Does fiber cement siding expand and contract?

Fiber cement (complying with ASTM C1186), as do all building materials, expands and contracts with changes in relative humidity and temperature. James Hardie recommends designing for this type of movement on buildings with long runs of continuous siding.

Does fiber cement siding shrink?

YES, all Fiber Cement Siding will shrink.

What are the disadvantages of fiber cement siding?

Does Hardie lap siding expand and contract?

If Hardie is installed too close to these surfaces, there is a chance that the paint will start to bubble and peel. This happens because the boards are wet almost all the time, and the water in the board will start to expand and contract as the temperature changes.

Does cement board expand and contract?

Fiber cement boards don't expand and contract much, but leave a little room for expansion at the end joints and then fill the gap with caulk. Butt joints, however, should be nailed tightly together and should not be caulked.

3 Common Installation Issues with James Hardie Siding

What are the advantages of fiber cement siding?

Should fiber cement siding be caulked?

Many professionals, like those at James Hardie, also agree that you should not use caulk on fiber cement siding unless there is no metal flashing underneath. Flashing acts as a waterproofing layer for this type of siding, and caulking will prevent the flashing from doing its job.

Do you leave a gap between Hardie board siding?

Run the siding to the HardieTrim® board leaving a 1/8 in. gap between the siding and trim. The bottom of the siding should be kept even with the bottom of the trim, or if desired, the trim may extend below the bottom of the siding. But the siding should never hang below the trim.

Should Hardie board be caulked?

James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank® siding with ColorPlus® technology. James Hardie also DOES NOT recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks (see Figure 2).

How do you seal fiber cement siding?

Cut ends of fiber cement siding should have been sealed using 100% acrylic latex primer or paint (Certainteed) or in some cases using an approved caulk wiped on the cut surface (see our notes on Hardieplank installation). And caulk is required at certain joints such as vertical trim at windows, doors, corners.

How long does fiber cement last?

Fiber Cement Must Be Repainted

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.

How long does fibre cement last?

Fiber cement siding comes with some of the most extended guarantees in the industry, typically around 50 years, so it's among the longest-lasting siding products. It will need occasional repainting, however, usually every 10 to 15 years or so, depending on the quality of the paint.

Does fiber cement siding increase home value?

If homeowners are wondering whether fiber-cement siding is a good investment for their home, the answer is yes. Homeowners can recover as much as 76 percent of the upfront cost, making fiber-cement siding the third best exterior renovation project for adding value at resale.

Why is my fiber cement siding cracking?

Improper handling - The boards—especially long ones—should be supported at both ends when moved. Fiber cement planks are floppy until secured on the wall and holding only in the middle or transporting over a shoulder will cause a dramatic sag at both ends. The stress can cause a crack at the center of a board.

Does fiber cement siding absorb water?

Because this material is porous, it can also absorb water through the cut edges. This water can then cause the product to crack or split, especially in colder climates. Moisture can also cause mold or mildew in the sheathing. Fiber cement also takes a long time to dry, unlike wood siding which drys quickly.

Will Hardie board warp?

HardiePlank® is a fiber cement based siding, so it's impervious to water, termites, woodpeckers, and any other animal you can think of. It's dimensionally stable so it won't warp like wood or vinyl siding can, and it won't melt or warp when heat is applied to it.

Is fiber cement siding the same as Hardie board?

The James Hardie brand produces high-quality fiber cement siding products, often called Hardie Board or HardiePlank. These terms are often interchanged with fiber cement. However, these brand name James Hardie products typically cost more than lower grade siding.

Do you nail or screw Hardie board?

Fasten HardieBacker sheets with proper nails or screws (as listed in ''Materials Required'' in the backer installation instructions) every 8'' around the perimeter and all supporting studs. Keep fasteners between 3/8'' and 3/4'' from sheet edges and 2'' in from sheet corners.

Can you pressure wash hardiplank?

The manufacturer recommends that you do not pressure wash your Hardie siding. The hard spray of water from the power washer can damage the surface of the siding.

Should Hardie board be loose?

If you have loose HardiePlank siding on your home, it is important to fix it. Loose siding can leave your home unprotected from weather and insects. HardiePlank is fastened to the home by either blind nailing or face nailing.

Does caulking Hardie board void the warranty?

These such areas are called “field butt joints.” In the case of James Hardie's Color Plus siding, which has a pro-rated 15-year warranty, using caulk at field butt joints will flat out void your warranty!

Can you screw into Hardie board siding?

Yes, you can drive screws into the Hardie board if you use suitable screws. Hardie Board requires using specific screws to work effectively. For best results, use ribbed stainless steel screws with wafer-head.

How do you fill nail holes in Hardie board?

The installation guide for Hardie Board, which is a brand of cement board siding recommends using caulking to fill nail holes. When I've installed it I used a high-quality exterior paintable calking after smoothing the edge of the holes. Once the caulk is dry you can touch up the paint.

Should you caulk under lap siding?

The bottom of siding boards should not be caulked

While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together, caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage.