Old Clapboard Siding

Since colonial times americans have protected their houses from the weather with thin overlapping wood planks known as clapboards.

Old clapboard siding.

Unprimed wood end grain absorbs liquids up to 250 times more than other wood surfaces. Relatively long lasting especially cedar products wood siding should be painted or treated with preservatives to prevent rot and or insect damage. Siding related products 0 344 in. Tap flat bar under siding to loosen nails.

Clapboard siding on older houses are not back primed and often were installed over resin paper tar paper or bare sheathing. It is an age old choice as a weather barrier under roofing and siding. Replacing a broken clapboard isn t that difficult but as this old house general contractor tom silva shows on the next two pages it s a delicate process that takes patience and precision. Clapboards are the old new england staple.

Wood siding shake wood siding 4 inch siding 1 in. Get free shipping on qualified clapboard siding or buy online pick up in store today in the building materials department. Primed 4 oc v groove plywood siding panel. Use flat bar to carefully pry up the siding course above.

On walls it has been eclipsed in new construction by various brands of house wrap a woven or spun bonded plastic. When siding is not back primed or the end grain is not sealed the clapboard absorbs moisture and will push the paint off the wood. Pull loose nails from clapboard siding. Grab butt edge of damaged clapboard and lift up sharply snapping it off.

Clapboard is always installed over wall sheathing. The siding which got its name from the dutch work klappen to split was originally hand split from logs of white pine hemlock spruce or cypress. Secure old siding by driving ring shank nails down at an angle through the old nail holes. Plywood siding t1 11 48 00 in.

Types of wood siding sold as clapboards also known as beveled siding shingles or shakes paneling board and batten or vertical siding comprised of tongue and grooved boards. Pull nails from split clapboard. Plain lap siding beveled to be thinner at one edge viewed from the end grain. Traditional new england clapboard is cut radially from the log producing true vertical grain that makes it weather resistant and stable.