Novelty Siding History

When repairing or replacing historic siding take a sample to the lumberyard or sawmill for comparison.

Novelty siding history.

It was used on a limited basis mainly because it was susceptible to water penetration and rust. E w p 18 available in smooth face. Siding in the 20th century siding material options for houses took a giant leap forward during the mid 1900s. Along with the roof it forms the first line of defense against the elements most importantly sun rain snow heat and cold thus creating a stable more comfortable environment on the interior side.

You can still find beveled drop and other novelty siding at lumberyards but it s not always like the original. Indiana machinist frank hoess corrected this problem by creating interlocking flanges on the top and bottom of siding panels. Aluminum siding with a baked on color finish was introduced in 1947 by jerome kaufman. Steel and aluminum siding steel siding formed and joined to resemble clapboard was patented as early as 1903.

Tongue and groove novelty types may be blind nailed at the tongue at left. Popular by the 1880s and possibly in use as early as 1860 it is typically edge matched in a shiplap joint but was also produced in tongue and groove. Reversible pattern usually used for interior applications. Widths 8 and over use 2 nails 3 4 apart.

The home building industry went into overdrive as service members returned from overseas and needed a place to live. This is frequently associated with a cove pattern also called german siding in some areas. By the 1930s standard references listed no fewer than 28 different types of common horizontal siding. The german or novelty siding a milled siding that is thin above and thicker below with a concave bevel was used throughout many parts of the united states in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century but with regional variations in material profile and dimensions.

Novelty siding that swaps a bevel for the cove is often called channel rustic. Board available surfaced or saw textured. Historical novelty siding patterns these patterns are typically made from flat sawn lumber. Sometimes it s possible and usually cheaper to adapt a local product rather than have an exact match milled.