Historic Frame Siding

Before we jump into why vinyl siding is great for historic homes let s first see why vinyl siding is often the first choice for many homeowners.

Historic frame siding.

Wood was plentiful and easy to obtain and sheltering one s family was of higher priority than conserving natural resources. This material is known as being remarkably durable and virtually maintenance free. The structural frame sat on top of a masonry foundation. Log cabin siding was common by the 1930s in 6 8 and 10 widths.

If you re not going to use the original materials they are a fine substitute. Wood siding is a popular option for home exteriors because of its timeless classic look. Original or historically accurate siding on a historic home or building is an overt example of a building s era and unique characteristics. It sits next to a cement patio and as with the deck water splashes off the patio back onto the siding of the shed.

While this can be seen as a bit of hyperbole from enthusiastic vinyl companies this isn t completely without merit. In contrast to the siding the deck is made out of pressure treated lumber and withstands the rainwater. Photo by pierre châtel innocenti on unsplash synthetic vs. This same problem occurs on the small shed that is adjacent to the house.

Many homeowners save from installation costs by installing their own wood siding. How long does wood siding last. Wood is also biodegradable so it s one way to lead a green lifestyle. Wood frame houses were built with uniform dimensional lumber cut at a saw mill.

Vinyl siding can be installed over brick but to ensure that you have a water resistant seal a layer of sheathing will have to be installed first. This planning process is a sequential approach to the preservation of historic wood frame buildings. The classic example is log cabin siding a peeled log simulation with shiplapped joints. Wood siding materials trim and shingles were installed over the frame and roof.

They range from hand split clapboards of short lengths with feather edged ends shown here to pit or mill sawn boards which can be beveled rabbeted or beaded. Historic wood siding exhibits rich and varied surface textures. As long as there isn t major damage to the vinyl siding and you remove it carefully you can reuse the siding for other projects. Two basic framing techniques were used to construct wood framed houses.

Life span synthetic siding has a potential life of at least 50 60 years. It s enough to make homeowners feel secure and grounded in their own homes. Log cabin siding is typically face nailed above the rabbet edge with a single nail though wide patterns may require nails on both edges. Siding take a drive through the historic district of any city or town and it s easy to see what siding materials were popular during the 18th and 19th centuries.