Cedar Lap Siding Installation Blind Nailing

Take care not to nail through the overlap of two pieces.

Cedar lap siding installation blind nailing.

Ensure joints meet on studs blocking or furring strips with the nail penetrating solid wood at least 1 1 4 inches. In vertical application start at one corner with grooved edge toward the adjacent wall. The nail gun you use for siding will have to be able to handle siding nails. Read and understand all pages of the installation instructions before starting the siding application.

Nails must penetrate 1 1 4 inches into solid wood. On center when bevel sidings 11 16 or thinner are applied without sheathing. Allow a 1 8 inch expansion gap between pieces if the siding is air or kiln dried. These nails will not rust even with exposure to the elements.

Horizontal siding installation siding should be nailed into studs at maximum 24 in centers when applied over wood based solid sheathing and 16 in. Siding up to 6 inches wide can be blind nailed with one siding nail per bearing toe nailed through the base of each tongue. Use an air nailer if possible to speed nailing and minimize damage to siding surface from hammer dents. This is particularly important for vertical installation.

Lap siding can be installed horizontally or vertically. Installation instructions for standard lap and self aligning lap siding 7 16 in. Choose stainless steel ring shank siding nails or hot dipped galvanized siding nails. When butt jointing siding cut ends at 45 degree angles to form an overlapping joint.

Siding shall be installed with top blind nailing with the nails placed 3 8 inch 10 mm from either end and a minimum of 3 4 inch 19 mm from the top edge of the board. Wider siding should be face nailed using two nails per piece. Bevel siding should be face nailed to studs with 1 1 4 inch penetration into solid wood using one nail per piece spaced at a maximum of 24 inches on center. Do not nail through overlaps.

Place nail just above the overlap. Installing cedar siding planks requires at least three workers. For horizontal applications start with the bottom course and work up with the channels pointing upwards. These have small ridges on the sides to prevent the nail from pulling out of the siding after installation.