Thread: New weatherboards are full of knot holes

We are replacing all the weatherboards on our house and the new ones that are going up are riddled with knot holes (between 8-10mm diameter); some of these knot holes have even dropped out leaving full thickness holes. Our builder reassures us that these will be filled and once everything gets painted, we won't notice them or have any trouble in the future. Is this true?
I'm worried that we're going to have to redo weatherboards in 5-10years and as our place is double story it'll mean scafolding, etc - $$$ - so we want to get it right the first time.
He also said that this is pretty much the standard of weatherboards nowadays; our stuff has come from Queensland and is pre-primed.
Any comments much appreciated.

Originally Posted by cabuckley

We are replacing all the weatherboards on our house and the new ones that are going up are riddled with knot holes (between 8-10mm diameter); some of these knot holes have even dropped out leaving full thickness holes. Our builder reassures us that these will be filled and once everything gets painted, we won't notice them or have any trouble in the future. Is this true?
I'm worried that we're going to have to redo weatherboards in 5-10years and as our place is double story it'll mean scafolding, etc - $$$ - so we want to get it right the first time.
He also said that this is pretty much the standard of weatherboards nowadays; our stuff has come from Queensland and is pre-primed.
Any comments much appreciated.

If they are cypress weatherboards then knots are common & frequent. But loose & missing knots are normally defective.
regards inter

Originally Posted by intertd6

If they are cypress weatherboards then knots are common & frequent. But loose & missing knots are normally defective.
regards inter

Any filler in those large holes won't expand/contract at the same rate as the timber and IMO will fail. I'd start by speaking to the supplier

Thanks for the feedback

Well here we are 6 weeks later; weatherboards are all installed and painted; knot holes filled and unnoticeable.... but now a new and disastrous
problem has emerged. All the weather boards are cracking.
The builder has contacted the supplier who has verbally accepted liability (nothing in writing so far) for replacing the weatherboards, including cost of scaffolding (2 storey), labour and repainting. It all happened so easily, no dispute at all.... too easy maybe? We've heard on the grapevine that the supplier might be going belly up. Our builder isn't prepared to wear the cost of replacement themselves, so where does that leave us.

did builder buy it then his problem, you brought it yours

Yes the builder bought it. We had no involvement at all.
Trouble is, we've been advised to not make final payment until the issue is resolved and it's looking like this is going to be a long drawn out affair. So we assume we won't be able to move in until it's sorted. Is this correct?
And - who pays the cost of our rent due to this delay (if we're lucky enough to get an extension of our rental). We do not have a penalty clause in our contract for going over time

It looks to me as though he has nailed too close to the edge. What this means is that each board is pinned top and bottom. The boards shrink, and split down the middle.
Weatherboards should only be pinned on the bottom edge, therefore the nail needs to be above (just) the top edge of the lower board, or they WILL split.
For this reason, also, you should put your first coat of paint, in the final colour, on before you put them up ( as the board shrinks, the undercolour becomes exposed, and you get stripes.)
That's what it looks like to me, anyway.
TM
or maybe not, if the manufacturer has taken responsibility, (I should read the whole post first). But what I said still stands.

It is just a defect which won't stop you moving in, it looks like it has been nailed incorrectly as said before.
regards inter

I agree with others - it looks like poor fixing not faulty boards. In any case your builder must do all the dealing and fixing! See here: Building Commission - Complaints, Disputes & Appeals call and talk to them sooner than later - have your builder's licence number with you.

And do not pay any final payment until fixed!

Thank you all for your opinions and advice. It is appreciated. There seems to be the consensus that technique when installing the boards has played a significant part in them cracking. I guess it didn't help that the product was also faulty - several packets of weatherboards sitting inside the house still waiting to be installed have also cracked.

In my opinion those checks are not caused by improper fixing. They are caused by improper drying of the timber. The timber was fixed wet and then it dryed out. Hence the checks. That is why the supplier is liable. If they sell a product that is marketed as kiln dryed 10-12% moisture content and it is actually greater than those numbers, the supplier is liable.

These kind of problems suck for everyone involved when they happen. Everyone loses time & money.

Good Luck

Originally Posted by TheHammer

In my opinion those checks are not caused by improper fixing. They are caused by improper drying of the timber.

I agree with The Hammer. It's strange that they all seemed to have cracked in the same spot though.

On a brighter note, it actually seems to add character to the house. Makes it look older.

Originally Posted by cabuckley

I guess it didn't help that the product was also faulty - several packets of weatherboards sitting inside the house still waiting to be installed have also cracked.

mmm . . . marvellous what a bit of extra info does - likely to be both poor boards and poor installation (not least to go ahead when the problem became evident).