I am about to apply finish exterior siding materials on my small unheated outbuilding. The gables will be shingled with R&R WRC 24″ at a 7″ weather exposure. Shingles are finished in oil-based semisolid color stain. The roof overhang over the small shingled gable sections is 12″. Sidewalls have claps from soffit down for 5 feet, then a large water table with stucco below to ground. The soffit over the claps extends out 24 inches. Substrate is OSB for everything. Neither shingles or claps will ever see much moisture, other than in hard blowing storms. Should I felt under these materials, or is it OK to apply directly to the OSB. My claps are 1/2″ x 6 CVG western hemlock, primed all sides and ends with alkyd, then topcoated with two coats of exterior latex paint. Location is Adirondack Park, New York.
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Let me be more specific in this followup post. I am not concerned at all with leaks. What little water might get through the walls won't bother anything inside. What I want, though, is the longest possible service life on the claps and shingles and finishes applied thereto. Is housewrap or felt going to extend finish life or not? I don't want to go to the extent of installing that "breather" mesh under the shingles. It's gonna be felt, or nothing.
Why not felt it?
You spent as much time typing this question as it would to put it up.
There is no downside to using felt, whether it is an out building or not.
Terry
My only comment is that, invariable, a nice shed often becomes a potential little shop or a studio or a place where things are stored like tools or horse tack that need to be dry and then, of course, keeping the place warm and dry becomes an issue.
So, for what little effort and expense it would require to wrap it with #15 or # 30 felt, IMO it would be worth doing now before you finish it out. Besides, even in an unheated building, over the course of a day, you can get humidity and temperature differentials that could cause occasional sweating on the underside of the siding, though I doubt if it would lead to any short-term catastophic problems.
Additionally- The felt is a second line of defense from water. Will help keep that OSB dry.
Ken Hill
There are some who say that since all sidings leak to some degree, felt is really your first line of defence. Andy Engel, The Accidental Forum moderator
I agree with all of the above.
Where are you in ADK park? I've got a little bit of land near Speculator and get back there just as often as I can possibly manage it (but having a job in Michigan keeps me away much too often).
I'm sad that Gore got rid of their gondola, but the new ride is faster (just less character).
For those of you who've never been to the Adirondaks, you don't know what you are missing. "10,000 square miles of room with a view"
Norm, "the 23'er" (never gonna make it to "46" in my lifetime...)
:o)
I think that Norm meant to say that the Adirondacks stink. It rains more than in Seattle, snows the rest of the time, the black flies are always voracious, even when the temp is below zero, and the mountains and rivers are really kind of ugly. Don't go there. <G>
Andy Engel, The Accidental Forum moderator
Of course you install the felt. What advantage is there in leaving it off?
J. D. Reynolds
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