Fixing A Horse Barn

[jaggedscars]

Hello all.

I recently acquired about 8 acres of land with a standing horse barn and house. The barn was build around 1976 and has a block foundation that stands approx 5 feet tall. The barn is then build off of that foundation. What i am trying to decide, is whether to side the barn with rough cut lumber (like board and batt fir siding) from the Amish or to use 5/8 - 3/4 in plywood/T1-11. Beside time, what would be some disadvantages to using the rough cut? The original plywood has lasted up till the last few years. What questions should i be asking myself before tackling this?

Example of Board and Batt Siding

I'll be uploading pictures of the barn soon. Thanks!

 

[Cjk]

I really like that rough sawn look but maitaining exterior wood is not a favorite hobby. All my building have steel siding except the house which has vinyl.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hard to argue with powder coated metal siding in terms of maintenance.

If you want the look of wood, then you're facing periodic painting OR treatment with some kind of water proofing, etc. Just based on looks, I like the rough siding better

 

[jkwilson]

I'd go with the rough siding. The plywood needs painting just as much and doesn't hold up as well. The board and batten may not seal quite as well since the boards are going to shrink.

Make sure you know how to nail it. Somebody told me once, but I don't remember. You have to allow for the shrink.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Plywood provides structure from racking. If you change to individual boards you may want to add some diagonal braces in the corners.

 

[kbs2244]

It is not unusual to see well over 100 year old rough cut board and batten barn sideing.
Never been painted.
You don't have to worry about it de-laminating.
But it is not the most weatherproof.

 

[AZ Pete]

HardiePanel would be very low maintenance