Soft Siding

[John H. Cooper]

Inspected a house with cedar siding that looks like it was painted or stained with a solid stain. The roof has been replaced in that last couple of years. The siding is starting to deteriorate next to the roof. Less than 10% moisture and it was raining that morning. No flashing is visible. It looks like they sealed the seam between the roofing material and the wall with roofing cement.

There could be flashing underneath...

Definitely non-standard. No visible leaks in attic below. The siding definitely needs to be addressed, but not sure about the flashing. What do you guys think?

John

[gbeaumont]

Hi John,

The problem here is realy not the flashing, rather it is that the siding material should have been cut back 1-2 inches above the roof covering. When it is touching (or is tared in) moisture can wick into the siding planks and trap moisture. That siding needs removal and replacement and any damage to the sheathing needs to be repaired.

Regards

Gerry

[Carl A. Brown]

John,

Did they have a kickout at the bottom of the roof?

http://www.dryflekt.com

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

John,

Your in Alaska... Over the years how much snow, ice, etc. do you think has been trapped between that down spout and the siding. Even though it may have rained that morning the moisture may have had time to evaporate. Snow & Ice cause moisture to be held in place making it easy for the moisture to wick up into the wood.

[Steve Boozer]

Whenever we re-flash walls I always make the guys cut the siding off the roof line first. It also makes it much easier to put the new step flashings in. The guide on our circular saws is 1 1/4 inches, so we just slide the guide along the roof. If the siding is soft higher than 1 1/4 inches I have seen other contractors cut the siding 4 1/2 inches about the roof line, re shingle and step flash the wall, install a 2X2 drip edge upside down under the siding and the install a 2X4 to fill in the gap. They caulk where the metal meets the siding which kinda gets you back to square one, but at least it eliminates the soft siding without having to replace all of it.

[David P. Valley]

Attachment 5010
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