The Great Gable Debate

Have you been wondering what we are going to do about the exposed plywood on the gable ends of the Momplex?

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Step 1

ME TOO!!!!

As the siding has been going up, we have been having the the Great Gable Debate ... what to put up on the gable ends?

It has been going on for weeks now, as soon as we said the siding word ... the Ram's wanted a decision on what to do with the gable ends.

I did not want to just side all the way up because the Momplex is so huge, it would look even bigger! We definitely need something to break up the siding and for contrast.

We finally decided on the side gables of the Momplex, we would do a white metal that looks like board and batten that is very low maintenance and very durable.

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Step 2 Instructions

It's basically just standard metal sheets, just like what <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/05/momplex/going-gray" target="_blank">we put on the roof,</a> but with a little different ribbing. Roofing on the walls, if you will!

We cut all the sheets on the ground at the roof angle.

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Step 3 Instructions

And then installed C Channel on the top and bottom to the gable ends.

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Step 4 Instructions

And then just started in the middle and worked our way outwards. Just like the roofing, the metal is simply screwed to the gable ends.

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Step 5 Instructions

I went home to feed a car full of hungry girls and came back up and the gable ends were DONE!!! This stuff went up fast and we absolutely love the way it looks. It's simple, yet durable and low maintenance.

But this does not end our Great Gable Debate.

We still have the problem of the front gable end. You know know, the one you see on drive up, on the front of the building.

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Step 6 Instructions

Up at the top front gable end, we still have plywood. And we can't decide what to put up there.

I for one, kind of like the plywood. It matches the <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/07/momplex/little-roofing" target="_blank">little roofs</a> and we could cover the plywood joints board and batten style, and stain the two to match. Cheap and easy!!! But because it would be wood ... someone would be up there every several years refinishing it.

With the rest of the building being maintenance free metal siding .... it sure would be a shame to have to rent a lift every few years just to refinish the one gable end ...

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Step 7 Instructions

<a href="http://www.renovationexperts.com/siding-wood-shingles.asp" target="_blank">Image from Renovation Experts</a>

So we talked about adding cedar shake shingles to the front gable end. We could even buy the vinyl stuff to reduce maintenance and ease installation. But I worry about introducing a new type of siding in just one spot on the Momplex. Is that okay to do?

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Step 8 Instructions

<a href="http://www.cuttingbrosinc.com/framing.php" target="_blank">Image from Cutting Brothers</a>

So I then thought about just siding all the way up the front gable end of the Momplex, and then adding a decorative wood truss to match the <a href="http://ana-white.com/2012/07/momplex/little-roofing" target="_blank">little roofs.</a> What do you think? We'd still need a lift to stain those beams every few years or so.

Step 9 Diagram

Step 9 Instructions

And that makes me just want to go for the quick and easy fix, the white metal. And it would be maintenance free.

Decisions, decisions! This Great Gable Debate is a tough one!

What do you think we should do?

Cheap and charming plywood board and batten?
Maintenance free vinyl cedar shake siding?
Extend the gray siding up and add a decorative truss to match the little roofs?
Or just do the white metal and be done?