Thoughts on re-siding the barn

[CraigStu]

What is that horizontal board below the T1-11? Is it flush w/ the T1-11? Could you run the metal down over that board 2" or so? Thinking if you can cover the T1-11 to board joint so rain runs below the bottom edge of the T1-11, that would be all you need to do. If the T1-11 never gets wet again, it should maintain it's current condition pretty well.

 

[MushCreek]

That bottom board is a 1" thick composite. It sticks out well past the T1-11. I could space the metal out, but how would I flash the top of the metal to the T1-11? By removing the bottom 32" of T1-11, that would give me room to slide the flashing up behind the existing siding, then install the replacement plywood under it. I suppose I could just remove a narrow band, wide enough to install the flashing, but some of the T1-11 is definitely rotten. I'd rather remove the bad stuff, and do it right this time.

 

[CraigStu]

Well I 'assumed' (which got me to the usual result) that you had figured a way to seal the metal at it's top. Oops. Also I guess I had forgotten that you mentioned some of the T1-11 is actually rotted. So back to 32" of new T1-11, super sealing the edges, and flashing at top and bottom? But that kind of bothers me still because there are still edges of T1-11 to try to seal. As another test, what if you drop that metal down 2 inches. Is there any way you could let it overlap that horizontal board? I wonder how that might look at the door and corner trim. Thinking if you can sneak flashing up under the existing T1-11 to seal the top of the new T1-11, then it could just as well seal the top of the metal. Maybe replace just the rotted wood at 12-15" or as needed and then cover it all w/ metal?

 

[MushCreek]

If I remove 32" of the T1-11, I'll replace it with pressure treated plywood, then put tin over it. The most critical area will be the new cut surface of the T1-11, but I'll treat it with copper napthenate, then paint it properly, which wasn't done on the original construction. I'll also leave more of a gap from the flashing to prevent wicking of moisture.

 

[CraigStu]

This sounds like a plan.