You are applying a new coat of stain every three to five years as required without skimping on the finish. Using protective finishes go a long way to keep your siding in great shape. It is made from wood, so it does require the pre-requisite wood product care and TLC. There seems to be a perception that T1-11 will fail eventually, all the time but this is not true, and it does not have to be true. Any all weather stain or paint and primer combo that fits your budget will do the trick. It should be the same paint or stain or paint you used to treat the edges. It takes a little more time to do, but it is worth it because you will appreciate the longer life your siding will have.įinally, you want to choose an excellent stain or paint. Trimming the corners, windows, and doors with wood trim and install Z flashing to all of the upper joints to prevent water and moisture from leaking underneath the top edges of the panels.Ī pre-installation tip is to paint or stain the edges of the siding panels before you install to seal them up and prevent moisture from seeping in from the sides. In some areas, you don't have to use sheeting and house wrap to do the installation, but I would not recommend doing it that way. You should put sheeting and house wrap under the T1-11 siding, just like with any other siding. When cutting around window and door openings a circular saw is the tool of choice, making sure you leave a 1/2 inch gap for expansion. You want to avoid pulling nails, even one or two because you will most likely damage the siding. You want the panels to fit together well so take the time to measure carefully and recheck any cuts before you make them. It's recommended not to nail one panel then nail the next panel over the previous panel. The edges should be placed over a stud and then nailed into position together. The edges of the siding are exceptionally absorbent, so avoiding contact with water or moisture is essential to a successful installation.Įach type of T1-11 siding has a 3/8 inch thick edge designed to be overlapped by the next panel installed. One thing you have to keep in mind when installing T1-11 is that it must not be anywhere it will come in contact with the ground. It has gotten a bad rap due to improper installations when it is used where it is not recommended, such as roofs and decks. T1-11 will last and stay beautiful if adequately installed, painted or stained, sealed and maintained. If the OSB T1-11 siding gets wet, it swells and expands, flaking, chipping and eventually will rot. It is made with wood strands and flakes and is treated with a resin to bind it together when pressure is applied in the process. OSB T1-11 siding has more issues with water because of how it is manufactured. To prevent water damage with any siding it requires proper installation, sealing, and maintenance. The plywood siding has less of an issue with water damage than the OSB has. Water damage is the primary reason it fails. T1-11 siding is a functional siding with great aesthetics so what is the issue with this siding. It comes in thicknesses of 3/8 of an inch, 5/8 of an inch and 3/4 of an inch. You can find T1-11 siding in sheets that are 48 inches x 96 inches or 48 inches x 120 inches. If you are looking for a more natural appearance, then you definitely would want to go with the rough finish. You can get it is a smooth finish or a rough more rustic finish. There are a few finishes, depending on the manufacturer, you will find T1-11 is available in to purchase. Plywood is stronger and will hold up in the weather a little better with either type though you'd need to put an excellent all-weather stain or paint to protect it. The OSB is less expensive because it is wood flakes or strands glued and pressed together and a little lower quality than plywood. Is T1-11 still a viable option, or does it often fail to cause builders and homeowners alike shy away? Read on to find out why it is still a viable option. What has caused this once trendy siding to fall to the side while others have taken its place? Today engineered wood, vinyl, and composite siding are more popular, though T1-11 exterior siding is still available.
It is common due to it's more natural wood grain look that people liked when it was popular.Īt the height of T1-11's popularity in the 1960s, '70s and 80's it was installed on a lot of houses, and it is still in use on many of them. One of the more common types of siding used residentially is T1-11. Are you looking to put new siding on your home or cabin up at the lake? There are lots of options out there for siding from vinyl siding to stone or brick to stucco and lots of variety and options in between.