The Salt Farm: Project Siding
The Salt Farm is an old four square home originally built in 1915. The name derives the location on the ocean shore of Salem, Massachusetts in a neighborhood that is built on farmland. Luckily the Farm is still in existence today and is a prominent piece of our paradise on the sea. The house has good bones but hasn't been touched or upgraded in decades. Home renovators and DIY project lovers dream.
In an ongoing series we will provide an in depth look at projects that every homeowner might come across. Some are easier than others; but as always if you never feel comfortable completing a project on your lonesome, please consult a professional.
The Salt Farms siding consists of red cedar shingles. Not long after removing damaged shingles we soon learned that there was original siding hidden underneath those red cedar shingles and tar paper (tar paper was a popular layer used back in the day but has been replaced by Tyvek paper). There was a soul searching period of 36 hours and talking it over with a few experts before it was decided that we would not be bold and go for the original siding by ripping down EVERY shingle. Only segmented sections on one side of the house need replacing while the shingles on the other three sides of the house are in immaculate condition. It wouldn't make logical sense to rip down three sides of good shingles.
A key factor in helping the decision was not only just the quality of every shingle but also the cedar shingles versus red clapboard debate. However, it's not really a debate. While both are made of red cedar the clapboard sheds weather elements horizontally compared to shingles shedding the elements vertically. If you are ever on the fence about clapboard versus shingles and you live in harsh seasons like the New England coast, then it's a no brainer. Cedar shingles are essentially insect free, and can take on the harshest elements without being treated. Many will put on a clear coat of poly or paint the shingles to improve shelf life.
NEEDED SUPPLIES
Note: All products were found and purchased at Home Depot with ease.
-Nails
-Hammer
-Roofing coil gun w/nails
-Red Cedar shingles bundle
-Tyvek paper
-Staple gun with staples
-Circular Saw
-Pencil
-Level
-Tape measurer
-Shingle ripper
-Appropriate ladder
1. Use the shingle ripper (best tool for singles) to remove any damaged shingles. A wrecking bar works better if you want to rip multiple shingles off in the same section. Make sure you remove any nails from the wall that did not come off with the removal of the shingles.
2. Measure, cut, and staple your Tyvek paper if you need to replace your current paper. Staple securely and laid smoothly with no bubbles.
3. Get ready to install the new shingles. The bottom line of shingles should have two layers so it is easiest to just do the bottom row layer first. For multiple shingles use your nail gun, for easy singles, the hammer and nails will suffice. When nailing to the house be sure to nail 2 inches in from each side of the shingle (two nails in total) and 7 inches up from the bottom of the shingle. Nail placement is very important.
4. Start working your way up row by row. The spacing of the shingles should be 6 inches high (bottom shingle to bottom shingle) and ⅛-¼ of an inch of space in between the shingles. Use your level to make sure they are laid straight and are in line with the other shingles on the house. Remember, the lines of the vertical line of the shingles should never lineup with the row below for water runoff purposes. Corners can be tricky so take your time but you need to weave the corner to properly protect the siding.
*Measure, line, and cut (using circular saw) any shingles that need sizing
That’s it!. If your shingles need painting then it would be beneficial to pre prime the shingle prior to replacement if you are only doing a couple. If you have big sections then save your time and just paint after replacement.
We hope you enjoyed this series. Stay tuned for the next project on The Salt Farm.