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General => General Forum => Topic started by: old_guy on April 16, 2018, 03:51:25 PM

Title: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: old_guy on April 16, 2018, 03:51:25 PM
Our Tennessee barn is almost weathertight.  Fully sheathed (osb) and the metal is going up on the roof (without me).  The next major decision is siding.

We have changed our mind on siding several times, for a long list of reasons.  We have since learned a lot while working on roof and sheathing, and are again uncertain of which route to take.  I asked a similar question in the past, but our outlook and options have changed a bit, so I hope you don't mind my running it by here again.

The building is a gambrel-roofed barn (52 x 32) with shed roof wings.  One wing is enclosed as part of the living area.  We have leaned consistently to a vertical rib siding, feeling that it ties in the "barn look" of the structure.  We had considered cement-fiber panels with batten board trim, but have moved that back to 4th place (still in the running).  Our first 3 choices, in no particular order, are:

barn metal, with ribs vertical
LP smartsiding panels, with vertical batten board trim
LP smartsiding panels, with grooves (as in T1-11).

I have used T1-11 wood siding in the past and am comfortable with it, and could apply that experience to the Smartsiding. although the smartsiding has some specific installation requirements.  We like the look of the battens over that of the grooves, but adding the battens to the panel siding raises the material cost significantly.  The panels are available in 8, 9, and 10 foot lengths, which helps significantly with the layouts.

SWMBO is pushing for the metal, so that is my default safe option.  I am ignorant of metal installation, especially things like dealing with metal to trim intersections.  I successfully installed aluminum siding on my garage years ago, and know that my window and door trims on this barn will be more than just a metal channel.  I would consider combining the metal with another material in the lower few feet.  We are comfortable with our local metal supplier.

Our budget is strained, and the availability of extra hands is therefor diminished, along with the budget for materials.

Just hoping to get some guidance here on our material choices, installation tidbits, and whatever else I have forgotten.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: ChugiakTinkerer on April 16, 2018, 06:59:05 PM
My first question is who is doing the installation?  If it's you, how much does each Smartside panel weigh?

My second question is does the Smartside come with a permanent finish?  Barn metal is pre-painted and requires no maintenance other than an occasional washing.  It looks like Smartside needs a finish layer.  Is painting of the barn something you want to do every 5 to 10 years?

I think I'm in agreement with SWMBO.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: old_guy on April 16, 2018, 07:31:34 PM
Installation is by me, with occasional help.  The smartside panels are 60 - 80 pounds.  Heavy, but I can manage the first row and, with fixtures, the second.  The remainder will require significant help.  I am concerned about the weight.

Smartside comes with a factory primer coat, and needs a finish coat.  It also needs to be painted along any cuts, and to be caulked well at any joints.

The metal weighs less, but is flexible, some will be long, and our hilltop is windy.  I have concerns about managing the sails.  I am also much less familiar with working with the metal.  I have concerns about joinery details, and just hope that I ruin little as I learn.

Thank you for your thoughts.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: NathanS on April 16, 2018, 09:05:07 PM
Have you priced out or considered wood siding? Over a rain screen a quality paint with back priming could last 20 years. Easier to install for sure.

The trim details on metal siding are not difficult, the manufacturer should have a guide that tells you exactly what to do. The main issue is that it would be unwieldy on your own.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: jsahara24 on April 17, 2018, 08:08:32 AM
Metal siding is a great choice, especially for ease of installation and maintenance as their is basically none required.  I personally chose to go with a wood rough cut live edge siding on my 28x50 strictly due to aesthetics, it looks great, but will require maintenance every few years which is the negative.  I think wood and metal would be similar in price, around my area we are getting metal for about $0.72/SF or $2.16/LF at 3' wide.  I hired the local amish to mill and install my siding, paid $2,100 which I thought was a good deal. 

If you wanted to make the metal easier to handle you could use two colors and a trim piece in the middle, to keep the lengths of metal shorter and easier to handle.  Good luck!

Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: Mark.alan65 on May 03, 2018, 09:31:14 AM
Go look at polymeric siding. If I have to ever do it again, I think I will give it a try. It is like a thick vinyl that is colored all the way through, and never needs painting. It comes in shake, or lap, will not rot and is installed with no seams showing. It can be painted if you ever wanted to change color.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: old_guy on May 04, 2018, 10:25:28 AM
Thank you for the suggestion, Mark.  The polymeric siding does not come in a format that we could use for the board and batten look, though, so won't work for us.
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: Dave Sparks on May 06, 2018, 10:10:34 AM
Pre-finished fibrous cement?  Sorry if I missed a previous post.  ???

The house I grew up in had redwood board and batten. I doubt you can even get that without a very large checkbook :(
Title: Re: Barn (/house) siding selection.
Post by: old_guy on May 10, 2018, 03:57:46 PM
Thank you, Dave;

We looked at pre-finished fibrous cement.  Still on our short list.  Would use sheets, as want board n batten look.  The sheets are heavy, causing me worry about installation up high.  Also a bit pricy, especially after adding the batten strips.  Might still go that way.

Checkbook has suffered severe shrinkage.  Looks like it is permanent.  Being very cost conscious.