Expert: Dave Johnson - 8/15/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dave,
We would remove the old pine claps first, then tyvek, no insulation(that's ok right?). Is it ok to stain claps before nailing them in place? How would you cover the silver nail heads then? Can we cover window sills and trim to avoid rot and can we remove rotten sills and replace with vinyl instead of a whole new window? - Robin

ANSWER: Hi Robin,
Yes, thats right, but (I strongly urge you to insulate)
And yes, its ok to stain before installing the siding...the nail will just have to show.
Yes again, you may cover the trim with aluminum coil stock.
And again, yes you can replace the sills.
P.S. If you use cedar siding, you will need to use stainless nails... other nails will react to the adidic cedar and stain the siding...

Dave

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:
Dave,
I know you said yes to covering sills w/ aluminum but I wasn't sure if that was only when doing vinyl go over and the same with replacing just the sills. Do you just cut out the rotten section and then atatch the vinyl to the rest of the wooden sill? Won't it look funny if you stain first with all those silver nail head circles on a brown house? Poka dotted?- Thanks Robin

Answer
Hey Robin,
Sorry this is late...I was away for the weekend.
The removed area of the rotten sill should first be replaced with a new piece of wood to wrap. (be sure to caulk any edges to keep water from entering behind the trim.)

There is no way to make steel nails take a stain, and the heads are small enough so that they shouldn't show much anyway...
And yes, you can wrap all the trim before you install ANY siding.

Dave