Remill Old cypress siding?

paredown · 09-29-2010, 01:12 PM

Our house is a 60s modern with cypress siding--effectively 5/4 x8" rough sawn, installed vertically.

Instead of being milled to a profile though (typically for these houses they used a shiplap profile that didn't butt together, creating strong vertical lines), the siding was installed using an under-strip, with the wide siding nailed over top.

Edit: poking around I see this style called "reverse board and batten"

What I have then are perfect channels for bugs etc, since they also didn't block the bottoms of the channels this created.

I have been thinking about reinsulating on the outside using foam board and reinstalling the siding as a single layer. This should keep my thicknesses consistent.

Anyone know of a resaw mill or someone who would be willing to deal with recycled boards (NYC/CT area)?

Or is this something I could do myself (I have an old Foley Bellsaw planer that I believe had molding accessories made for it).

This would require milling the boards to a shiplap profile like the attached pic.

**kwikfishron** · 09-29-2010, 06:35 PM

DIY, clean the boards up with a couple passes with your new planer and cut the profile with your new router and table.

No pain no gain.

hayewe farm · 09-30-2010, 10:26 AM

I would suggest you sand before planning. Dirt can dull a planner knife very quickly. Then you can rabbet the edges with a router, shaper, or table saw. You do realize you will also be losing width of coverage.