Siding question

porsche tech · 06-21-2020, 08:23 AM

I am replacing various pieces of the ship lap Cyprus siding on my house. Some pieces of it have started to have some rot at the very bottom edge. A friend suggested putting some caulk across the bottom edge of each board to keep it from wicking up the board. I was thinking that might keep water in. I even thought of putting Flex Seal on the bottom of each board. Any thoughts? Is it worth the effort. The siding is original from 1979 so the new boards will outlive me as is.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Agree

also clear that crap away from the house; put pavers there maybe

prime & paint the first 6" of the edges and back side of the boards

I do that stuff during the dry season in our rain forest here

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Good point about getting stuff away from the home. Make sure water doesn't run back towards the house as well. If there's nothing there to hold moisture for the boards to wick you'll reduce the likelihood of having to replace the boards due to rot.

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 11:53 AM

Get that clear up near the bottom will help A LOT. Another way is if you decided to reinstall new boards, but a slight angle, 7-10drgrees, toward the outside so the water doesn't wick back toward the house. Its a PITA for every board but its cheap insurance.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

can he just stick wedges down at the bottom for the uninstalled boards?

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

can he just stick wedges down at the bottom for the uninstalled boards?

Wedges? No, you want those boards off the ground or soil. Keeping a piece of wet or damp is what cause rot. Its needs to dry.

A930Rocket · 06-21-2020, 01:16 PM

Code now requires 6” clearance. Can you install a French drain around the house as needed to keep water away. Of course, being in the low country, you might have trouble running it to a low area.

Is that chain coming off your gutter? You might need to install a drain off the gutter and pipe it away from the house.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Wedges? No, you want those boards off the ground or soil. Keeping a piece of wet or damp is what cause rot. Its needs to dry.

No I mean a wedge under the board in between it and the house sheathing to get that angle you mentioned.

gduke2010 · gduke2010's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Code now requires 6” clearance. Can you install a French drain around the house as needed to keep water away. Of course, being in the low country, you might have trouble running it to a low area.

Is that chain coming off your gutter? You might need to install a drain off the gutter and pipe it away from the house.

Termites are also, a problem with wood so close to ground.

porsche tech · 06-21-2020, 03:11 PM

Thanks for all the input. As I said, the original siding was put on in 1979 so they've lasted over 40 years. I like the idea of painting the back lower portion before install but I'm not going to try to seal the bottom edges. I try to keep the leaves and pine straw away from the house but there's so many trees around here it's a tough job.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

trim them trees

esp. if they are near the house

fire danger is not just for the western US...

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

No I mean a wedge under the board in between it and the house sheathing to get that angle you mentioned.

No, not angle like that. The angle is cut at the ends of the board to create

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

No, not angle like that. The angle is cut at the ends of the board to create

Sorry. Forgot to show in drawing. the slight angle is cut at the bottom of the siding yo keep water working back up into the ends of boards

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

aha! just like a Kamm tail

LWJ · 06-21-2020, 07:42 PM

To Look's point. Tonight at a BBQ for Father's Day, we discussed a plank that has been exposed to weather for 55 years with no treatment. It is fine. Why? Because the water drains off it.

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWJ

To Look's point. Tonight at a BBQ for Father's Day, we discussed a plank that has been exposed to weather for 55 years with no treatment. It is fine. Why? Because the water drains off it.

Lots of younger guys (illegals, in our case, or legals folks from south of the border don't read or follow simple instructions) that come into the trades don't know, don't ask and don't care anymore. They make money doing simple tasks and have no idea about anything more complex then the installation of a simple store bought item. The old, "Just nail it up, it will be fine" BS.

look 171 · 06-21-2020, 08:17 PM

I jjust noticed that drip chain. Is that what it is? Get rid of that. Its in a really bad location. You are inviting water to drip and collect at the very corner.

porsche tech · 06-22-2020, 02:10 AM

The drip chains are very common around here because most houses have a very wide overhang at the eaves and a downspout would have to turn back to the house at a pretty severe angle. The chain goes into a hole that is filled with rocks. Maybe I could aim it into a splash pad that's pointed away from the house. I like the idea of making the bottom cut at a slight angle.