How is fiber cement siding installed? Fiber cement siding is installed in the same way as wood siding. Unlike vinyl or wood siding, fiber cement siding is less susceptible to damage and rarely requires repair.
Fiber cement siding is installed just like wood siding. Installers will use a pneumatic nailer or hand nailer or a hammer to apply the siding to a house. It can be cut just like wood, too, but one needs to wear a mask when cutting fiber cement siding to avoid dust. Another great thing about this product is that it is resistant to water, fire and insects, says Denise Bottrell, who works in the marketing department for James Hardie, the company that introduced fiber cement technology to the United States about 15 years ago. Fiber cement siding doesn't have to be cleaned once applied, but one can clean it with a power washer. The difference in wood siding is that it damages easily after so many years. If the wood is rotted, then you have to replace it.
Fiber cement siding is installed over studs or exterior wall sheathing with an appropriate water-resistant barrier, using galvanized nails or screws that penetrate into studs. The planks have to be cut with a dust reduction blade designed specifically for fiber cement . If a regular saw is used, then wear a mask and be prepared to get a new blade. The dust will dull the blade and ruin the bearings in the saw. According to Toolbase.org, if one does not own this type of blade, then snapper shears or a guillotine type cutter can also be used to avoid the dust altogether.
Before installing the product, one must apply inside and outside corner boards, window trim, starter strips and flashings. A common mistake that is made when applying fiber cement siding is that carpenters directly apply fiber cement siding over exterior sheathing with no water barriers between the siding and the plywood. Even fiber cement siding can allow water to get into crevices, such as a butt joint. When applying the siding a butt joint can occur, which is two pieces of siding that butt against each other. Butt joints can allow leakage to occur, which will ruin the plywood underneath. When a butt joint happens, caulk or felt paper can be applied. According to Askthebuilder.com, these strips of paper need to be two inches wide and two inches longer than the width of your siding material. This ensures that leakage does not occur and possibly ruin the fiber cement siding. The nails that are used should be stainless steel, because they are less prone to bending, breaking or rust. If the homeowner does not want the nails to be visible, then one can blind nail, which means that the nails are not visible.
After applying fiber cement siding, the panels need to be painted. Fiber cement siding holds paint exceptionally well. It is stable and doesn't expand or contract. Once painted, it will not need to be repainted again for a very long time. Make sure that the siding is clean and dust free before applying the paint. If a contractor is doing the work, check to see that the work is done properly. Make periodic visits and read the installation instructions to ensure that the job is done correctly.
