How to Hang Clapboard Siding

By: Charles Wardell, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. PRIMED RED-CEDAR CLAPBOARD

2. BUILDER'S FELT: 15-POUND, 12-INCH-WIDE ROLL
for protecting sheathing at water table, corner boards, and around window and door casings

3. BUILDER'S FELT: 2-INCH-WIDE ROLL
for covering the wall at stud locations

4. METAL FLASHING
for covering the top edge of the water table and window casings

5. WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
for protecting the tops of windows and doors

6. 4D AND 7D STAINLESS STEEL RING-SHANK NAILS
for attaching clapboard and flashing

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Speed Square,
  for marking story pole and swing stick
- Chalk line.
  for premarking courses and for finding and marking plumb lines at stud locations
- Utility knife,
  for notching clapboard and cutting felt, flashing, and waterproofing membrane
- Hammer tacker and staples,
  for attaching builder's felt to sheathing alternative: staple gun
- Tape measure
- Caulk gun with paintable, synthetic-rubber sealant,
  for sealing ends of clapboard at casings, frieze, and corner boards
- Ladder or scaffolding,
  for reaching high spots
- Miter saw,
  for cutting clapboards to length
- Hammer
- Table saw,
  for ripping down the starter strip
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Photo: David Carmack

1. Weatherproof the walls

Slip 12-inch-wide splines of felt behind the corner boards and the side casings next to doors and windows. If there is no housewrap or trim on the house.

Locate studs by tapping across the wall with a hammer.

Snap vertical chalk lines at each stud location, typically every 16 or 24 inches.

Bend flashing over the water table so it extends 1 inch up the wall. Secure the top edge of the flashing at the studs with 4d nails. Overlap the ends of the flashing 3 inches, and seal joints with a paintable synthetic-rubber sealant.

Staple 12-inch builder's felt above the water table so it covers the flashing.

Staple two 2-inch-wide strips over each stud line. This creates a breathing space and provides an escape route for condensation.