Anyone ever install Log Siding?

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I am installing log siding on the house I am building. I started on the upper level so any blems in the learning process can't be seen once I am done.

Here is question:

I am using hot dipped galvanized 3 1/4" pins - I miss at least one nail on every board and mark up the siding with my hammer. I am setting the nails with a nail set. I went out an bought a Hitachi NV65AH siding nailer to speed things up and get a better finish. I can't seem to find suitable siding nails for it (without heads). Any ideas on where I can get these?

dad911 · 04-25-2010, 07:03 AM

Guns are designed for a specific nail. Doubt others will work.

If you want no heads, you probably need a finishing nailer.

How about screws, like these stainless trim head screws? Marsh Fasteners-TRIM HEAD FINISH SCREW -SQUARE DRIVE 305 Stainles

Zeke · 04-25-2010, 10:05 AM

Make a protector so that when you miss the nail, you don't hit the log. You can do this with a slit in a thick piece of leather or some sheet metal like a scrap of AL.

By the time you get to the bottom, you won't be missing as much. Or, you won't have any fingers left.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

Make a protector so that when you miss the nail, you don't hit the log. You can do this with a slit in a thick piece of leather or some sheet metal like a scrap of AL.

By the time you get to the bottom, you won't be missing as much. Or, you won't have any fingers left.

Good idea... best I've heard all day.

GWN7 · 04-25-2010, 06:13 PM

Cut a V notch in a piece of plywood for the protector. Make the piece just wide enough so you can hold it in your hand.

john70t · 04-25-2010, 06:43 PM

Hate to be the party-pooper(always hope I'm wrong), but....
1). Attaching half-round wood to what? Hope that whatever is underneath has a water-vapor spacer, and is water-proof.
2). Nailing the thin sides of wood to a suface may result in no penetration and/or splitting unless using very long nails. In that case, they should be thick as well. Air setttings a must. Construction adhesive would(no pun) help.
3). Wood. Outside. Bugs.

gduke2010 · gduke2010's Garage

Yes, in fact I'm doinng a house on L Tahoe with log siding. The house is unfinished on the inside so we're screwing the siding from the inside through the plywood. It's a high end home and probably not the best way for your home. What you might do is screw the siding from the outside. Two screws in each stud, one through the upper part of the siding and one through the lower part, keeping them high enough or low enough that the chinking covers the screws. And where you can't cover the screws with chinking, countersink and plug the holes. We use branches and shape them with a belt sander or grinder so, the plugs look like knots. If you need any more info or advice PM me and I'll give you my phone number.

Gary

Zeke · 04-25-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gduke2010

Yes, in fact I'm doinng a house on L Tahoe with log siding. The house is unfinished on the inside so we're screwing the siding from the inside through the plywood. It's a high end home and probably not the best way for your home. What you might do is screw the siding from the outside. Two screws in each stud, one through the upper part of the siding and one through the lower part, keeping them high enough or low enough that the chinking covers the screws. And where you can't cover the screws with chinking, countersink and plug the holes. We use branches and shape them with a belt sander or grinder so, the plugs look like knots. If you need any more info or advice PM me and I'll give you my phone number.

Gary

Sounds very master craftsman type of work. Good on you.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I would screw it from the inside except we just finished up the drywall (and taping) last week... i wish I read about that before hand.

I think I'm going to be hand nailing it all.

John70t... ever heard of studs? I am nailing through a layer of tyvek, a layer of 3/8" plywood, and into the 2X6 studs in the walls. In canada, we also have to have a layer of special poly called vapour barrier in the inside of the walls behind the drywall to prevent moisure from getting into the house. The vapour barrier has specail boxed for ll of the electriccal boxed which must be taped with special tape to make everything water and air tight.

GWN7 · 04-25-2010, 08:10 PM

unclebilly....is it tounge & groove siding? You can blind nail it also.

GWN7 · 04-25-2010, 11:21 PM

Blind nailing T&G log siding:

YouTube - How to install logsiding

whiskyb · 04-26-2010, 04:29 AM

I started last summer by covering my house in rigid pink insulation, re-strapping and then installing 3X8 1/2 log siding from Log Siding, Log Cabin Siding, Knotty Pine Paneling, and other Log Home Products Tongue and groove as well as end matched so their is no waste. I screw down through the tongue using 2 1/2" plated deck screws. Once the next course is on you cannot see any markings from the screws.