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Cedar Siding

| Posted in Construction Techniques on December 19, 2002 02:18am

I am planning to side a house I am building in Northern Michigan with white cedar lap siding and shingles. What backing should be used, or is Tyvek house wrap sufficient?

Created by BudRon

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  1. xMikeSmith | Dec 19, 2002 02:39am | #1

    most here would use 15# or 30# felt with any cedar product

    Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

  2. kdinger3 | Dec 19, 2002 03:17am | #2

    i sided my house with white cedar shingles and put 30# felt behind them

    about 2 or 3 years ago there was an article in fhb that said their was testing done by the national cedar association(or something like that)and they found that cedar disinagrates tyvek type products after like ten years or something and they suggested using felt paper especially if the cedar wasnt back primed

  3. carlsperry | Dec 19, 2002 04:00am | #3

    http://www.wrcla.org  should have some info that you are looking for.  You could also check with the cedar shake and shingle bureau.

  4. andybuildz | Dec 19, 2002 04:04am | #4

    I sided a house I owned twenty years ago an used felt paper. Still looks great. Some suggest Cedar breather between the siding  and the paper buts its real expensive and I think overkill. On a cedar roof maybe but walls paper is plenty.

     You may want to coat the backs of the shingles with perservative.

    HAve fun

             Namaste

                          Andy

    One works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"

    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

  5. User avater
    Megunticook | Dec 19, 2002 05:00am | #5

    You might want to look into a "rainscreen" type of material that holds the siding away from the housewrap slightly (serves similar purpose to strapping). If any water does make it behind the siding (which is inevitable at some point, so I understand), it won't get trapped between the siding and the wrap--it will drain down, and air can circulate behind the siding and dry out any moisture.

    Incidentally, this would likely keep the cedar from deteriorating your house wrap since the cedar wouldn't actually be touching it.

    We just shingled a house with northern white cedar and used a relatively new product called "home slicker" (http://www.benjaminobdyke.com/html/products/slicker.html).  The house was wrapped in Tyvek. Installed easily--we'll know in 20 years how effective it is! Having a space for air to flow behind the siding can only help, that's for sure.

    Fine Homebuilding had an article that discussed this detail recently--unfortunately I don't have the issue handy, so I can't tell exactly which one it was--as I recall it was an article about common tight construction problems and how to solve them. Anybody recall that article?

    Good luck!

    1. truehaven | Dec 19, 2002 05:04am | #7

      M. Ed

      I was wondering if you'd reply even as I was typing mine! 

      ian

    2. carlsperry | Dec 19, 2002 06:05am | #9

      What did you pay per roll for that stuff?  How was it to install and what type of fastener did you use.  (The home slicker stuff)

      1. User avater
        Megunticook | Dec 19, 2002 06:19pm | #10

        roughly $89 per roll (which covers 150 square feet).

        'taint cheap, but neither is repainting or replacing rotted siding and sheathing.

        we fastened it with staples--goes on very quickly

        as Ian suggests, 1x strapping is probably just as effective

  6. truehaven | Dec 19, 2002 05:02am | #6

    Budron

    Is the cedar painted or stained?  I have had success with tyvek then a 1x stapping.  When water is driven against the wood, painted or not, it needs to go somewhere.  If it has the option of going out either side of the board the siding will cup less and last forever.  FHB in a past issue had a great article decribing this detail.  It does confuse things like trimming windows by adding 3/4" so you need to watch out for weird details cropping up.

    In our neck of the woods there is a ton of painted siding and the ones without strapping but do have tyvek peel regularly.  Granted the siding is pine so I don't know if its apples to apples.

    ian

  7. User avater
    Mongo | Dec 19, 2002 05:48am | #8

    If you want the siding to go right against the housewrap and sheathing, then do what Mike sed and use #15 or #30 tar paper.

    If you're set on tyvek, then use a rain screen behind the cedar claps and cedar breather behind the shingles.

    I'll see if I can find an old thread and edit it on here...

    1. andybuildz | Dec 20, 2002 11:42pm | #11

      Mongo

            I mentioned Cedar Breather a buncha posts back but do you know the cost of it? Its about $100 a square or better. Whewwwwww...I honestly dont know how necessary it really is on walls. I had a house I did over 20 years ago over felt paper and it looks today like the day I did it.

      a

      One works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

      Edited 12/20/2002 3:44:15 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)

      1. xMikeSmith | Dec 21, 2002 01:40am | #12

        andy... just from memory.. it's a  two sq. roll and costs about $60... so $30 / sqMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        1. andybuildz | Dec 21, 2002 01:58pm | #13

          Mike ...youre right about the two sq ft roll..sorry.

             Around here though its about $100 a sq though. Wonder if you could get it on-line cheaper even with shipping because if youre doing a whole house that sure adds up and I'm betting in the time one lives in the house they never see the pro's or con's. 

              Well, I'm outta here to go skiing..have a great week Mike

          Be well

                 Namaste'

                           AndyOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

          1. xMikeSmith | Dec 21, 2002 05:06pm | #14

            I looked it up... last job we did with it cost us about $40 /sqMike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          2. andybuildz | Dec 31, 2002 04:12pm | #15

            Hey Mike

                    I just got back from Canada and picked my plans up yesterday. She shows Tyvek (typ I spose) for the walls and cedar shakes over that. Didnt I read here somewhere recently that that wasnt advized? Better to go over felt? I aint using cedar breather on the walls. I think its over kill IMHO.Whatcha think?

            HAppy New Year

                               Namaste

                                            AndyOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

          3. xMikeSmith | Dec 31, 2002 08:23pm | #16

            in our climate, i agree, cedar breather on the walls is overkill... i like 30 # felt under cedar.... reds or whites ?

            usually put up just enough felt for what you need especially if working alone..

            going over to a friends tonite... he's from Peru.. at midnite we're supposed to run around the block with our suitcases with something in them that represents our wishes for the New Year...

            how would i represent "peace on earth" ?

            Happy New Year !

            Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

            Edited 12/31/2002 12:25:47 PM ET by Mike Smith

          4. andybuildz | Jan 03, 2003 01:31am | #18

            going over to a friends tonite... he's from Peru.. at midnite we're supposed to run around the block with our suitcases with something in them that represents our wishes for the New Year...

            how would i represent "peace on earth" ?

            Mike,

                 I'd cut out a picture of a naked woman and put it in the suitcase..peace of azz on earth? Nah....

                Anyway.....the cedar "shakes" will be red cedar and it'll be painted so...so.

            Be well

                  Namaste'

                             AndyOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

      2. pnuematicman | Jan 01, 2003 01:23am | #17

        After applying several hundred sq. of shakes on sidewall I have noticed Typar seems better than Tyvek, not sure why. Most important is a good seam stagger, spline all windows, doors, and corners with tarpaper and use a s.s. nail with a ringshank. Dont let the gun set nails to deep 

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