Cedar shingles — finishing at soffit
PenobscotMan
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
When cedar shingling a wall how do I end the course at the soffit? I’ve seen them butted up to the trim, under the trim (which pushes the trim out) and tucked into a rabbet let into the trim (which looks best to me). That won’t work under a gable, however.
By “trim” I mean the 1X4 or whatever at the intersection of the soffit and the wall. Not sure what it’s called.
Replies
Are you talking generally, or specifically about a gable end?
Both!
For the horizontal joint at the top of a wall, between wall and soffit, the simple solution is a roughly 1x2 piece of trim, if necessary ripped with a bevel to fit tighly against the angles.
It is called a frieze board.
Should be rabbeted to cover the top of the siding / shingles and protect the top row of nails from elements Alternate is to shim the frieze from the wall with a 1" wide strip of 3/8 or 1/2 ply to create the gap for the siding.
The shim works on the gable a little better, since you can create a larger gap, required for the thicker parts of the shingles.
Run the strip of ply at the soffit line. Shingle up to the ply. Cover with the frieze board. Leave frieze board sqare to the soffit, or dress up with dentil, crown or other molding to match style of house.
Frieze board rabbet
I keep trying to post a reply -- no luck. I will do what you recommend. Thanks!