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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Regular 3/8 spruce plywood for exterior siding?
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rhjv
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2014 01:17am
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My cabin is 16/20, and i'm thinking of using standard spruce 3/8" plywood for finish exterior siding. was thiking of installing vertically, and trim/caulk the joints with 1x4. i'm thinking a few coats of good exterior stain will protect from sun and rain, and re do every few years. I don't my maintaining wood, prefer wood in any case actually. Not into the vinal stuff or other non-wood products. Ceader is out of the question, don't have access, too extensive to bring way up north. 'Any thoughts on this idea? Has anyone done this before? how did it last? What should i be concerned with?

bobbotron
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2014 09:49pm
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Does the building also have OSB or something underneath for sheathing?

I bet if you spaced off the boards with vertical strips and you're not too close to the ground (for splashback) it'd probably be ok though I don't know for sure. Stain the heck out of it, try to have a good overhang off the building to protect it?

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2014 10:41pm
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3/8"? Maybe if installed over regular OSB sheathing panels. Otherwise I think 3/8" is too thin for a wall.

The lower edges may deteriorate sooner than expected if you have lots of wet weather. The ply edges can absorb moisture easily and start delamination.

The more durable finish would be paint.

rhjv
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2014 11:13pm
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the tyvek is covering 3/8" ply sheathing layed horizontally, and glued throughout to wall studs, so i figured with that strength, 3/8" ply finish with a good double stain should be adequate. My plan is to lay vertical, and will cover the full wall, to bottem of floor joist, so run off not an issue I dont think. I have a 10" overhang on the roof also.

ShabinNo5
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 04:48am
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To reinforce MtnDon statement, the lower edges will need more attention. I have seen plywood siding delaminate after one season due to a wet environment. My recommendation would be to use a high quality stain (avoid thompsons water seal) to seal the exposed lower edge of the plywood. I would apply the stain as you install and whenever possible, install the plywood with the factory edge down. The lower edge will continue to need attention more frequently than the rest of the siding. I would reapply stain to these edges every fall before winter arrives. If your "Up North" is anything like ours, snow will pack around the lower part of the building.

Originally we purchased a semi-transparent stain for our cabin. We were not happy with the appearance. The finish ended up blotchy. We now have paint and it looks much better.

Good Luck

Steve

TheWildMan
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 08:02am
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those old log cabins used raw wood without paint or stain, they lasted by just keeping the wood dry. plywood will work as long as you use some kind of waterproofing like paint or stain. my outhouse is made of regular plywood and 2x4s and its been fine for years.

TheWildMan
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 08:05am
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another old time option is to roll tar paper/roofing felt over it. staple it down and put some verticle boards holding it every foot. that's how it was done to waterproof walls from the late 1800s to the modern box store era. these were the good old tar paper camps

rhjv
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 11:58am
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Thanks folks. Damn good discussion! I'll figure a way to seal teh bottom edge of ply to limit any swelling etc. Possibly from drip edge with silicone seal where ply meets metal edging, or maybe a 1x strip along the bottom edge and silicone.

rhjv
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 11:59am
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I figure if it starts to moisten and swell, itll only creep its way up. so i'll figure a way to seal at he bottom, maintaining some level of asthetics of course.

rhjv
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 12:02pm
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Here's a pic, notice the hight off the ground. Still got a lot of snow here.
rhjv cabin
rhjv cabin


Just
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 12:17pm
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I have built 2 with 3\8 plywood a 24 x24 cottage and a 8 x 13 Bunkie
just the way you say tyvek , plywood , sealed joints ,1 x 3 batons
now 15 years old kept them painted .
bunkie
bunkie
24 x 24 with loft
24 x 24 with loft


rhjv
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2014 12:19pm
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right on buddy, thanks. I'm set!

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