Best Way To Nail Cedar Siding

Place nail just above the overlap.

Best way to nail cedar siding.

Work the putty down into the holes and smear the putty over the top and edges of the defect. If all the siding is tight it was installed wrong and should be redone. They can rust and disintegrate and react adversely with the natural preservative oils present in cedar resulting in stains and streaks. Where possible the bottom of the board that is placed across the top of the windows should coincide with the window cap.

In general each piece of siding must be nailed independently. This nail spacing allows each piece of siding to float. Copper nails also react with cedar and should not be used. If the overlap of the two pieces of siding is 1 1 4 inches then the nail for a piece of siding should be 1 3 8 inches above the bottom edge.

Best type of nails even though they are more visible than finish nails you need common nails which have heads to prevent the siding from backing off the wall when it gets wet and begins to. Siding up to 6 inches wide can be blind nailed with one siding nail per bearing toe nailed through the base of each tongue. Type size and spacing for best results use splitless siding nails. Play at both ends so if it s nailed properly loosely you should be able to slide it 1 4 to 1 2 in.

Stainless steel nails are the best choice especially if the siding is to be finished with transparent stain. Siding should be fastened to each stud or furring strip with nails spaced at a maximum of 24 in. Simply go outside grab the lower edges of a siding course and try to slide it back and forth photo 1. Use no 304 stainless for general siding applications and no 316 for seacoast exposures.

Nail placement depends on the siding pattern and width the key is to fasten the siding securely without preventing it from moving in response to the moisture content in the air. Nails must penetrate 1 1 4 inches into solid wood. Repairing minor defects in cedar siding step 1 use a putty knife to apply exterior wood putty to smaller cracks or holes in siding. Bevel siding should be face nailed to studs with 1 1 4 inch penetration into solid wood using one nail per piece spaced at a maximum of 24 inches on center.

Manufacturers require about 1 4 in. Reach under the board with a pair of needle nose pliers and grip a shank. In horizontal application start at the bottom and work up with the groove edges facing downwards.