These folks had their beautiful Shingle Style house reshingled with appropriate new cedar shingles, but the contractor failed to paint the shingles before installation so now bare wood shows where the shingles have shrunk as they dried. An expensive mistake.
This is not only an aesthetic problem, it also means the unpainted wood is exposed to the weather and UV light from the sun, hastening its deterioration. Paint is not primarily decorative, it protects wood from deterioration. This house now needs to be painted again to limit the damage but the shingles will still not last as long as prepainted would.
Unlike the old-growth wood used to build historic houses, modern wood is grown quickly and lacks the cell density and natural resins that limit shrinkage and resist decay. New wood shingles should always be painted on all sides before installation. This will limit shrinkage and protect against moisture and UV damage.
Prepainted shingles are available or they can be painted on site. Dipping is the most effective method for getting good coverage on all surfaces. Dip, wipe with a paint brush to remove excess, and set on a rack to dry.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” covers exterior materials and their installation to help you avoid mistakes like this.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
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