Best Practices Guide to Wood Siding Flashing Details at Joints & Corners
- Building wall corner siding flashing details & materials
- Water leakage through the corners of building exteriors, cause, cure, prevention of siding or structural damage
- Rain screen principle applied at the corners of building siding
- Questions & Answers about how to install flashing at building exterior walls or siding corners and trim boards
- References
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Wall corner siding & trim flashing details: this article gives specifications for proper flashing & sealing detailing at buildnig siding joints, corners, and window or door openings to provide
an attractive and durable job that doesn't leak or rot.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Wood Siding Flashing Details at Joints & Corners
This article series discusses best practices construction details for building exteriors, including water and air barriers, building flashing products & installation, wood siding material choices & installation, vinyl siding, stucco exteriors, building trim, exterior caulks and sealants, exterior building adhesives, and choices and application of exterior finishes on buildings: paints, stains.
Also see Deck Flashing at Building and see FLASHING WALL DETAILS and FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK. Adapted/paraphrased with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction. Steven Bliss.
Proper detailing at joints, corners, and openings makes for
an attractive and durable job. Key details follow:
Lap Joints. The IRC requires that horizontal lap sidings
have a minimum one-inch lap joint, or 1/2 inch if the siding
is rabbeted.
Weather-proofing Butt Joints in Building Siding
In most climates, it is a good idea to slip a
small spline of asphalt-felt paper behind each butt joint in
horizontal sidings.
Layer the spline so it overlaps the piece
of siding below, directing any water out onto the siding
(see Figure 1-12 at left).
All end grain in the siding should be sealed after cutting
with a water-repellent preservative (WRP) or primer. |
Building Siding Flashing & Finish Details for Building Corners
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Use overlapping 1x4s or 1x6s at outside corners
or use 5/4 stock for a heavier look. Use a felt paper
spline, wrapped around the corner and extending 6 inches
beyond the corner board, to protect the joints where the
siding meets the corner boards (see Figure 1-5 at left).
Use a square length of 5/4 stock at inside corners with a
spline underneath. All end grain in the siding should
be sealed after cutting with a water-repellent preservative
(WRP) or primer.
With the spline, there is no need to
caulk the joint. With no caulk, the joint is free to dry out
when wet. |
Flashing Details for Windows and Doors
If windows and doors are properly
protected with splines of felt or flashing tape, there is
no need to caulk the joints where siding meets the side casings.
At the top of a door or window, always direct the
sheathing wrap over the head flange or cap flashing. Never
caulk the joint between the siding and the head casing or
the sill, leaving these joints open to drain any trapped
water.
Also see WINDOWS & DOORS.
Siding Details At Roof-Wall Joint Step Flashings to Avoid Rot
Stop wood sidings at least 1 inch
short of the bottom leg at step flashings and other
roof flashings.
Otherwise water will wick up into the
flashing leading to paint failures and decay (see Figure 1-6 above left). Our wall siding photo (above right) shows the beginning of deteriorating wood clapboards that were installed touching the surface of an abutting lower asphalt shingle roof.
ALso see RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE.
Vertical and Plywood Siding Butt Joint Details
Avoid horizontal butt
joints in vertical siding. Where a butt joint is necessary,
use a scarf joint sloped down toward the building’s exterior.
With plywood sidings, use a Z flashing at horizontal
joints to shed water to the outside (see Figure 1-13 at left). |
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
- Paul Galow - technical consultant on networking, LAN design, applications support. Galow Consulting Services, 914-204-1749, email: paulgalow@galowconsulting.com
- John Rudy, Advantage Home Inspections, Flemington N.J. 08822 home inspector, 908-806- 6364, Home, Radon & Termite Inspections, Central & Parts of North New Jersey, email: jonadvantage1@yahoo.com
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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