looks and sustainability. Correctly installed siding should also allow air to flow through from top to bottom taking advantage of natural convection to remove moisture. Vertical trim gap caulking. The air space between cladding and sheathing doesn t need to be great but it needs to allow continuous drainage without creating pockets where water can be trapped inside wall assemblies referred to as perched water.

Cedar shingles which all share common dimensions can be installed flat with minimal gaps between them. But when you consider siding don t decide based on looks alone. A felt underlayment is necessary to ensure that shake siding remains watertight. The tongue actually fits in the groove and once installed on a surface the boards have a gap between them that s about the width of a nickel hence the name.

The wood may be smooth or rough finished. So you don t get the warping that causes shiplap to look crooked or uneven. Due to their irregularity shakes virtually always have a few gaps. Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement.

Always caulk between the siding and the trim. Narrower 1 x3 strips or battens are nailed over the seams or gaps where the two planks abut to help keep out the elements rodents and insects. Drop siding similar to clapboards the top of each horizontally placed board is fitted into a groove in the lower edge of the board on top of it. Depress the trigger on the caulk gun until caulk begins to squeeze out of the nozzle.

And you often don t have to prime nickel gap either or worry about filling knots. Weigh the difficulty of installation the maintenance needed and the material s durability. Batten fasteners pass between gaps in the boards to hold them down yet allowing for natural movement of the siding when installing the wide vertical boards space boards at a distance of approximately one board width 7 8 and secure with fasteners placed at the center of the siding boards. Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows.

Installed properly any siding can deflect water resist rot and block pests. Never put a gap on one never seen anyone put a gap on one never gave it any thought but the reasoning for the gap usually on roof shingles is that the shake becomes wet won t dry out and will rot and decay faster without such a gap siding shingles ought not to have that problem. Always prime or paint any cut edges that are inserted into a window j channel.