G Korb

Thought I would follow up on this post from Feb 2023 on what we did and how it is working so far.

Started and finished getting the siding installed almost exactly a year ago at end of September 2023. I installed them horizontally, held at their ends in 1.5” deep channels in the corner siding posts. They rest on a sill, lap over each other 1.5”, and are still flat as the day we installed them. Time will tell if it’s really a good solution but I love how they look and I’m convinced enough to start the next structure with a very similar plan! Pictures are from today.

Thanks all. I've had the boards neatly spaced for a couple months air-drying covered outside in the damp PNW air, but I guess still better than in a puddle. Looking forward to seeing them up on the walls and will share how it goes eventually.

I know the pieces will shrink significantly even though cedar is relatively dimensionally stable, but is there a known amount per species/depth? I'm sure it's very complicated but curious if there is a general rule to guide expectations. Good to know it could be so much with these wide pieces.

Your suggestions confirm the idea to align them vertically, probably batten the gaps, and that it will probably work out. Excited that nobody has said I absolutely shouldn't do it, yet. I'm happy to experiment anyway.

I do really like the idea of slotted nail/screw holes to prevent cupping but allow for contraction/expansion. Of course then there's a series of big slotted holes across the wall, but maybe angling them down to prevent water flowing through would be the most simple compromise. Slotting enough holes also significantly increases the work load for each panel, so I guess the large pieces aren't as simple and fast as expected...

I have about 350sqft of 3/4” to 1” red cedar that I’m hoping to use as the siding on a small timber frame. It was chainsaw milled from a neighbors storm-damaged tree that fell in a storm a couple winters back and milled this past fall. Still very green. Pieces range from 40” to 24” wide and I’d like to keep them as large as possible for a variety of reasons.

I’m worried as they continue to dry and shrink, the pieces may check and warp significantly. I know I could rip them down to narrower panels and minimize some of that concern but really want to keep them wide. Have you used or seen  such large pieces of siding? Is this normal and I haven’t been able to track down the info? Or what do you think would be drawbacks? Best ways to fasten? Thanks for any input!