Rotten Siding - Part 2

 

OK guys:



If you remember... I was repairing my siding that is rotten on the bottom
due to incorrect installation. The foundation is weeping into the siding
causing rot.

http://www.safaricabs.com/t111rot.jpg

I cut three inches of the bottom off and put a 4" strip of cedar over it.

http://www.safaricabs.com/cedar.jpg

There is now a space between the foundation and the cedar.

Does this sound like a good idea?

What could I do to keep water out of the notch on the siding?

And off the top of the cedar?

This example is underneath my patio so it won't get rained on. But I was
thinking about doing all the siding this way due to the cost of replacing
all the siding.

Any money saving ideas will be appreciated.



Jim

 



  You want the water hitting the side of your house to drain
completely down and drip onto the ground.   Your cedar board creates a
dam that hold the water back and will quickly rot out more it covers
up.

  You should use a long lasting silicone caulk on top of the cedar so
the water drains off onto the groud and doesn't go into the notch.
Also caulk the crack under the cedar AFTER you have made sure no water
ever gets behind the cedar.

 


If the top of the added strip were sloped, water - rain or
condensation - would be less likely to collect there, then work its
way down the joint between old and new wood. If the added strip is
painted on all six surfaces, it will be less likely to take in
moisture. If the siding now does not touch the concrete curb, the
framing is directly exposed to to weather. It would be helpful if
there were a strip of flashing to direct moisture out of the wall - or
a strip of flexible material to close the gap.

T

 


IMO, this repair is destined to fail for the same reason the previous
siding did.  You have wood in direct contact with the concrete that is
on the ground.  Water on top of the concrete during every rain will
cause this to rot over time.  This is a classic failure mode with wood
siding, where often the edges are not primed and left in direct
contact with a wet surface.  Wood should end at least a 1/2" above the
horizontal concrete surface and be primed and painted.   I would also
not use wood for this application to begin with.   One of the new
solid vinyl products is the way to go.

 



Thanks to everyone who contributed. I think I'm using advice from just about
everyone from this and the last post.

Thnaks again

Jim