Got a few questions about fitting some shiplap timber cladding (not hardwood or T&G) the cladding will be fitted horizontally to vertical 25x50 batons, should I fit horizontal batons at the top and bottom of the verticals to prevent insect/small animal infestation in the "cavity" behind the cladding or leave it open for ventilation?
Is it necessary to space the cladding horizontally and if so how do I go about spacing it....read about using matchsticks or similar which is easy at the ends of the cladding but not so easy at the centres...won't the centres "sag"?..cladding is in 3.9m lengths.
Finally....any advantage to pre-drilling the cladding and should I put 1 or 2 nails across the width(150mm) I'm planning to use annular ring shanks, hand hammered in.
Sorry for so many questions but just trying to get ahead of the game before I start...I usually find stuff out after I put the last nail in only to find I should've done something different!
Any tips/advice much appreciated.
Is it necessary to space the cladding horizontally and if so how do I go about spacing it....read about using matchsticks or similar which is easy at the ends of the cladding but not so easy at the centres...won't the centres "sag"?..cladding is in 3.9m lengths.
Finally....any advantage to pre-drilling the cladding and should I put 1 or 2 nails across the width(150mm) I'm planning to use annular ring shanks, hand hammered in.
Sorry for so many questions but just trying to get ahead of the game before I start...I usually find stuff out after I put the last nail in only to find I should've done something different!
Any tips/advice much appreciated.