Cedar Shake Spacing?

ribuilder

I've seen some guys installing shakes on a house that dont "space" them apart at all.....the whole thing buckled and he had to re-do it. BUT, I've also seen (and installed) shakes tight that have not had that problem. On This Old House, Norm was siding a shed with white cedar shakes (i belive) and he actually planed them with a hand plane so as to be tighter. Anyone have experience with this? Problems or ideas?

__________________
remember what you did right, then do it again!

WarnerConstInc.

I suppose that depends on what is behind the shakes. They are going to need to dry from both sides.

CreativeHomeImp

I have seen people space them to far and when they shrink they end up with a big gap

__________________
30+ Years and Counting....
http://www.creativehomeimp.com

ribuilder

Right, me too. I'm wondering if it depends on the shake as well...Like you said, how dry it is before you put it up and what kind of vapor barrier it is behind. I felt bad for the guy who had to re-do all that! About 30 squre. It was a mess.

__________________
remember what you did right, then do it again!

A W Smith

Shakes that are not primed and are directly exposed unprotected to the weather get spaced, Shakes that are dried and primed and painted do not get spaced.

http://www.cedarbureau.org/installat...ual/page12.htm

__________________
Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

dubz

It depends on the moisture content of the shingle. If they are bone dry they are going to swell and need to be spaced. I have wet them down because it's easier for the help to lay them touching than leave a consistent 3/16 gap.

ribuilder

Thanks for link Al. We did some homes when I lived in NY over in Nyack, alot of old victorians, I noticed some were spaced and some werent, some as much as 1/4". As that manufacturer says, 1/8 to 1/4. Makes sense. I've never spaced the primed ones either. Well ....thanks!

__________________
remember what you did right, then do it again!

Tom Struble

How i was taught is the striated are butted all others are spaced .The spacing not only allows for swelling it also allows you to keep the shingles plumb without having to plane them.Every box of shingles i ever saw whether primed or clear say to gap
cedar shingles are usually stored inside until delivery so they are relatively dry but they swell when they get wet
you can even see on those vinyshake panels they are always spaced



Al i dont see in that link where it says to butt if primed