Fiber Cement Siding Gaps

Most fiber cement manufacturers make mounting blocks for lights electrical receptacles a c lines pvc venting etc.

Fiber cement siding gaps.

Jaime prefers to use the vinyl mounting blocks typically used with vinyl siding. This article series includes field reports of fiber cement board lap siding butt joint gap problems fiber cement moisture problems and other fiber cement lap siding installation or in service defects their diagnosis repair. James hardie recommends the use of caulks and sealants that remain permanently flexible. Fiber cement siding tolerances and gaps.

We include diagnostic inspection photos and text explain how to recognize diagnose and cure this problem. Both certainteed and jameshardie as of september 2008 have made clear that siding butt joint gaps should never be made that is. The siding on this gothic revival style home looks like wood clapboard but it s actually fiber cement painted a custom color. They re cheaper and easy to install and you can cut the proper size hole in a plastic mounting block with a utility knife or a snips.

Do not deliberately leave butt joint gaps in fiber cement lap siding and that they do not recommend caulking field cut butt joints in their board type fiber cement siding products. Fixing holes in fiber cement. When james hardie siding products butt into wood based materials a 1 8 gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood based product. Absorptive claddings like fiber cement can hold moisture leading to panel damage rot and even mold problems.

There s no doubt that removing entire sections of board risks damage to corresponding areas but in many ways it s the only tried and true way of how to repair cracked fiber cement siding. When installing fiber cement siding be sure to leave at least clear space between the siding and the flashing vertical siding should be installed and attached to the structural framing when a non structural sheathing gypsum board or foam type sheathing are used. Siding butt joint treatment. It is available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match many of the old siding shingles installed over the last 60 years.

Unlike vinyl aluminum and other siding materials if you choose to install fiber cement cladding be prepared. While a paint job on fiber cement siding lasts longer than wood usually anywhere between five to fifteen years it will eventually need to be redone. Use some touch up paint to cover up these face nails and then re caulk any gaps to completely repair fiber cement lap siding. 7 inch wide smooth lap siding primed about 1 50 per square foot picking the right siding for your house is a delicate balancing act between good looks durability maintenance and affordability.

Fiber cement must be repainted.