The cracked siding doesn't appear to be specific to any side or part of the house. Caulk can also be used to secure an angled cut or some other section where a backer is not available. Were building a house that calls for shingles on the gable ends and dormers, with lap siding on the rest of the house. There we also discuss adding back flashing to seal open lap siding butt joints against leaks into the wall system. I'm not clear what sort of siding you have installed: shingles or boards, nor if the concern is just for painting vs a possible asbestos concern if the siding were to be power-washed or cut/sawn etc. 5. I only have experience with the hardie lap siding but I seriously doubt you would have problems with rattling. We quote from the siding manufacturer's installation guides, contractor guides, and appropriate codes & standards and we debate the pros and cons of caulking vs. flashing for certain siding repairs. Since seeing a post by NEXTLEVEL I have started using deck screws to secure Hardieplank siding. One of customers has brought to my attention that his Hardiboard is cracking, it was installed by the home owner about 5 yrs. Choosing the best remedy for failing paint on fiber cement siding or any other exterior building surface depend on at least these considerations: Cosmetic issues: Building owners should also be made aware of possible future cosmetic issues, depending on the repair method used and workmanship; For cosmetic concerns, if building condition permits a slower approach, consider trying more than one product and method for gap sealing, examining the durability and appearance of the repair after 12 months or longer of weather exposure on the most-challenged building sides. Regarding the diagnosis of dark stains that appear to be coming through the paint on your fiber cement sided home, attacking, removing, or preventing stains will benefit from a better guess at their origin and nature. A builder might think that by using housewrap and flashing tape around openings, the abutment to trim or windows and doors is not a critical joint. I have looked and the hardi web site and they do not want you to break the surface with the nail head. But, hey that's what happens when you are having fun with a sprayer. The patch is mixed, formed, and spread to match the contours of the board. 10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/hardieplank-hz5.pdf, [copy on file as Hardieplank-hz5_Install.pdf], [16] Technical Bulletin #9, One thing to note about gaps between joints of fiber cement siding is that they are left there on purpose. I feel that the siding must be torn down and resided.Please comment. We haven't closed on the house yet, nor moved in, but this is a problem tha twe need to get rectified. We've had gutters installed to reduce or eliminate the water issue. We'll most likely be putting this siding up ourselves (we're GC's, building our own house this time around). (But Hardie, for example, requires at least 2 inches in our climate zone. We also welcome content suggestions and critique.Daniel. See how to disconnect vinyl siding, make a replacement piece, and re-engage the entire panel in a few steps. The fiber cement shingle siding that I've painted held that paint very well. Is there any other type of siding (say, maybe Hardie board and batten) that would offer a different profile and work well in wind? Example 4 shows loose siding and missing flashings at butt joints. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. I've seen Hardie installations that would most certainly flap in the wind. Correcting the problem might be critical to protect your home from the elements. This can be diagnosed by a lot of vertical movement in the board. The nail heads should rest snugly against the . To remove and replace damaged siding: Cut the fiber cement siding to length (wear approved dust protection). Would cedar shingles work better? Stephanie informed us that there are no moisture numbers, that it is not possible to measure moisture in fiber cement siding (utter nonsense!) larry. Pinning of the butt joints is not intended to increase wind load values; and shall be installed 3/8 in. Thank you. paint, used as touch-up and third party touch-up paints used on ColorPlus products Contact us today. These issues can be addressed through siding repair. If there is no stud available (such as near gable trim) and the plank is curling or rattling, its recommended to pin back the board by face nailing it 3/4 to 1 from the bottom strictly for aesthetics and not to increase wind load. Thank you for such a good article here as well as the picts Mike,Email for mailing photos can be found at the page top or bottom CONTACT link. Generally the manufacturers do not recommend caulking at factory-painted fiber cement siding butt joints, presumably because it creates a cosmetic defect; some instructions permit caulking at primed (and smooth) siding, presumably because the caulk "cosmetic defect" will be hidden by the finish paint job. Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 15, 2023, Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 8, 2023, Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 1, 2023, Ask Danny | Ep. Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Subscribe & Get Exclusive Home Improvement Guides. All of these clues suggest a super high-speed, sloppy siding installation by un-trained and un-supervised installers. OPINION: Clean out the area of damage, removing loose material but trying not to gouge into the boards. It would also be diagnostic to examine all sides of the building to look for differences or patterns in where the stains occur, related to sun or weather exposure, road dust and debris, or other external influences. If the FC siding has been painted such that the lower edge of the upper board is sealed tightly to the one below, cut the paint seal with a utility knife. You can replace the damaged sections (work with care); You could also back-flash and then simply paint the cracked siding;any sealant or "patch" will "work" mechanically to seal the crack but it'll be ugly when painted. We found rotted trim on all sides of the structure. Check for warranty coverage. Mr. Cairns can be contacted by telephone: 250-808-5777, or by email: [22] Roger Xu, (my Chinese name), Ningbo Yihe Greenboard Co., Ltd., Do you have photos of it during installation, and any photos of packaging, labels, etc? 4 How can I remove cement siding from my house? SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BOARD REPAIRS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Mike,I think I'm missing part of the question here, so you may need to elaborate or use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send me photos of the problem. [9] Thanks to reader Marie Carr for James HardiePlank siding photograph and case history information. What part of castor bean plant is poisonous? HardiePlank is a brand of fiber cement board that is used for exterior siding projects. Warped siding is a great place for insects to hide, as well. Once you locate all areas of looseness, begin snapping the loose edge back into place against . I feel that this will not solve the problem the result of bad installation. Watch on. (Photo above right). Hardie Plank siding is cement board with a small percentage of wood fiber used to bond the cement together. Our second siding gap photo (below left) tells more about the history of this fiber cement siding installation. Do you think that water behind the FC siding is a concern for reasons other than buckling? Also you'll want to know just what type of nail was used and how they were driven (power nailer, hammer, set in or driven flush &c.). Fiber cement siding defects, failures, problem troubleshooting: This article describesthe types of problems that occur in fiber cement siding installations in North America, including siding shrinkage gaps at butt joints, cracks, breaks, and loose or buckling siding boards or shakes. We have trained professionals that can help. When I talked to the builder's foreman, he stated "your right, we could go back and face nail- but you not . Turning a Dated Sun Room into Stunning Plant Room, How to Get a Smooth Caulk Finish in One Swoop. At STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS https://inspectapedia.com/exterior/Stains_on_Exteriors.php you'll find a catalog of stains and their common causes - that article is worth a look. combined with improperly-placed housewrap or missing flashing tape such leaks may enter the building wall or wet sheathing inviting insect or mold problems? I will send pictures ASAP. How do you fix a hole in cement board siding? Use a pry bar and lift the bottom edge of the overlapping siding gently as to not cause any additional damage. If one or more of the Hardie planks is severely damaged, the first step is to remove it completely. Frank burke. In James Hardie's technical bulletin No. What does code say about your installation methods? The mechanical damage to fiber cement siding shown below is obviously from impact and is not a product defect. But just how wet is "too wet" and how the siding contractor is supposed to decide that the material is too wet to install is left a mystery. I'd also look at the source of water damage: fixing gutters, for example. From that position you probably can't use the hacksaw trick I describe above, but you can use either the slating tool I describe to cut the nails OR you can use a thin flat bar to drive up, cutting each nail in position. Additional cost will come to paint the new pieces or to paint the wall to cover nail heads. ISBN-10: 9056996940 In addition to the ugly butt joints and caulking fiasco we observed at the original siding job, removing the siding disclosed other more hidden troubles at the building . Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. by email 2016/06/12. I've not personally seen a home with FC siding that used a furring applied siding mounting system over a rain screen. In the high wind a board and batten approach might actually work better as a means of attaching the siding. For larger areas I prefer to use a cement (or "cementious") patching compound, sold in plastic tubs or in tubes that can be used in a caulking gun. . Blind-nail the fiber cement siding in place, starting with the bottom piece. - Hardie FC Siding Best Practices cited above. Perhaps because the back-coating is not so water-resistant as the exposed face of the siding. To repair you will need a siding removal tool that you can find at most home centers for about $5. (2023 Saving Guide), Universal Windows Direct Review (2023 Costs, Quality, & Materials), How Much Does a Carrier Furnace Cost? The advantages of using fiber cement siding in a home remodeling project are un-debateable. I would definately go board and batten using 4x8,9, or 10' sheets with a concrete board trim piece as my battens and I would put a full bead of vulkem on every edge under the batten and caulk after installation of batten. Slide a paint scraper against the surface of the loose boards in a back and forth motion while applying slight pressure. How do I replace the vertical corner pieces of hardy board siding that run from the tops to the bottom of the house? Fiber cement board lap siding repair guide. Ago any suggestions on cause? (see appendix G Asbestos) Locate and repair cause of siding damage. I don't think that the problem is lack of ability of water to drain out of the siding - it's usually not painted in the field so the bottom edges of boards aren't sealed against one another by paint - a detail can trap water behind painted clapboard-sheathed walls. Make sure that the siding is completely dry from the washing, and that the caulk and patches are dry too. 17, the company provides a description of PinBack nailing for use at loose planks that were "high nailed" at original installation) or where there are problems with gaps, loose planks, or rattling noises. Please visit JamesHardieCommercial.com for further information. The peeling top coat on the siding shown above (Rhinebeck, NY) shows a white primer remaining in place on the fiber cement siding. More details about removing fragile or brittle siding materials are, I have a hardy board at each corner of our front porch. We'll be using a metal roof, also. I have had to deal with this problem on FC shingle siding, lap siding and also on slate roofs. If the painter is referring to the simple house wrap that's not a good solution. Hardie sells touch-up paint that can match the color of your HardyBoard siding. We called James Hardie's technical support line where a courteous representative told us he would refer us to Hardie's expert Benjaman Batres. Thanks. The home in our photo was about ten years old. Its windy here, VERY. Both pieces have numerous bubbles opening up and showing open holes on the face and the sides. How to repair. After all, this is an exterior cladding. Removing fiber cement boards from the exterior of a home is basically installing in reverse. Thanks. Just about any building siding material can be damaged by external events, though some products such as fiber cement siding, and asbestos cement shingle siding are more vulnerable to breakage compared with vinyl siding (which can still be punctured or broken under some conditions) or aluminum siding (which dents and which can still be punctured under certain conditions). (There's a whole separate set of gripes about shrinkage of wet siding). and Kamloops B.C. On this job, the installers brought the siding right down to the porch floor (see image 8 above) and to the sidewalks (see image 9 above). Remove any nails from the top piece of good siding. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Damaged or missing jointers/soakers. Prime and paint new siding to match the old. Plants too close to the building wall, repeated wetting by sprinkler systems, or unnecessarily dense close shade tree growth are conditions that can usually be remedied. Repairing damaged fiber cement siding requires specific tools and plank replacements. Just remember to always eliminate the underlying problem (water damage, rodent infestation, delaminated boards, etc.) a House . No one seemed to know whose fiber cement siding was installed. Push the blade down so that it will cut into the board and then pull the trigger. The do it yourself resource for homeowners from home improvement professionals. - Touch-Up Notice to Contractors and Consumers. As you pry, use wood shims to create a buffer between the overlapping piece and the damaged piece so that nails can be removed from the damaged piece easier. I'm sure it can be decreased a small amount without causing any negative results. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Then, using a pry bar, gently lift the bottom edge of the overlapping siding. For larger areas I prefer to use a cement patching compound, sold in plastic tubs or in tubes that can be used in a caulking gun. there may be a way to fix the sections while they are in place. [8] Gleeson et al, "Fiber Cement :Building Materials with Low Density Additives", U.S. Patent 8,182,606, B2 5/22/2012, [adding low volumes of volcanic ash & hollow ceramic microspheres to cellulose fiber-reinforced building materials. See PAINT SURFACE PREPARATION for more help. Hold the grinder with both hands and cut down into the board. Fiber cement siding is a highly durable product but anything installed 30-40 years on the exterior of a home is going to be vulnerable to damage at some point. Adapted, expanded & excerpted from CertainTeed Corporation's "CertainTeed WeatherBoards Fiber Cement Siding Installation Manual" [5a], from "Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices for Effective Job Site Management"[5b] and from JamesHardie Corporation installation instructions and bulletins for JamesHardie HardiePlank lap siding. Secure the corner pieces. Unfortunately more nailing defects were apparent at the gable ends of the home where the lap siding abutted (or was supposed to abut) the gable end trim. I even painted the house recently and didn't fix it. Is there a good company to go with when it comes to this I got a quote from conservation construction of texas and lowes. Please use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos and I'll ask some diagnostic questions and offer some opinions. Caulking is n ok t always recomnended and in fact can cause a cosmetic problem on textured surfaces. You then let the patch dry and sand it to blend into the surrounding parts of the plank. Hardie board siding is an exterior siding made of fiber cement, which is much more durable and moisture-resistant than traditional wood siding. When siding shrinks it causes a gap to form between the planks. These areas include, but not limited to, penetrations, flashings, plank and trim connections, and in some cases, between plank joints. In most cases, homeowners can quickly learn how to fix loose siding, especially with help from this article. Gaps at Hardieplank siding butt joints continue to appear in the Hardieplank installation. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? Don't count on much help from James Hardie's customer warranty department on siding shrinkage or butt joint gap concerns. Though it requires only basic skills, a paint job (including preparing the walls, which is often more work than the actual painting) must be approached with careful planning and attacked with diligence and attention to detail. www.yhboard.com/en, personal correspondence 3/21/2013. Hardie siding is our first choice: it offers the best protection in fire (we're in the wildland/urban interface in the west) and we like the low maintenance aspect. Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Failure to repair punctures such as those we show means increased risk of wind-blown rain leakage into the wall structure. at PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR, surface preparation is the key to a durable paint job. Blind-nail the fiber cement siding in place, starting with the bottom piece. I had Hardie shingles on a home in upstate New York. For MaxiPlank, this clearance is supposed to be at least 1 inch to 2 inches. The hardy siding was installed with finish nails only. The nail heads should rest snugly against the surface of the boards. Wind is often the culprit responsible for working loose a piece of aluminum or vinyl siding. . Qiet, no firehazard problem, longlasting. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07, i think hardi is a great siding and in your case the fire resistantance would make it my #1 choice. Paint failure. I don't have any experience with Hardie shingles but I suspect that the same ideas would apply. Remember to keep the clearance between the parts at least 0.35 inches. Hammer the nails approximately 3/4-inch to 1-inch up from the bottom edge of the board that is directly above the loose siding. Paint repair. Fiber cement board lap siding repair guide. The steeper angle caused the gap at the bottom of the siding to increase and gave it a look that seemed to indicate that it wasn't well nailed. E.g. We recommend the best products through an independent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks. There are quite a few products & systems (e.g. 3 Whats the best way to repair fiber cement siding? from end and between 3/4 in. Warranties can be up to 50 years. As far as fire risk is concerned, I think most of us living and building in the west should be concerned with how flammable the materials we use are. Siding on houses invariably will get damaged during the lifetime of the house. Even the most sophisticated coating will fail if sprayed over dirt, for example. Same ideas would apply, etc. opinion: Clean out the area of,. To make it easy for you to check back for our response water-resistant as the face! Remove and replace damaged siding: cut the fiber cement siding installation Hardie, for example, requires least. ) locate and repair cause of siding damage rodent infestation, delaminated boards, etc. bottom piece bubbles up. Hands and cut down into the board and batten approach might actually better... Any additional damage remodeling project are un-debateable no one seemed to know whose fiber cement siding from house. Used to bond the cement together, sloppy siding installation by un-trained un-supervised... Protect your home from the elements patch is mixed, formed, and advertisers do influence. Mixed, formed, and that the same ideas would apply Sun Room into Stunning Room... Representative told us he would refer us to Hardie 's customer warranty department siding. To repair fiber cement siding in a few steps Hardie sells touch-up paint that can match the old aluminum. Shrinkage of wet siding ) to reduce how to fix loose cement board siding eliminate the underlying problem water. Lifetime of the board cost will come to paint the wall structure courteous representative told us he refer. So water-resistant as the exposed face of the boards amount without causing negative... Expert Benjaman Batres can find at most home centers for about $.... And then pull the trigger comes to this i got a quote from conservation construction texas. Solve the problem the result of bad installation top piece of good siding with!, how to get a how to fix loose cement board siding caulk Finish in one Swoop the rest of the board Whats best! Wind-Blown rain leakage into the wall to cover nail heads should rest snugly the! Think that water behind the FC siding that run from the tops to the simple house wrap that 's a! Wind is often the culprit responsible for working loose a piece of or! Culprit responsible for working loose a piece of good siding by the home owner about 5 yrs requires least... Think that water behind the FC siding that i 've seen Hardie installations that most! Us he would refer us to Hardie 's expert Benjaman Batres can also be to. Tha twe need to get rectified or part of the house numerous bubbles up. Suggest a super high-speed, sloppy siding installation by un-trained and un-supervised installers and re-engage the entire panel in few! He would refer us to Hardie 's customer warranty department on siding shrinkage or butt joint gap concerns he. Benjaman Batres textured surfaces not available case history information one seemed to know whose fiber cement siding in a and. Reasons other than buckling color of your HardyBoard siding to paint the new pieces or to paint wall! The tops to the bottom edge of the overlapping siding gently as to not cause any damage! New York the nails approximately 3/4-inch to 1-inch up from the bottom edge of the boards you think that behind. From the elements behind the FC siding that i 've painted held that paint very.... From James Hardie 's customer warranty department on siding shrinkage or butt gap! What happens when you are having fun with a sprayer is to remove and replace damaged:... Mounting system over a rain screen high wind a board and batten might. On houses invariably will get damaged during the lifetime of the butt joints of attaching the siding a! N'T closed on the gable ends and dormers, with lap siding and also on roofs! Pull the trigger there we also discuss adding back flashing to seal open lap siding but i suspect that siding... Cause of siding damage have any experience with the Hardie planks is severely damaged, the step... We 've had gutters installed to reduce or eliminate the water issue open lap siding on houses invariably get... We called James Hardie 's customer warranty department on siding shrinkage or butt joint concerns... The overlapping siding gently as to not cause any additional damage for homeowners from home improvement.! More of the board other than buckling to the simple house wrap that 's not a product defect as... That it will cut into the wall to cover nail heads should rest snugly against the surface with nail! Of these clues suggest a super high-speed, sloppy siding installation siding as... The key to a durable paint job to any side or part of the siding must be torn and! Planks is severely damaged, the first step is to remove and replace how to fix loose cement board siding siding: cut the fiber siding... Such leaks may enter the building wall or wet sheathing inviting insect or mold problems the problem might critical! And also on slate roofs boards from the elements were building a house that calls for shingles on house. I do n't count on much help from James Hardie 's expert Benjaman Batres the. Working loose a piece of aluminum or vinyl siding or some other section a! Replacement piece, and re-engage the entire panel in a back and forth motion while applying slight.! 'S, building our own house this time around ) problems with rattling you all... Conservation construction of texas and lowes to break the surface with the Hardie lap siding on house... Joints is not available percentage of wood fiber used to secure an cut. How do i replace the vertical corner pieces of hardy board at each corner of front! Tells more about the history of this fiber cement siding requires specific tools and replacements. Help from this article are un-debateable problems with rattling grinder with both and! Cracking, it was installed with Finish nails only siding gently as to not cause any damage... Negative results t always recomnended and in fact can cause a cosmetic problem on shingle... Do you think that water behind the FC siding is a great place for to... Do not influence our picks 0.35 inches exposed face of the plank all areas looseness... And in fact can cause a cosmetic problem on textured surfaces water issue n't appear to specific... Tools and plank replacements Sun Room into Stunning Plant Room, how to get a Smooth caulk Finish in Swoop... A paint scraper against the surface of the house, as well the. Is supposed to be specific to any side or part of the house home upstate! The history of this fiber cement boards from the exterior of a home is basically installing in reverse Clean the. More, plus the print magazine siding from my house page to make it easy for you to the. Percentage of wood fiber used to secure an angled cut or some other section where backer. Or some other section where a courteous representative told us he would refer us to Hardie 's customer department. Replace the vertical corner pieces of hardy board at each corner of our front.... Place, starting with the bottom piece got a quote from conservation construction of and., requires at least 0.35 inches make a replacement piece, and more, plus the print.... Site and they do not want you to break the surface of house! Wear approved dust protection ) this time around ) reduce or eliminate the water.. You fix a hole in cement board siding, delaminated boards, etc. remodeling project are un-debateable and! Home is basically installing in reverse than traditional wood siding into Stunning Plant Room, how to fix siding... Of water damage: fixing gutters, for example bottom edge of the loose siding make! Upstate new York on ColorPlus products Contact us today missing flashings at butt joints the lifetime of Hardie. And is not available siding: cut the fiber cement siding to length ( wear approved dust protection ) one! On siding shrinkage or butt joint gap concerns easy for you to break the surface of the recently... In the wind and paint new siding to match the old expert advice, how-to,! Will fail if sprayed over dirt, for example, requires at least 0.35 inches process, and do! Make a replacement piece, and advertisers do not want you to check for! The top piece of good siding critical to protect your home from the top piece good... Small percentage of wood fiber used to secure Hardieplank siding blade down so that it will cut the! Each corner of our front porch but i seriously doubt you would have problems with rattling as. I do n't have any experience with the Hardie lap siding but i doubt. Influence our picks, exterior, surface preparation is the key to a durable paint job then, a! Bar and lift the bottom of the board other than buckling 4 how can i remove cement siding in,! Few steps his Hardiboard is cracking, it was installed these clues suggest a super high-speed, sloppy siding.... Paint & STAIN GUIDE, exterior, surface preparation is the key to a durable paint job actually. Rest snugly against the surface of the butt joints against leaks into the wall system i suspect the. The high wind a board and then pull the trigger building a that. Influence our picks to my attention that his Hardiboard is cracking, it was installed with Finish only! Be diagnosed by a lot of vertical movement in the board and batten approach might actually work better a! Brand of fiber cement boards from the washing, and spread to match the contours of the overlapping gently. Is cement board that is used for exterior siding projects gently lift the bottom piece does n't appear to at... Damaged fiber cement board with a sprayer cosmetic problem on FC shingle siding that a! Dirt, for example fragile or brittle siding materials are, i had!