Chapter E9 – Installs Exterior Wall Coverings

Many materials and products can be selected for exterior wall finishes. Factors to consider when choosing a type of siding are:

1. Climate
2. Cost
3. Maintenance
4. Appearance
5. Availability

Topic 1 – Installs Exterior Wall Coverings

Key Competencies

The NOA for Carpenter (2013) identifies the required competencies (skills) for the task of installing exterior wall coverings. These are:

1. Select and use tools and equipment such as air compressors, nailers, metal brakes and metal siding tools according to task
2. Select wall coverings such as vinyl, wood and composite products according to specifications
3. Apply wall coverings for aesthetics and weather protection, according to manufacturers’ specifications using methods such as staggered joints, storey pole, laser level and string lines
4. Prepare joints such as butt, scarf, mitre and lap according to wall covering being installed (NOA p. 61)

Wood Siding Terminology

1. Water table (drip cap) – moulding with a sloped upper surface and groove along the bottom to divert rainwater. Installed above doors and windows
2. Furring strip (starting strip) – narrow strip applied to the base of the wall to maintain a uniform profile
3. Outside corners (mitred, metal, vertical corner boards) –
4. Interior corners
5. Head lap – distance or portion of the siding covered by the piece above it

Horizontal

Wood bevel siding is installed horizontally with a minimum 25mm overlap. Each row having equal exposure.

To determine the exposure, one must know the total wall height (wall height + foundation lap) and number of rows.

Formula

Total Wall Height ÷ Proposed Exposure = # of rows (always round up)

With the number of rows we can calculate the exposure.

Total Wall Height ÷ # of rows = Exposure

Vertical

The four basic types of vertical siding are:

1. Board and batten – wall covering composed of narrow strips placed over top of wider boards
2. Board-on-board – board and batten using equal sized pieces
3. Channel – siding with interlocking rabbeted edges
4. V-joint – Interlocking tongue and groove siding blind nailed throught the tongue

Wood Shingles and Shakes can also be used as exterior wall coverings.

For application information, review:

• Carpentry, study the chapters on “Wood Siding Types and Sizes” (Chapter 63) “Applying Vertical and Horizontal Wood Siding (Chapter 64) “Wood Shingle and Shake Siding” (Chapter 65)
• Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction, “Wall Sheathing and Exterior Finishes”
• National Building Code of Canada, review section 9.27 on “Cladding”

Instruction Sheet on Brightspace:

• EXFN 200 – IS 2.2 – Apply Exterior Wood Siding, p. 45-52

Review Questions

1. A minimum clearance of _____ mm must be maintained between wood siding and the ground level.
2. The distance between a roof surface and wood siding should not be less than _____ mm.
3. The minimum amount of lap allowed for bevel siding is _____ mm.
4. What are four basic types of wooden vertical siding?
5. Bevel siding which has been mitered for an external corner will be longer at the ____ (Top or Bottom).
6. When a piece of bevel siding required a mitered cut at one end and a square cut at the other end, which end should be cut first?
7. Referring to figure 22 below, flashing could be omitted above the opening if dimension “B” is _____ of “A” or less.

8. In figure 22 above, if dimension “A” was 400 mm and no flashing was installed, dimension “B” could not be greater than _____ mm.
9. Minimum overlap for building paper is _____.
10. Flashing shall be installed at every horizontal junction between two different exterior finishes except where the _____ overlaps the _____ by not less than 25 mm.
11. If aluminum flashing is used, it shall be separated from the stucco (brick veneer) by an __________ or _________.
12. True or False:
    1. Before applying siding, the distance from the soffit to the foundation should be measured.
    2. A story pole is sometimes used when laying out wood siding exposure.
    3. A starter strip is required under the first row of bevelled siding.
    4. Bevelled siding should be nailed so that the nail passes through the top edge of the course below. This will prevent the siding from cupping or splitting.
    5. When corner boards are used with bevel siding on an internal corner, the corner boards are installed after the siding is applied.
    6. When bevel or drop siding is used, butt joints need not be staggered if they are nailed on a stud.
    7. Bevelled siding should be cut short of window and door casings so that the crack may be filled with calking compound.
13. Given the information, answer the questions below:
    • o Wall height = 2870 mm
    • o 200 mm siding
    • o Minimum overlap
    1. How many rows of siding are there?
    2. What is the exposure of each row of siding?

     

    14. Given the following information, answer the questions below:

    • o Wall height = 3060 mm
    • o 220 mm siding
    • o Minimum overlap
    1. How many rows of siding are there?
    2. What is the exposure of each row of siding?

15. Find the exposure and number of rows of bevel siding for the following:
    • o Wall height 9’-6”
    • o 8” siding
    • o Foundation overlap of 1”

16. How many lineal feet of bevel siding is required for the following building:
    • o 26’-0” x 40’-0” Bungalow
    • o 10’ high walls with 16” floor system
    • o 9 ¼” Bevel siding
    • o 1” foundation lap
    • o Do not allow for waste

Answers:

1. 200 mm (9.27.2.4-1)
2. 50 mm (9.27.2.4-2)
3. 25 mm (9.27.6.3-2)
4. Board and batten, board on board, channel, and V-joint
5. Bottom
6. Mitred end cut first
7. ¼
8. 100 mm
9. 100 mm (9.27.3.3-2)
10. Upper, lower
11. Impervious or coating membrane (9.28.1.5)
12. 1. True
    2. True
    3. True
    4. False
    5. False
    6. False
    7. False
13. 1. 17
    2. 169 mm
14. 1. 16
    2. 191 mm
15. 17 rows @ 6 ¾”
16. 2244 Lineal feet of bevel siding