How to Install Clapboard Siding | This Old House

[@michaelhere2]

Adjusting the 4” spacing of the siding is all well and good on this job site. It’s a different story when siding a high profile building that’s visible from three sides, say, along a main road. Those projects usually require book matching the clapboards on either side of the corner board trim as to not look out of place.

[@manillafresh57]

When you adjust the exposure for windows, it’s usually matched on the other sides. That’s why he started on that particular side. Windows are usually the same height all the way around the house.

[@Jotrades4205]

Don’t assume anything. Layout the entire building before starting. The time spent on the little things make a big difference between being a hack and being a pro

[@DanBurgaud]

1:55 OMG! I did not know this technique! THANK YOU!

[@edwinpink5040]

Been doing this for over 40 years. You divide the measurement by 4 and then divide your leftover. You make your rows even, say at 3 7/8 (or whatever they work out to be). After you put on your first row you take the story pole you have made and place it on top of your first row, place your marks on your paper and then snap rows. You need to hit even on bottom and top of windows. Manufacturers want you to have all joints hit on the studs. I have never followed this when running 4" rows. I also keep my joints snugs where some want to keep them a 1/16 short and caulk. I try to use as little caulking as possible.

[@edwardscott7938]

I also snap lines. I hate seeing so many KZbin siders relying on geckos. they will get you into trouble, especially on multi story commercial buildings

[@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961]

I always snapped the lines for the top (thin edge) of the board rather than one line at a time on the face of the last one.

[@danielemanuele5827]

@@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961 can you explain where you measure from to snap the top line?

[@brendaolsen8979]

Would be nice if they listed sources for product. Would like to know where they sourced the primed ceda siding.

[@boyo1348]

It's gonna be different for everyone watching...

[@sammypotpie]

Thank you.

[@petevidales1519]

I have a 21 degree Milwaukee gram nailer can I use it to install siding? By adjusting the nail depth?

[@obviouslyblack]

that scaffolding makes me nervous lol

[@markhall3323]

I know right

[@fm812]

Should have discussed making those angled cuts at the peak. I know a lot of people who ask me how to do that.

[@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961]

Generally we always put a 3/4 strapping behind the trim angled boards and slide the siding underneath

[@uncouthboy8028]

So share with us

[@paulgush]

TOH didn't tell me where to place the nails, but the commenters did! Thank you, YT community. If it's wood that will expand and contract with the weather, nail towards the bottom, but not through the plank below. Do correct me if I'm wrong!

[@wabisabi6875]

Hey, can anyone here direct me to a history of siding styles in the (northeastern) US? I am particularly interested in the reason for different heights of clapboard. Alignment with window- and door-frames can't be the only reason, no?

[@saulgoodman2018]

That a lot of work for the painter.

[@wally7856]

Yes! Lots of work but I'm almost finished.

[@JoseHernandez-tc1kl]

That is sweet

[@Costumekiller]

Cool

[@liza3337]

Starter?

[@handymaninside]

Im a fan of blind nailing, if you need additional support use a 16 gauge nail, I’ve never installed any clap boards so I can’t speak on their method of face nailing

[@nc3826]

LMB Ed said thx

[@susanhenry6834]

Omg (gosh) why can't someone show first board laid!!

[@eejvadasz]

I have same nailer.

[@researchandbuild1751]

Why do they ail on the bottom, i would think nailing on the top would hide the nails u der the next higher sheet

[@darrellwillams9212]

I always nail at top so next piece covers the nails.

[@jameshicks101]

I used to always feel that way and recently installed some hardy board blind nailed. Now I'm not so sure I feel that way anymore. While it's nice going on, it's not so nice doing repairs since the nails are no longer accessible and increases chances of damaging the board above. But blind nailed sure looks nice.

[@manillafresh57]

Cedar is almost always face nailed, largely because blind nailing beveled claps would put the nail in the thinnest part of the board.

[@michaelcarroll991]

Like debo said if you nail high on the board you have less meat to nail into. Plus the nails give it a rustic look

[@peterbomil7545]

Wow! I'm doing a big project right now that will involve installing Cladboards. Now I'm not sure which way to go 🤔

[@peterbomil7545]

Isn't the nails supposed to be hidden?

[@lucky1206]

Clap clap

[@JP-hd5vu]

Are furring strips not nessasary with this type of siding?

[@shawndinterman2219]

Is this typically how its done in the rest of the USA?

[@ccoit]

Fishing for likes much?

[@shawndinterman2219]

WOW!!! Was just curious how many people out there hang their siding different from what they showed. Wasnt fishing for "likes" just a siding contractor interested in all the different regional techniques. I'll edit it if it makes you ALL happy.

[@augustreil]

@@shawndinterman2219, Some do blind nailing, others do face. The face nailing stops the cupping you can get with today's new Cedar boards because they don't have a real tight grain and are not as stable. Hope that helps ?

[@shawndinterman2219]

@@augustreil what about making the laps land under and above the windows? Seems like having different reveal sizes all over the place it would make the corners not match up

[@manillafresh57]

@@shawndinterman2219 the windows are typically the same height all the way around a house, so the exposure changes you get to compensate for windows should be matched on all sides.

[@JtotheRizzo]

So... How do you hide all those nails? There's gotta be a better way to nail/secure the boards

[@chatonlaveur]

That's more or less the only correct way to nail cedar clapboards. In a man made product such as fiber cement siding you can blind nail it (basically the boards are only nailed at the top under where the siding pieces overlap) but with a product such as cedar clapboards, if you don't nail at the bottom the boards can cup easily due to how the cedar expands and contracts. Once painted you can barely see the nails, but if want to hide them even more, you can use your finger to putty over each nail (takes practice to get good and quick at though)

[@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961]

@@chatonlaveur "boards can cup easily" and that is a look also. we built some blind nailed it and with good quality cedar you would be surprises little to no cupping. We did not even treat it the customer wanted the old look.

[@Jotrades4205]

Where’s their harnesses and tie offs? OSHA would have a field day with these clowns

[@joepesci8930]

These guys must really hate the painting contractors

[@nobleroofinggeneralcontrac7961]

We hand nailed with stainless nails back in the day

[@troyqueen9503]

Glad to see that no one is using hearing protection.

[@daleleibfried8648]

When your yelling measurements all day long it can be a pain. And also dangerous at times. A job site isn't as controlled of an environment as, say a factory.

[@TrumpAmerica-2024]

whaaaaat?

[@troyqueen9503]

@@borys444 Hey Nicholas just trying to make more people aware,as I suffer from a hearing disability from my career in the military.👍🇨🇦

[@borys444]

@@troyqueen9503 u sound like a good dude, sorry for my comment. I’ll take it off. Ur right though, ur just trying to raise awareness and u don’t want ppl to go down the same road as u. I can appreciate that and thank u for sharing ur story. Have a great night and week.

[@mendonesiac]

Hearing protection is an investment in your future. I love my old logger buddies, but I hate having to yell at them all the time.

[@richardcranium5518]

No z flashing at the top of the windows?

[@acerjuglans383]

@@Kevin-mp5of oh look, Snide Answer Guy is here. What a surprise.

[@nc3826]

hahahahaha.... flashing....

[@justinwoods240]

I don't understand how they say cedar is rot resistant bit I've seen cedar posts rot out hmm 🤔

[@AlMai222]

That’s exactly what they are. Rot resistant. Not rot proof for life Lol. Also people usually don’t install it well. They don’t seal the cut ends, maybe they have it too close to the ground. There are many reasons why some cedar may rot faster than other cedar and it’s always to do with the installation.

[@justinwoods240]

@R YAY yes it did

[@LogHewer]

Sometimes it isn't just the installation, but people using cheaper cedar with a lot of sapwood. Good stuff that's all heartwood lasts much longer.

[@eballacharles0302]

👊👍👌

[@hasbeendrummer]

Imagine, if you paid someone to do this. Then, you left for work. When you came home, the siding was vertical.

[@AlMai222]

LMAO . That’s fkn hilarious. I mean, if that happened you would need to pay the painters a little extra and buy about 500 tubes of caulking and have them caulk all the vertical lines to get it waterproof

[@TrumpAmerica-2024]

hmm . . . something tells me that it was cold that day.

[@realestateservicessaleshea99]

👍🥃

[@seanpatterson5574]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnabmIaPZaqcjNk What are they doing this for? Is there a part one to this? What marks, what's lining up with what?

[@Techmatt167Official]

Why are the nails exposed?

[@Techmatt167Official]

@@Kevin-mp5of .... or nail behind the clap??

[@kenc2257]

That's the recommended nailing method--face nailing--for this type wood (red cedar) clapboards (bevel siding). If they were installing tongue-and-groove siding, they could blind nail that (through the tongue), if the boards aren't too wide--up to maybe 6 inches wide (a wide board should be face nailed, even if tongue-and-groove).

[@acerjuglans383]

@@Kevin-mp5of Tell me more uncle "kevin" how it was in your day!! I can't wait!!!

[@nc3826]

Tommy said thx Mr LMB

[@TrumpAmerica-2024]

LOL! someone get erik a bra.

[@PeterPetrakis]

Face nailing? Why?

[@daleleibfried8648]

That's how cedar is done sir

[@meinkamph5327]

Note to editors.. Portray your host in a higher light. Ur jobs may rely on it:)

[@leozmaxwelljilliumz3360]

face nailing where its visible ,where I live is a Big no-no. Looks super unattractive.

[@paultrigger3798]

It's dependent on the material, cedar clapboard and natural woods is generally recommended to face nail. Fiber cement, or engineered wood (cheaper and far more common) blind nailing recommended. Then there's vinyl... Face nailing was more common construction with natural materials, you'll still see it on some older classic homes

[@flybyav8tor]

This is a 1850 historical build, historic precedent would have it face nailed.