(I'm not sure if this question belongs in this forum. If not, feel free to delete it.)
I have some old (c 1950?) cedar clapboards that I'd like to re-install. However, some are cracked. Some of the cracks are from being nailed through the (thin) top, which I won't do. Others, though, have running cracks in the 'body', not apparently due to nailing.
I wouldn't use the cracked ones; but, I'm concerned that the cracking might indicate that all the boards are apt to crack, and shouldn't be trusted.
Also, would further splitting just/mostly be a result of nailing? Because, I can pre-drill the nail holes.
Update: I used them. No splitting. In fact, it went a lot better in that regard than new finger-jointed clapboards - the old ones were very forgiving.