thanks for all your coments, this is very helpful. It looks like on the wall layout you don't require strappig, but would you agree that there is a benefit, and when I remove and repalce the shakes with the correct spacing I should leave it? This area of the cabin has a deck and retains alot of snow in the winter, I could imagine that the melting snow would soak the shakes and beyond, perhaps I should make slots in the strapping to allow the water to escape (as you mentioned Skymaster, I don't want to make a dam) Do you guys think this is all reasonable, or should I dispense with the strapping, thanks again for all your thoughtful input. Rick.