Wood shrinks and swells with environmental changes, therefore some preconditioning of wood siding is necessary for best installation results.
When installed in a heated room without being preconditioned, siding may be expected to shrink.
Knotty grades have a higher moisture content than select grades
NOTE: A 4% moisture change in a board will case a width dimension change of .5% to 1% which may seem minor. But a 1% change across a 60 foot wall is 6 inches- a major difference.
Shrinkage can be minimized by conditioning the siding prior to installation. A) Stack all siding in the room in which it is to be installed with separation (using separator sticks) between each layer for a week to 10 days prior to installation. Plan your timeline accordingly! B) Separators must be linted up one above the other with weight placed on the top of boards to minimize cupping.
Siding performance varies by grade, thickness, width, pattern and texture.
Although all siding products are considered “non-structural”, all siding products have been milled from lumber that has been graded by one of the industry recognized grading agencies. After milling, siding products are generally categorized as either premium (clear) or knotty (STK). Such marketing terms aren’t the official “grades” of the material but they do describe the basic characteristics one can expect from their siding. Premium grades (sometimes called “clear” or “select”) generally have little to no knots, pitch streaks, etc. Products with such characteristics are generally categorized as knotty products (sometimes called STK or “common”). It is important to keep in mind that there are no uniform standards for marketing terms such as select, STK, NPS, etc. and these products can vary in quality from one source to another.
Width – Wood’s natural reaction to changes in moisture are directly proportional to size. Although wider sizes install faster with fewer fasteners and are often preferred for appearance, they are more prone to drying caused movement such as shrinkage and cupping.
Texture – Planed or smooth surfaces have a more formal appearance and are most commonly used for interior paneling. Rougher, more textured surfaces are often used for a more rustic appearance.
Pattern – Pattern selection is generally governed by cosmetic appearance factors. Below you will find patterns we offer, and an example of how they will look and function
Storage and Handlings – Keep your hardwood decking boards clean, dry and out of direct sunlight before installation and finishing.
Finishing – Seal decking with high quality penetrating oil sealer on all four sides prior to installation. Sealing only one side can create uneven moisture flow which increases the likelihood of cupping.
A periodic cleaning and a light coat of finish will be required in order to maintain original color.
Ventilation and Air Flow – Check and follow your local building codes
Allow adequate ventilation for proper air flow to reduce cupping and checking potential.
For maximum long term stability, install deck with a minimum ground clearance of 18”, with at least two sides of the deck open. In all cases, it is absolutely necessary to have at least 50% unrestricted airflow.
Create a slope for drainage so there is no chance of standing water.
If a minimum ground clearance of 18” is not available, we recommend 5/4 x 4 decking.
Spacing – Install 6” (5- 1/2” net) decking with a minimum gap of 1/4” between each deck board. 4” (3-1/2” ne) decking should have a minimum gap of 3/16” between each board. Also allow 1/4” from any structures such as foundations or rail post.
In more demanding applications, such as boat docks, decks built closer to the ground and decks with less airflow, a minimum gap of 5/16” for 6” decking and a minimum of 1/4” for 4” is required.
Fastening – Pre-drill pilot holes and countersink for all screws using higher quality #10 or greater, stainless steel screws, with a minimum screw penetration into joist of 1- 1/2”.
Face screwing or edge screwing are the most effective methods of installation. Do not use hidden clip fasteners or nails.
Please visit https://www.realcedar.com/siding/installation for detailed information and instructions
Nailing – Do not nail through overlapping pieces. Use stainless steel, high tensile strength aluminum or hot-dipped galvanized nails with ring or spiral-threaded shanks. Use casing nails to blind nail; siding or box nails to face nail
Preparation – Precondition siding or paneling by storing in covered area 7-10 days prior to installation. Remove end caps and separate layers with wood lath for proper air circulation. This will allow the material to acclimate to existing environment
Finishing – Wood characteristics must be taken into consideration prior to application of finishing material with paint or stain. Consult your local paint supplier for recommendations
Montana Ghost Wood varies in color shades and tones much the same as reclaimed wood, and is intended as a alternative to reclaimed woods. Bannack Brown will vary from dark brown to tan; Silver City will vary from silver grey to grey brown. The degree to which Ghost Wood will maintain or change color depends on location placement and exposure to weather elements. Color change can be minimized by periodic application of a top coat. Left alone, as intended, Montana Ghost Wood will continue to age and weather, the degree to which, again depending on location. Some colors will darken, others will lighten as time goes on.
Properly acclimated and installed, Montana Ghost Wood can be expected to perform as well as or better than comparable reclaimed wood products. Montana Ghost Wood requires little or no maintenance depending on the above mentioned factors and your long term goal for the appearance of the product.
Montana Ghost Wood is sold “AS IS” with no warranties expressed or implied, just like reclaimed woods. It is ultimately the responsibility of the purchaser to determine which Montana Ghost Wood products are best suited for the specific applications and how these products should be used and installed.
Montana Ghost Wood is the original, revolutionary new, green product that uses primarily PPLP dead standing timber from beetle kill and wildfires to produce a truly unique alternative for reclaimed wood projects. With a proprietary multi-step process, this new certified, kiln dried wood has the natural appeal, character and appearance of true reclaimed wood and is intended as a great alternative, and affordable economical choice. Montana Ghost Wood provides the look, feel and rustic elegance without the hassle and trimming of conventional reclaimed wood.
Visit their site at https://mtghostwood.com/
Depends on material chosen, but for example if you have 500SF of surface to cover you will need 1200LF of 1×6 T&G (2.4LF per SF)
Depending on the complexity of your project we can help with Material Take offs and recommendations based on your architectural Design
We have an office and Wood Yard at 8321 N Steele St in Thornton Colorado and are happy to meet and show you some options for your project and provide samples. We recommend finding some options you like on our website as a starting point for our discussion.
Yes, we offer both custom and standard pre-staining.
No, we just supply the wood.
We specialize in Pacific Northwest Softwoods. Douglas Fir, Cedar and Hemlock. Timbers, Siding, Trim and Paneling. We also import and distribute hardwood Decking.
Typically, if you spend more than $1500 in material, delivery is included. Otherwise standard fees for delivery are $75 in the Denver Metro and $100-150 to our common mountain areas. Beyond those it is specific to location.