Siding

Here are a few pictures of the Fraser eastern white cedar shingles.

They are rebutted and re-squared with two coats of Cabot factory applied solid stain (dark grey).

Unfortunately almost all of the boxes were packed before dry and are sticking together and when separated the paint often comes off in areas.  They are replacing 60% of the shingles as  ~ 40% is already installed and supplying the paint to repaint what is on and offering some yet to be determined compensation.  I am going to ask them to keep enough of the bad shingles to do a 16'X24' shed.  They were quite helpful but still a huge pain.

Started siding

We finally decided on a siding material.  Eastern white cedar shingles with 2 coats of factory applied Cabot solid stain (20 year warranty, limited of course), with home slicker 10, a Nylon mesh undercoating.  Not sure how enviro. friendly this nylon mesh is but it does appear to create a good water drainage layer and airflow.  I think all the old barns (and some houses) that still have their cedar shingles intact lasted because the air blew right through them.  The shingles are reasonably enviro. friendly as they are sourced fairly locally (northern New Brunswick) therefore lower embodied energy and through so called sustainable harvesting.  Pictures to follow.

Almost weather tight. No doors yet and one window for greenhouse needed.

Installed remaining windows today.  Ordered the south doors on the house (swinging french and door onto balcony) from same company as the windows approx. 4 weeks ago to get the better designed glass (high R and high solar heat gain) as the garden door is the biggest window downstairs and the door to the balcony is the biggest window upstairs so no point in compromise now.  Unfortunately there is still no word on the status of the doors.  Thought I could just pick up the other (3) exterior doors (Jeld-wen) off the shelf but had to order those as well so will be approx. 4 weeks to get those.  Looks like will have to use plywood if I want to insulate before the doors arrive.   Received the wrong size glazing panel for one of the greenhouse panels.  The seller doesn't want to take any responsibility for the error and wants to charge me $700.00 for the one piece of 4'X10' glazing (almost half of this is shipping).  I tried to convince him that he has to take some (of course in my eyes all) of the responsibility as I simply sent him my plans and he figured out the glazing and framing sizes required and the plans clearly indicate an eight foot panel would not fit.  He has me over a barrel as I need the panel but hopefully he does better than the $100.00 off he initially offered me.  Still trying to find a ducting / HRV contractor.  Only have one price so far.