Home is cedar board and batten. It does not have a skirt/water board right now and lots of sections do not have enough space from ground and are rotting. Would like to cut wood and add a skirt board. Should Should I go with pressure treated or what would be best to match the cedar?
Thanks
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Go with PVC trim. It wont rot and it takes paint beautifully. Just make sure that you use a good house wrap ( or WRB). Good flashing details are critical as your sill plate will rot if it sees water
Doesnt look like they used house wrap when house was done in 79. Wood actually held up really good except for water damage on the bottom.since it's so close to the ground. I know they wrap homes these days but didnt hirt this house. PVC on all wood home? Ehhh not sure. Sounds hideous.
As mentioned, a skirt board will likely cause sill plate rot as water wicks in and behind the skirt. A good drip edge with the inner edge tucked up underneath the existing board and batten siding and extending out beyond the skirt board should eliminate this risk.
You may wish to paint the sill and other potential rot/water damaged areas with some anti-rot liquid (like used on the cut ends of pressure treated wood.) I've even used liquid roof tar ("Wet Stick") to prevent further water damage on wood.
BTW, Nothing is going to match your weathered cedar siding. Even a cedar skirt board will take a few years to become weathered and by then the board and batten siding will have become even darker. Best hope for matching is to use a brightening chemical wash such as is used on decks to restore the natural, like-new colour of the cedar siding so it will match the new cedar skirt.