Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 4/3/2010

Question
We are building a home and after the home was wrapped with Tyvek the siding was installed, then the shake siding was installed above that.  An error occured and the shakes installed were the wrong color so they were removed and replaced...only to discover that the original shakes were the correct ones!  Would you please advise as to the best solution to this problem?  My husband is concerned that the integrity of the boards has been breached as well as the Tyvek.  The builder has offered to take the shakes down, for the second time, put on new Tyvek and install the correct shakes.  Is this sufficient to protect the wood which will have been punctured three times, by just re-wrapping with new Tyvek?

Answer
Hi jan, if the plywood underneath isn't damaged too much in the process of removing the shakes and the tyvek then I see no reason to go any further than removal and replacement of the house wrap and the shakes.  You or someone in your behalf should inspect the bare storm sheathing (the base material sheathing the walls) to make sure no major holes or other structural problems such as loosened nails holding the base sheathing in place, that type of thing.  Any bad sheathing should be replaced or renailed as required prior to the new Tyvek and shakes.  Other than that if the old shakes have been removed sensibly then I wouldn't worry about the sheathing underneath not holding up.  I would recommend that the height of the starter course of the new shakes be changed slightly.  This will change the location of the new staples or shake nails so the builder isn't renailing into the same rows as the old nails from previous applications.  I hope this information helps please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com