Some tips on proper use of board siding

C!OLID WOOD siding, a tradiCltional building material since Colonial days, continues to gain in popularity, even in those areas of the country that have been partial to other wall covering materials, the Western Wood Products Association reports.

As this "Cadillac" of house siding becomes more popular with doit-yourselfers, and skilled craftsmen become harder to find, retailers and wholesalers receive more questions about the proper use of board siding products.

Board siding serves two purposes, weatherproofing the framing and house, and enhancing the overall appearance of the structure. Neal Pinson, director of technical services for WWPA, says the common concerns they are hearing include: "How come my siding is cupping?", "What about these gaps between the boards?", "What do we do about the boards splitting?" and "What can I do to preserve the appearance of my siding?"

Board siding questions usually can be answered by advising proper care and correct application on the building site, but the first step to a trouble-free project is selection of the best material for the job, Pinson says.

The cellular structure of wood allows it to swell and shrink as the relative humidity fluctuates, so

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Answers to questions on siding application ways to help customers make job easy ... sell more product.

wood siding should be allowed to adjust to its permanent environment before it is nailed in place.

Units of siding should be restacked with stickers (one inch strips of wood) separating each course to allow air circulation, and they should be protected from the elements until applied. This adjustment to climate is especially important if resawn or unseasoned (green)

Nail Rocommondatlons

Types stainless steel high tensile strength aluminum galvanized Shenks ring threaded spiral-th€aded Polnts blunt diamond needle siding is used, and again the narrower widths are recommended to minimize shrinkage problems.

If the wide widths are used, there are several types of applications that best accommodate the shrinkage, such as board and batten, board on board, bevel and channel rustic with an adequate tongue.

Selection of nails and use of the proper nailing techniques is a critical area where wood siding problems'are reported. Use of hotdipped galvanized nails provides good corrosion resistance, as do aluminum and stainless steel nails. Nails should be long enough to penetrate one and a half inches into framing, such as studs or blocking. Blunt points help avoid splitting, and nails are recommended rather than staples.

For bevel siding up to eight inches wide, 6d nails should be used, and 8d for wider bevel siding, The nails should be driven slightly more than one inch above the thick edge of the pieces as it is important to clear the thin edge of the underlying piece. This nailing placement is important, as it allows swelling and shrinking due to seasonal changes in the moisture content of the wood.

Tongue and groove siding may be nailed directly to studs or blocking

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