Cottage Style Siding Require A Gap Between Them

Cedar shingles which all share common dimensions can be installed flat with minimal gaps between them.

Cottage style siding require a gap between them.

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. And you often don t have to prime nickel gap either or worry about filling knots. But when you consider siding don t decide based on looks alone. Depress the trigger on the caulk gun until caulk begins to squeeze out of the nozzle.

To allow for seasonal expansion and contraction a 1 gap is usually left between wider vertical planks. Position the caulk gun so that the angled tip of the nozzle is flat against the gap to be filled. The original cottage siding remains a favourite for its looks and sustainability. Vertical boards a series of wide boards are placed vertically with a series of narrow boards in between them.

Always caulk between the siding and the trim. A felt underlayment is necessary to ensure that shake siding remains watertight. Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows. 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.

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. Correctly installed siding should also allow air to flow through from top to bottom taking advantage of natural convection to remove moisture. Weigh the difficulty of installation the maintenance needed and the material s durability. 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.

Always prime or paint any cut edges that are inserted into a window j channel. The wood may be smooth or rough finished. Vertical trim gap caulking. 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.

So you don t get the warping that causes shiplap to look crooked or uneven. Installed properly any siding can deflect water resist rot and block pests. These are vulnerable to penetration by driving rain.