Tag Archives: cedar channel siding

Western Red Cedar Channel Siding

Western Red Cedar channel siding is a popular type of lap siding that provides excellent weather protection, especially in areas where the moisture levels change with the season. The profile of each piece of channel siding overlaps the next piece partially, thus creating a deep, recessed channel effect.

Western Red Cedar Channel Siding on mobile building

Channel siding is readily available in knotty grades of Western Red Cedar with a rough sawn, textured face in the following dimensions

  • 1×6” unseasoned or kiln-dried
  • 1×8” unseasoned or kiln-dried
  • 1×10” unseasoned

*Please note-the dimension described is not the finished or “dressed” size after the channel is milled, but refers to the size of board that the piece of channel is used to create the pattern*

Western Red Cedar Channel siding profiles

This diagram provided courtesy of the WRCLA

Other dimensions of Channel Cladding, as well as clear cedar grades or other species of wood, are available by special order. In these next two photos, we worked with a specialty mill to have a true 1″ thick channel siding pattern created out of knotty Western Red Cedar for a customer in North Carolina.

Custom milled 1" Knotty Western Red Cedar Channel Siding

Custom made knotty Channel Cedar Cladding

Here is a beautiful example of custom milled, clear-grade Alaska Yellow Cedar Channel Siding we recently supplied a customer in the Seattle area.

custom milled Alaska Yellow Cedar Channel Siding

clear grade Alaska Yellow Cedar channel siding

Channel siding can be installed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Be sure to allow a 1/8” expansion gap between the pieces and do not nail through the overlaps. One nail through the face is sufficient for channel siding that is 6” or less.  For profiles over 6”, two nails should be installed through the face, keeping nails 2-1/2” to 3” apart to allow for movement without splitting.

installation guide for channel lap siding

This diagram is provided courtesy of the WRCLA.

When installing channel siding horizontally, start at the bottom and work up. For vertical or diagonal applications, the siding should be nailed to blocking or furring strips as needed to ensure that the nail penetrates solid wood.  Stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant ring shank nails are recommended to hold the siding in place.

To learn more about other popular wood siding profiles, please visit our blog on that subject by clicking HERE, and before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

Matching and Creating Historical Wood Siding Patterns

As a specialty building materials distributor, one of our areas of expertise is in assisting our customers in creating unique siding patterns out of Cedar or Douglas Fir, as well as matching historical wood siding patterns that are no longer commonly used.  Our staff is well trained and versed in helping customers throughout the United States in matching wood siding patterns to maintain a building’s historical architectural details.   From custom shiplap patterns to log cabin sidings, tongue and groove patterns to channel sidings, we work closely with our customers to ensure the old world charm and exact specifications needed are met.

Custom Western Red Cedar Siding Patterns

Just recently, we were contacted to help match this clear, vertical grain Western Red Cedar 10” drop siding (also referred to as Dutch Lap Siding) for a repair that needs to be done on a very old cabin.   Since drop siding is no longer commonly produced in a 10” profile in Western Red Cedar, we are working with the contractor to make just enough of the cedar siding to make the repair in the most cost-effective manner possible to maintain the look of the cabin.   In this case, since the siding is painted, it can be easier to create something that will look exactly the same as the existing siding when the new pieces are installed and coated.

Vintage 10" Clear, Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar drop siding

clear, vertical grain western red cedar dutch lap siding

Historical Clear, Vertical Grain Old Growth Western Red Cedar painted drop siding

Other projects we have had the pleasure of working with include providing this fully dimensional 5/4×12” clear, vertical grain Western Red Cedar planks for a historical restoration of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Michigan.  The Clear Cedar planks are installed directly over mahogany strips, just exactly as Frank designed the look many years ago.

5/4x12" Clear Vertical Grain full Dimension for Frank Lloyd Wright Project in MI

Need help matching a siding pattern?  Our process begins by carefully examining a piece of the existing siding.  It is carefully measured, and a “line drawing” is created and submitted to our customer for review.

Custom Historical Wood Siding Patterns for Sale

Next, we discuss the options of what material will be used to create the wood siding.  As mentioned previously, if the siding is to be painted, we have more options of grade and how the material will be manufactured.  If the siding will be left natural or stained, it will be of utmost importance to match the species and grade of wood exactly to what is on the building.  We specialize in providing custom siding patterns in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, and other exotic and domestic hard and softwoods.

Before your next project, be sure to visit us!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington, WA  98233

We ship nationwide!