How To Nail Tongue And Groove Siding

This is part 1 of a 3 part series.

How to nail tongue and groove siding.

Because the nail goes in at an angle and needs to be sunk a nail gun is a better option than a hammer. On the side of the building the roof angle was three pitch so we knew we had to cut our tongue and groove cedar boards at a 15. To ensure that the nail gets into the groove where it will be hidden it must be inserted at an angle. The nail can be started with a normal carpenter s hammer and then made flush with the surface of the groove by means of a nail set.

Tongue and groove siding tool list. Tongue and groove or lapped sidings generally have a rustic cabinlike appearance. The paneling will be nailed directly to these furring strips. Nail gun for tongue and groove siding tools equipment tongue and groove siding t g patterns pictures why adirondack is back woodhaven tongue and groove siding t g patterns pictures vertical tongue and groove siding exterior modern with tongue and groove siding protect your colorado home.

In horizontal application start at the bottom and work up with the groove edges facing downwards. Siding up to 6 inches wide can be blind nailed with one siding nail per bearing toe nailed through the base of each tongue. Common gauges for nails used in tongue and groove installation include 15 16 17 and 18. One of the cool things about tongue and groove walls is that you can use a technique called blind nailing if you do it properly you won t have any nail heads showing or holes to fill.

Nail up the first panel at a corner of the room with the tongue side facing out. The tongue section of the board should be at the top with the groove section at the bottom. Use a nail puller to yank out the nails that anchor the boards to be removed. Nails should penetrate 1 1 4 inch into solid wood behind the siding.

As the gauge of a nail increases the nail is smaller. As such it s possible to use 15 gauge nails with lengths of 1 inch 1 5 inches or 2 inches. If you can t pull them out carefully pry the board away from the building paper beneath and cut the nails from the underside with a small hacksaw. The next grooved edge will hide the nail holes.

Because the overlap is less than on other types of siding these provide somewhat less protection from the elements. Tongue groove installation tongue and groove siding can be installed horizontally or vertically. The gauge of a nail has nothing to do with its length. Drive the nails through the shoulder of the tongues into the framing at about a 45 degree angle.

A nail s gauge represents its diameter. To install tongue and groove paneling vertically begin by nailing 1 by 3 furring strips horizontally either directly to the wall studs on a new wall or over the drywall on a finished wall. When blind nailing the nail is sent into the groove at roughly a 45 degree angle.