cedar v.s. pine clapboards

[remuddler]

I will be building a garage for my daughter this summer. The siding that is on the house is 10 X 3/4 cedar clapboard, and of course we would like to match the look. That was the 60's, this is now and the price of that stock in my area is $4.40/lin ft., making the cost of the siding about $1000 for one wall of the garage. My daughter located a supply of pine clapboard that would cost $2.50/lin ft. Can someone tell me if there is a real downside to using the pine? Will it need to be treated differently? There will be a good roof overhang plus gutters to keep water away.

[Mike Marlow]

Prime it, paint it and nail it up. Keep the paint maintained and you'll be fine. Take a look around at all of the old buildings - very old buildings, with pine clapboard.

[Stephen M]

Is it painted or stained?

If paint, I would use the pine, but I would be sure to seal all of the knots with 2 coats of shellac. Cedar is more naturally weather resistant, but that should be moot if the stock is painted.

Always back prime and end prime. I have (painted) pine clapboards on my addition. After 4 years, there are no signs whatsoever of the paint failing or the knots beeding through.

If stain, YMMV. Is it clear stock? Knots+stain+different species is is unlikely to match.

-Steve

[John Grossbohlin]

I wouldn't rule out Hardiplank fiber cement siding. I faced a similar cost problem... I had repair a badly done addition and match it to the rest of the house. I ended up ripping the 3/4X10 clear, vertical grain, cedar off the whole house and redoing the entire thing--soffits, gutters, corner boards, window trim, rake boards, paint, fasteners, etc.--for a little more than half what the cedar siding alone would have cost for the addition. While I was at it I put in new windows (not replacement windows) and doors. Solved all kinds of problems and cut the drafts (heat loss and gain) significantly. Doing the doors and windows got me to about 125-130% of the cost of the cedar for the addition.

In your situation, if the garage is not right next to the house, and the exposure, trim and paint are matched to the house, few would notice the difference in the siding. Your daughter would be way ahead in terms of money and maintenance.

John

[remuddler]

Thanks to all for the replies. The house is painted, so stain and matching are not a problem. If we go with the pine I will be sure the backs and ends of the boards are well primed. I know nothing about Hardiplank - I will do some research. John, did you use the Hardiplank on your whole house? We will also be doing a major kitchen/bath addition in the next year or so and you have given me food for thought on replacing the entire shell.

[John Grossbohlin]

I did replace the entire house with Hardiplank. Compared to the prospect of scraping the whole house, repairing damaged areas and rebuilding the windows, ripping the siding off, installing new windows and residing was a pleasure! ;~)

John

[mark]