Allow a 1 4 in.
Expansion gap for siding.
By obtaining some additional siding and carefully preparing it small pieces can simply be snapped into place covering the wide gap your home builder is forced to leave for expansion.
Vinyl siding must be nailed so expansion and contraction are not restricted.
This means that the boards should be touching each other when they are installed.
For siding up to 6 inches wide use one nail one inch up from the lap.
Allow a 1 8 inch expansion gap between pieces if the siding is air or kiln dried.
Allowance should be made for expansion and contraction by leaving a 1 4 6 4mm gap between the siding and all corner posts and channels.
Increase to 3 8 9 5mm when installing in temperatures below 40 f 4 4 c.
Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows.
Vertical trim gap caulking.
Choose the right nails.
There is no need to leave a gap for expansion.
Gap for expansion wherever siding butts accessories.
Always caulk between the siding and the trim.
And it can move a lot through expansion and contraction especially along the length of the clapboard style panels.
Leave 6 4mm gap at the top and bottom.
James hardie recommends that a slip sheet joint flashing is installed behind each butt joint in the siding.
If joint moulding option is selected add the thickness of the web to the gap allowing a net 3 16 in.
Do not nail through overlaps.
Allow for expansion and contraction.
Lap siding can be installed horizontally or vertically.
Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement.
When installing in freezing weather below 40.
Allowing for expansion and contraction.
By having the small additional overlapped piece of siding you are still allowing for expansion but you are effectively covering all the gaps in the siding.
To avoid structural or aesthetic problems associated with temperature fluctuation take the following steps.
Hardie boards should be joined in moderate contact.
Do i need to seal edges at a butt joint.
Vinyl siding contracts and expands as the outside temperature changes.
To compensate for this movement adjacent siding panels are overlapped so that they can slide sideways past each other without buckling or creating gaps see nailing details and expansion gaps.
If the panels are 20 feet 6 1 meters or longer refer to the manufacturer s instructions for how to increase the gap.
Siding must be cut in lengths to provide for expansion.