Installation of Siding
Since Modulog siding is designed to represent solid logs, make certain that the “butt” and the “pass” are the same at each end of the course as in figure B. This insures that the siding is in the proper “butt” and “pass” configuration as the job progresses.
When installing siding, locate butt joints over studs and use two fasteners for each end (four total for each butt joint). Install so that the top “weather lap” is upright and the groove is on the bottom. Use two fasteners to each stud. 10 or 12 penny, hot dipped, galvanized, casing nails or 2” stainless steel staples are used unless you are applying over old siding at least 3/4 of an inch thick, in which case shorter fasteners will suffice. When using staples, make sure the crown is lengthwise with the grain of the wood. Make sure butt joints are staggered for appearance. Care should be taken to make square cuts and accurate cutouts where siding pieces are notched to meet the trim. Accurate rip cuts are best made with a table saw, although with care, a satisfactory rip cut can be made with a skill saw.
To make butt joints as tight as possible, square cuts are needed. A 5% waste factor is intended to compensate for material lost when squaring ends and trimming siding to end on a stud.
It is important to keep siding level as you proceed. Occasionally you may need to plane off a slight amount on the bottom of a siding piece or allow a slight gap between shoulders to keep siding “on marks.”
Installation over old siding
There are times when there is more effort involved in removing old siding then taking a few extra steps to accommodate installation of new siding over the old. Wood bevel, composition lap boards, lap asbestos and lap hard board masonite are all in this category. The technique is called “furring.”
Use furring material of appropriate thickness, 3” or 4” wide nailed vertically into the studs and through the old siding. Fasten the log siding to the furring (see illustration). Butts are always staggered and will occur on the verticle furring.
CAUTION: Siding should always be nailed or stapled into the studs unless the panel material, old siding or furring is at least 3/4” thick. Anything 3/4” or thicker is essentially as stable as stud material for fastening. In the case of new construction it is easy to find the studs and they should be used.
“Drive two nails or staples thru the face of the siding into each stud as shown. Don’t try to hide the nails in the weather lap!”
