Vinyl siding covering up original cedar shiplap siding
“No Maintenance.” These two words scare the heck out of me when it comes to home improvement products, especially when it pertains to historic homes. So, let’s dispel a myth…
There is no such thing as a “No Maintenance” product for your historic home. Not a one! No car will last very long without an oil change, your lawn needs water to stay green, and your house needs painting to stay healthy. But many people search for products to sheath their house that will last decade upon decade with no upkeep. The unfortunate news is that these products don’t exist and many of the ones that claim to be such are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The Problem With Siding
The problem with siding is simple. It’s outside! It gets rained on, snowed on, tortured by hail and sleet, and the sun is constantly beating down on it and baking its protective layer of paint off day by day. It’s no wonder that folks look to “solutions” like vinyl or aluminum siding to “protect” their home’s exterior. The problem is that they cause more problems than they solve.
Vinyl siding is touted as a no maintenance product. It is rot proof, insect proof and comes in a variety of colors so it doesn’t need painting. But the problems begin almost immediately. First, vinyl siding doesn’t allow the house to breathe. Most of the time when I remove vinyl siding from a historic house I find wet, spongy, and rotted wood siding. Inevitably, the vinyl siding got some moisture behind it sometimes from rain seeping in and sometimes just from water vapor trying to escape the house. Since water vapor can’t get through the vinyl is just sits on the wood siding and turns it into a mushy mess that termites love. But don’t worry, you’ll never know that you have termites because while they munch away at your home the evidence will be completely hidden behind your perfect vinyl siding. Vinyl siding hides all kinds of ills which, along with it’s inexpensive price, is what makes it so popular. Unfortunately, you and your inspector will never be able to know there is a problem lurking beneath until it’s far too late.
Hail Damaged Aluminum Siding
Aluminum siding is another enemy of old houses. Not so much because of the damage it can cause but because it’s just plain inferior to historic materials. We actually came upon an aluminum sided house once that was built with brick! After a little show and tell the homeowner was thrilled to have us remove the siding and reveal their beautiful brick home. More often than not aluminum siding gets dented by any number of things like hail, strong storms, and the occasional baseball. The bottom 3 ft. of aluminum siding is usually covered in dents after only a couple years from its biggest enemies…Mr. lawn mower and Mrs. weed eater.
There is one product that I don’t mind, and actually use occasionally on our projects, that is not historically accurate. James Hardi siding products are top quality, long lasting products that, in my mind, can be a good fit for historic homes. If you’re not going to use the original materials they are a fine substitute. You see, I’m not a blind purist! I simply appreciate quality products and they do a good job.
The Solution
Cedar siding and shingles, especially if they are old growth, are extremely long lasting and resistant to rot and insects. When properly installed and cared for they will protect your house for well over a century. Problems arise when they are installed poorly or neglected. So here’s some helpful hints when it comes to repairing your real wood siding. Follow this advice and your siding won’t need to be replaced until your great grandchildren can swing a hammer. And remember there is no such thing as no maintenance. Just like any relationship needs quality time and attention to remain healthy so do our homes.
- Always leave at least a 3/4″ gap (though we leave 1″) between siding and roofing materials to prevent rot.
- Always prime the ends of boards with an oil-based primer before installing.
- Follow the very specific nailing processes using only the approved nail types for your type of siding.
- Always caulk siding/trim joints.
- Inspect your siding at least once a year and touch up any chipped or missing paint.
- Repaint your house as needed to maintain your siding.
- (Optional) I always prefer to prime the back of any siding with oil-based primer prior to installing them just for added security. That way if there is a leak or moisture build-up behind the siding you’re still protected.
And one last parting thought about historic materials…”They’re not good because they’re old, they’re old because they’re good!”
Read the rest of the 5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners:
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5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners (Part 2 Floors) -
5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners (Part 1 Windows) -
5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners (Part 4 Plaster) -
5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners (Part 5 The Details)
Historic Homes are beautiful and often worthy of restoration. In the process, there are significant opportunities to improve the energy performance of the building. There is so much cost in the aesthetic and cosmetic details that taking care of the infrastructure before the details are finished is wise because it is impossible once the cost for the finished work is laid out. Before you start the process consult a BPI certified building analyst on how to improve your building’s performance forever.
By the way, paint holds up longer than stain I have found.
Boy, can I relate to this. I even share your tolerance of Hardie siding! In fact, due to the sad state of the cedar on the back side of my house, we are considering it. Our house has almost no insulation under the cedar, so that poses a problem when also trying to save the plaster inside. Ya gotta get in there to insulate from one side or the other, since our winter temps fall into the teens, and it’s a tough decision.
The first siding coverup was a layer of tar paper imprinted with a brick design. I’m sure you’ve seen on some homes that were built in the early part of the 1900s. “Cheap siding fix” is all I ever think of when I see it. So my old folk Victorian farmhouse stood proud with its cedar shiplap until someone wrapped in that. Later, to add insult to injury, the faux brick was covered in a rather strange pressboard type siding. Because the sections very wide, it looks ridiculous on this house. Because it appears to be mostly paper and wood fibers, there is a lot of rot. But we tolerate it until the interior is more livable. We had to remove all of it from the back side of the house before doing anything else. The gutters were in such sad shape that one corner of the back of the house, which is the kitchen, was deteriorating, and fast. Off came the siding, and then we scabbed in new material and jacked up the house.
Because there is still a long way to go on the inside, we’re putting off finishing the exterior. I’m sure my neighbors love us for that. It will probably get a coat of white paint in the spring, and then it will at least not be such an eyesore until we can finally repair, restore or replace the siding.