VERTICAL BOARDS SENSITIVE TO RAIN.(Homes)

Byline: PETER HOTTON

I am planning to paint my house, which has unpainted vertical pine boards. A friend said if I don't paint, the water will go through (between) the boards. Is this true?

- Albany

A: Yes, it is true. Pine particularly is very sensitive to weather, and left to the elements, can soak up water and not only allow water to go through, but the boards will decay. If the boards are square-edged, water will definitely go between the boards. If the boards are tongued and grooved or shiplapped, leaks are much less likely, but the boards should be primed and painted anyway. Tongued-and-grooved boards have a tongue of wood on one side and a …