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Discussion Forum

Board & Batten siding in New England

DawterNature | Posted in General Discussion on November 8, 2007 07:21am

Have added 2 story addition to 200 year old small cape. Cape is newly sided with cedar shingles and nice white pine trim. Front of addition and porch will also be cedar shingle. However, to save $$, I have considered “shiplap” vertical siding but it does not seem popular in midcoast Maine. The sides and rear of addition will be broken up with 2 Anderson sliders and up to 20 windows, leaving only about half to be sided.

Is board & batten impractical for some reason. It may not be that available but, if so, I imagine it to be half the price of clapboard. Cedar shingles are terrific looking & I would love to go that way but believe the labor would be prohibitive. Cedar Impressions, the vinyl alternative, looks OK but I understand there is lots of waste and hard on saws, etc.

Also, I have recycled and reused many materials, including hand-hewn beams and handsawn boards,etc., and wish to avoid products made from petroleum base whenever possible.

Any tips or experience related will be greatly appreciated. Thanks


Edited 11/9/2007 10:33 am ET by DawterNature

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Replies

  1. theslateman | Nov 08, 2007 07:27pm | #1

    There will be little waste from cedar shingles and it seems it would tie everything together nicely.

    Board and batten wouldn't reduce costs much.

    1. DawterNature | Nov 08, 2007 07:43pm | #2

      Progress is very sloooowww when applying shingles - that's the problem. Labor costs and possible accidents when workers are over 20 feet off the ground are main concerns.

      1. User avater
        Matt | Nov 10, 2007 03:45pm | #6

        >> Labor costs and possible accidents when workers are over 20 feet off the ground are main concerns.  <<

        Unless you are DIYing this I wouldn't worry about the workers 20' up.  Guys who do this for a living and have the proper equipment - ie aluminum pump-jacks - wouldn't think twice about that height.

        1. Piffin | Nov 10, 2007 04:46pm | #8

          That is my thought, and I agree ith Walter that cedar shingles fits the house she describes, but I wonder if she is using pros or 'casual labor' 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  2. rez | Nov 08, 2007 09:05pm | #3

    Flooring? Nice old place like that demands a salvaged floor, perhaps some wide lengths facenailed with squarecuts.

     

    BTW, Welcome to Breaktime.

     

  3. theslateman | Nov 09, 2007 03:38am | #4

    Dawter,

    There's an ad in this weeks Uncle Henry's mag listing lots of salvage items from a dismantled home in Bar Harbor.

    If you're in the Midcoast area you probably see it and possibly look for deals.

    Phone number for this ad in the antiques section of the mag) is 207  479-5995

    Showing doors, windows, flooring etc.

    I'm just up the road a piece in Newburgh, near Bangor.

    Good luck,   Walter



    Edited 11/8/2007 7:39 pm ET by theslateman

    1. DawterNature | Nov 10, 2007 04:31am | #5

      Gotta love that Uncle Henry's. Sad to say, I'm in Florida on a job for 6 months, so I cannot take advantage of any goodies available now in Maine. Heard of Newport, not Newburgh. I'll get out my Delorme when next I'm home and check it out. Thanks for input.

  4. Piffin | Nov 10, 2007 04:42pm | #7

    B&B is not the best long term siding. OK for a camp or storage shed/barn, but not good idea for a good home.

    I also live midcoast Maine - Islesboro

    Prices will vary a lot acording to how you buy, from whom, and whih grading standard. B&B can run you from fifty cents a Bd ft up to $1.20 for materials. but waste factor can be high.

    clapboards again vary in quality from about thirty cent aa lin ft on up to the moon. At 4" coverage, That is .90/sq ft
    Preprimed cedar clap will run over a dollar a foot lin sometimes - three bucks a sq ft coverage, plus waste of maybe 10-15%

    Cedar shingles - there are local cedar mills selling cedar as low as about a hundred bucks a square ( hundred sq ft) I have heard, but I buy Maibecs sanded and resquared. Last abrchg were around $220/sq.

    Not long ago, I checked out the vinyl impressions and was shoccked that the immitation is as or more expensive than the real thing for materials. The labour probably less though. But if you are trying to avoid petroleuym and pay homage to Muddernature, and do this on the cheap, pick up a copy of Uncle Henry's and hit the const materials pages

    I didn't catch whether you were doing this yourself or hiring it done though.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. DawterNature | Nov 11, 2007 10:45pm | #10

      Thanks for yours.Cost is HUGE factor for me as all my income goes into this project in Wiscasset Maine. I have terrific team working for me under less than ideal conditions as work times must corespond with my having $ to pay them. This is a serious project, putting a new addition onto a 200 years old small cape that was on its way to demo. the Cape will be all cedar shingled as it was originally. In fact, existing shingles look good but some wood is rotten behind them. The 2 story addition looked like a honking mess, according to Lee Fossel the aclaimed restorer of old buildings in these parts. No more. Somehow, my builder brought it all together in a fitting marriage, so everything looks good from the road.The rear of the addition - 2 1/2 sides actually - faces mostly woods, is not seen from passersby. (Not that I particularly care, but it would not seem so outlandish considering.) The Shelter Istitute in Bath Maine used vertical siding almost exclusively. I lived in CA a long time and B&B is used there alot for, granted, rustic homes. If this form of siding withstands the elements as well as anything and could be put on for less, I would go with it. Period. It would not be my first choise, by any means. I prefer shingles followed by clapboard, but $$ is an issue.I have to save for central heat, an adequate kitchen, etc. Therefore, I must weigh all factors in what I do.I work for very wealthy folks as landscape gardener and personal cook. I know quality and I know what can be done when $$ is NOT an issue. Still, I aim for getting the best possible quality, even if I have to wait. I DO NOT want shoddy workmanship or materials. I wish I could send pix but don't know how to send except to individual e-mail addresses.I am learning a lot and appreciate every bit of info I come across. So thanks again.

      1. rez | Nov 11, 2007 11:25pm | #11

        Greetings DawterNature,

        Below is an old thread dealing with the steps needed to post photos that may assist you.

        Don't be concerned now with the sizing of the pictures or the Irfanview download but just getting them up on here. Someone can easily resize them once they are posted if needed.

        Cheers

         

        From: 

        Piffin <!----><!----> 

        3/5/2006 3:19 pm 

        To: 

        ALL <!----><!---->

         (92 of 114) 

         

        24441.92 in reply to 24441.86 

        I'm just refreshing the basics. Still getting requests how to do a basic post.Make sure you are in advanced view and not basic view first by scrolling to the bottom of this list of posts in the thread on your screen here.

        Hit the REPLY button to any post

        Type your message if any in the dialouge text box

        scroll down the page

        hit the ATTACH FILES button

        which brings up an attach files window( except in some cases when your pop-up blocker is too ambitious and needs to be sent down to the local tavern to relax for awhile)

        follow the instructions step by step for the most part. Select from the browse button to find the photo file in your PC - the main purpose of this thread has been to make it easy for you to make sure the file is small enough to share. Using Irfanview, I make mine about 720 pixels wide at 72perinch and save it as a JPG. Make yours too gig and you will catch h3ll from everyone who can't download it

        Once the name of that file is selected and showing in the #1 box, then hit #2 UPLOAD FILE

        Then wait - go take a potty break, let the dog out, whatever...your file has to travel over the lines - whatever kind you use, get itself checked in at the Tauntoin photo hotel, tip the bagboy, and call home to tell you it has arrived safely. When that has all happened, you will see the name of your file in the middle of this window listed as recievd. Then you can add another photo if you like. Once all the photos have gone through this process, the is a DONE button for you to punch.

        Then you can hit the POST button and Voila! you are now a published photographer!

        Have fun 

        1. Piffin | Nov 11, 2007 11:34pm | #13

          Thanks rez. Was just going to search for that 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        2. DawterNature | Nov 12, 2007 06:26pm | #14

          Cannot seem to get to proper point where I can send photo. A recent pix was sent via eMail to me this weekend by my builder. I'm still trying to figure out procedure. thanks

          1. rez | Nov 12, 2007 07:41pm | #15

            You first need to have the picture saved somewhere on your computer in order to begin to post the attachment on a Breaktime post.

            If you are using Internet Explorer that would normally be in the 'My Pictures' or 'My Documents'. 

          2. DawterNature | Nov 12, 2007 10:37pm | #16

            Here is photo of house, we hope.

          3. Schelling | Nov 13, 2007 01:33am | #17

            Nice house. Keep going with the shingles. The material is relatively cheap and this is something that you can do yourself a little at a time. Have your builder give you a lesson while he does the dormer and the little space between the roofs. Those areas have a lot of cuts and will be done much faster by a pro.

            Board and batten is perfectly good as siding but the end result looks like a barn. If that is what you want, it is cheap to buy and install and needs no maintanence.

            Shingles are the best siding that I know for resisting the weather. After all, they can be used for a roof.

          4. Piffin | Nov 13, 2007 03:21am | #18

            Congratulations Dawter!not bad looking. That intersection between old and new roofs must have been a bear to detail the flashing on for the shinglse and trim!I would carry on with the shingle siding as first choice, clapboards not a bad seond choice, and B&B a distant also-ran. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          5. DawterNature | Nov 14, 2007 01:29am | #20

            thanks guys.This addition is atypical certainly. Reason for dormer is that orig. Cape had another cape connected to it, plus shed/barn, all of which I thought could be saved. I liked the look of Ell perpedictular to little cape with shed, etc. following lines of cape.When reluctantly convinced attached structures were not worth keeping, I went with a dormer so that 2nd floor would overlook extensive gardens in front of house. On paper it looked doable but wrapped in typar it was an eyesore when I returned to ME this spring.(Attachements were not constructed any way near as well as original 20-26' Cape but now believe we could have salvaged most if not all. No sense crying tho.)I am becoming fond of this little place. First contractor was the pits, but I'm over it. Granted, T'was a challenge bringing everything into scale as any architect seeing pix would attest. Still, it's rewarding working things out. And I have a helper who likes to think things thru.I've seen a lot of wonderful looking houses from the outside that drove you nuts when you got inside with all the rooms chopped up, etc. The interior of the house utilizes space very well, with a view or a focal point at every turn. So it's sorta a surprise in reverse.The grade surprised me and influenced the dimensions. The place was so overgrown, I had no idea what a drop off would result. However, next spring we'll figure out a retaining wall cuz right now it looks like the porch might be part of a landslide. No, I'm not laffing.

            Edited 11/13/2007 5:32 pm ET by DawterNature

          6. DawterNature | Nov 14, 2007 01:37am | #21

            OH, I forgot.Now that I've read everything, will go with clapboard. I cannnot help shingle and my guys aren't all that enthusiastic about attacking the hulk.B&B is barnlike in appearance but didn't know it couldn't withstand elements or deteriorated in time. thanks for input. I'm dreaming up more questions, so look for me again.

          7. rez | Nov 13, 2007 05:28am | #19

            Bravo! Now were headin' downtown. 

      2. Piffin | Nov 11, 2007 11:34pm | #12

        OK, I just found this after responfding to other insualtion thread of yours.B&B CAN be installed for less.
        But it will NOT withstand the elements as well as either shingles or clapboards.
        I would not want it in an exposed laoction but if these walls are sheltered, it might be OK.Another option some choose is to use T1-11 plywood siding to gete thru ten yeaars untill they can afford to add shingles over that later.Been down your diretion many a time and familiar with your occupation. Many friends and acquaintances here who come and go with their employers every summer 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  5. alias | Nov 10, 2007 05:23pm | #9

    I've used horizontal novelty drop siding it's a 4/4 piece it was 7" overall a scallop on top and a rabit on the bottom that the scallop tucked up underneath 1/2" to 5/8"northern white pine , pianted all 6 sides(balanced) , i've done it with the same kind of scenario and looked pretty good. i cant remember the price ,but do recall it was pretty reasonable did take some time prepping the siding and painting there were knots but took care of them with thinned epoxy sanded once and another coat . painted white as was the shingles . and it worked, i thought when the sun hit in the afternoon it stood out . but... the homeowner loved it , and who was i to argue.....

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