Installing rough cut lumber

Mark W. · Mar 28, 2019

Looking for some advice here. I am installing,fresh cut, hemlock siding to my barn. I am nailing it on without any gaps thinking that it will shrink. My plan is to go back and put the battons on after some time to allow for shrinkage. My brother, knows it all, told me I should of gapped the green boards when I put them up. Thoughts?

Andy Martin · Mar 28, 2019

(quoted from post at 10:16:20 03/28/19) Looking for some advice here. I am installing,fresh cut, hemlock siding to my barn. I am nailing it on without any gaps thinking that it will shrink. My plan is to go back and put the battons on after some time to allow for shrinkage. My brother, knows it all, told me I should of gapped the green boards when I put them up. Thoughts?

How many has your brother built? The first I built out of oak I gapped slightly with 1x2 battens and my battens weren't wide enough. After that I butt them tight and try to put 1x3 battens on with a nail through the seam. I've never tried to go back and put battens on, I'm always trying to get it weathered in and in use. I would not think hemlock would be much different than red oak.

An expert will be along by and by.

kcm.MN · Mar 28, 2019

Sounds good to me.

Depending on how wide the boards are and how much the wood will shrink, you could likely go ahead and install the battens now.If you do, use thinner nails so that they can bend as the wood moves.

ohiojim · Mar 28, 2019

you won't get them to tight, it'll shrink a lot. like was mentioned before, 3" battons should do you in good shape.

JoeM(GA) · Mar 28, 2019

Any time we were building with green Dad would pull them up tight and the only nail one side of the batton, then come back after it had shrunk and nail the other side

pcsaw · Mar 28, 2019

I would put them like you did unless your using some really wide batons

Adirondack case guy · Mar 28, 2019

You will be just fine. You could also go ahead and nail the batons on with nails in the centers. You may have to go back and reset the the nails at a later date.
Loren

tomturkey · Mar 28, 2019

Always seems to be someone "shouldhaven" all over your work. Should have done this should have done that. I think your doing a fine job. Keep up the good work. gobble

Richard G. · Mar 28, 2019

I have done just like you say. Works great. I have my own sawmill and built my 30x60 shop that way.
Richard

Stephen Newell · Mar 28, 2019

If it were me I would just nail the boards in the center and come back in a year or so and finish nailing it when the wood seasons.

jfreed · Mar 28, 2019

To Stephan,IMO, That would be the WORST scenario to fasten the OP's boards!! Why would you want extra nail holes in siding??

C.Amick · Mar 31, 2019

Put them tight together and you will still need to go back later with batton boards.

Bret4207 · Apr 1, 2019

Put them on as tight as you can. You can put the batten strips on now or later. The wood is going to shrink as it dries and swell a little in wet weather. Use twisted shank nails if you can.

Installing rough cut lumber

Mark W.

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Andy Martin

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kcm.MN

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ohiojim

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JoeM(GA)

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pcsaw

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Adirondack case guy

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tomturkey

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Richard G.

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Stephen Newell

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jfreed

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C.Amick

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Bret4207

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