How to Install Cedar Siding

Cedar is a gift from nature's bounty and is known for its durability and heavy-duty performance. Known to be the best among the softwoods, it is widely used for making sturdy fences and fence posts; besides, it is also used as sidings in residential and commercial projects the world over.

Red cedar, when used as a siding, provides an attractive and durable finish to your home, while being highly resistant to weather and pests, thus offering you a low maintenance, high-end performance. Installing a cedar siding not only ups the aesthetic value of your home, it also aids to improve the property value.

Installing a Cedar Siding

With a clear goal in mind, we aim to not only help you with the installation process, but also give you guidelines, to help you with everything that is essential while installing the cedar siding for your home.

Steps to Install a Cedar Siding

Step 1: Pre-installation Care
To avoid the cedar from splitting or expanding during installation, you are advised to sun the cedar planks for a minimum of two days. Doing so, will assimilate the cedar to the local humidity, moisture and temperature. Before you begin, thoroughly check each plank and remember to coat each board with clear wood protector to protect it from any kind of damage. Install water-resistant barriers, which will channel moisture outside the house. The vapor barriers, as they are called, can be easily fixed to the exterior wall with a staple gun or washer-headed nails. Install vertical furring strips at equal distances before you install the siding over masonry covered exteriors.

Step 2: Install the Siding
Start with drawing a parallel chalk line to the ground or base foundation. Starting from the bottom, nail the first siding board into place. Drill the nails at the top edge of the siding in such a way that it will automatically get camouflaged by the next level of siding. Work from one end of the wall to the next end, thus, completing the siding in an entire row. Ensure that the boards are secured tightly together and there is no resulting gap between two boards. Once you reach the extreme corner, start the next level of siding from that corner and move towards the initial half of the wall. While placing the next row, ensure that the boards overlap by around 1.5 inches, thus covering the nails underneath. Follow the same procedure until the entire wall is covered. Patterns you can try include Bevel, Tongue and Groove, Channel, Board and Batten and Wavy Edge Bevel.

Step 3: Install the Flashing and Trim
Complete the siding by installing flashing on the top edge of the wall and the lower edges of the windows to channel water away from the siding. Install the trim with the finishing nails and apply caulk to the places where the siding meets the trim.

Step 4: Apply a Coat of Varnish
To give your siding a longer shelf life, coating it with water-repellent stain will act as a weatherproof sealer. While applying the primer, work your way downwards, allow it to dry and if required, give a second coat. For maximum heat reflection, you should use light-colored finish coats. You can even use oil-based paints to work as a protective shield.

Installing a wood siding is relatively an easier option; however, maintaining it is equally tougher compared to the other siding options. Utmost care must be taken to check for moss and lichen build up on the siding, and timely cleaning should be practiced. If you are skeptical of natural wood siding and are looking out for a long-term investment, then you can even consider the log look vinyl siding, which will give you a wood-like look, while being cheaper on your pocket.