After 5+ years finally started barn

[sawtooth]

Guys I need some input please. So my contractor is working on the ends of the barn and I realized the siding widths are not matching up top to bottom which will lead to misaligned battens. NOT GOOD!

This is because his amish supplier provided different width boards in the beginning making it hard to match them up now. So his proposal is to add a second layer of boards (siding) on the top portion and match those up to the bottom. So there will be about 1" overhang top to bottom which I'm ok with as this is a more rustic approach anyways. First question does this pose a problem? Secondly, if not then how will the different width boards and battens look? So all the battens will now line up top to bottom but the overall lines will be inconsistent due to different width boards. Will this appear ok in your opinion?

 

[sawtooth]

This is where we are now.

 

[sawtooth]

This is what I had in mind.

 

[wmonroe]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/projects/406992-after-5-years-finally-started-image-3216214080-jpg"/> This is what I had in mind.

I think that looks pretty good. Would you do the other end the same way?

 

[deerseeker001]

looks nice,good job.

View attachment 406991

This is where we are now.

 

[farmer2009]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/projects/406992-after-5-years-finally-started-image-3216214080-jpg"/> This is what I had in mind.

That's the end product that I would have pictured.
Have him place some batons jut two or three and see if you can get a feel for how it will look. Without running a horizontal baton at or below the over lap I really think it won't look right.

If all else failed he should have ripped the boards to the correct width on site before installing them.

 

[s219]

Sounds like there is no good solution -- that's a bit disappointing that the builder did not think about this.

On my barn, the top section of siding does stick out a little, it basically overlaps the bottom row. But they also got all the boards and battens lined up, since all the boards where of the same width to start.

Not sure how it would look with variable width boards and battens, but it's not the end of the world. Probably more important to get the seams all properly covered.

Another option is to not add more boards on top, but instead nail a wide horizontal "waist" band of boards across the middle, and use that to keep the top and bottom battens separate. If wide enough, it will make it harder to notice any differences. I would however, saw a 15 degree bevel into the top of the board so that it does not collect water, and I would not butt the top battens to the board tightly -- leave a gap to prevent water damage. Probably should think through other possible pros and cons of this. I just know that style-wise, waist bands are often used to divide different siding styles on houses to give a clean break and avoid any odd looking mis-matches.

 

[s219]

BTW, regardless of the issue, that is a pretty looking barn and I love the wood siding.

 

[Walkin Horse]

Something to think about. If you put a second layer of boards over top they all get nailed together. When things start drying and moving I think your going to have nails breaking boards. Also poplar molds bad when wet and not stacked right. I would worry about that growing between the layers. If the bottom layer cups or twists it's going to push the top layer off.

When I did my first board and batten 2 years ago I messed up. I nailed the battens to the boards. Now as things move and dry and twist and cup some of the battens are popping off. The one I did this summer I used 10" boards and 6" battens. I left a 4" space to cover with the battens. I nailed 3-1/2" blocks between the boards then nailed the batten to the blocks. That way everything moves.

I myself would rip that top layer off after you run that contractor off. If you layer it what's it going to make your window trim look like. If you need me to I can fire your contractor.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I went back and looked at the picture again. It may be easier to take the bottom off and change it. Man that pisses me off thinking he did that. Why did he run it in two sections. Looks like the longest boards are between the doors and beside the window. They couldn't be more than 12'.