Reclaimed Cherry Siding

Several weeks ago, our builder, Tim Alexander, owner of HomeSource Builders, was at an Asheville Builders Association luncheon, and was visiting with Mike Stagemen, of Hill Top Barn Wood Shop. Tim knew we were looking to highlight the exterior wall faces near the front door with some sort of reddish-brown vertical wood siding. He thought there might be a fit.

I went to Hill Top's warehouse, and saw lots and lots of old, reclaimed barnwood—a bit more rustic than the look we had in mind. Then, Mike’s partner, Mike McGrath, showed me a dusty stack of reclaimed cherry flooring planks from a farmhouse in eastern Tennessee.

That lit us up with possibilities. Planing the boards would reveal their grain, and the old beveled edges could be milled down to what’s called a “nickel gap” spacing. They did that, finished it with a deep coat of Water Seal, and in the past few days, installed it all. I made this quick, 1.5-minute promo video for them. It shows the process and the finished installation.

By the way, the cream coloring on the siding is merely the prime coat. as it was delivered from the factory. Fact is, the finish color will be a medium brown.