Guide to Fiber-Cement Wall Siding on Building Exteriors

SIDING, FIBER CEMENT - Choices of Fiber Cement siding products
- Fiber cement wall siding installation details
- Fiber cement clapboards handling & nailing
- Fiber cement siding flashing details
- Modern fiber cement siding does not contain asbestos
- List of modern fiber cement siding product manufacturers
CERTAINTEED WeatherBoards™ - separate article
CHINESE fiber cement siding
JAMES HARDIEPLANK® fiber cement siding - separate article
SIDING FIBER CEMENT DEFECTS - separate article
SIDING FIBER CEMENT GAP & CAULK SPECS - separate article
SIDING FIBER CEMENT IDENTIFICATION - separate article
SIDING FIBER CEMENT MAINTENANCE - separate article
SIDING FIBER CEMENT REPAIRS. - separate article
SIDING GAPS & CAULKING - separate article
SIDING HARDBOARD - separate article
Questions & Answers about installing fiber cement siding on buildings
References

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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Fiber cement siding home: this article discusses the selection and best-practices installation of fiber cement building siding products. In a series of companion pages we provide details about the properties of various fiber cement siding products from the major manufacturers, how to identify fiber cement siding, how to install fiber cement siding including guidelines for gaps, clearances, nailing schedules, end and cut sealing, siding joint or abutment caulking, painting or staining. We include descriptions of the field performance of fiber cement siding products and a detailed field investigation of several product failures: of fiber cement stain or coating peeling and cracking, and of gaps, shrinkage, and loose, buckled fiber cement siding.

Fiber Cement Siding: Product Choices, Installation Details

Asbestos cement sided pre-1900 home (C) Daniel Friedman

This article series discusses best practices construction details for building exteriors, including water and air barriers, building flashing products & installation, wood siding material choices & installation, vinyl siding, stucco exteriors, building trim, exterior caulks and sealants, exterior building adhesives, and choices and application of exterior finishes on buildings: paints, stains.

This article series includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Page top photo of fiber cement clapboard installation courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.

Details about an older generation of fiber cement products, asbestos cement wall shingles and modern fiber cement wall shingles are discussed separately at SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT. Also ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING and also CORRUGATED ROOFING.

Many synthetic alternatives to wood siding have fallen short either on aesthetics or durability.

Fiber cement building cladding has been around for more than 60 years, if we include its early form, cement-asbestos shingles such as those on the home shown at left (Dover Plains, NY). Following the development of concern for asbestos safety, fiber cement shingles continue in production, but using reinforcing and filler materials other than asbestos.

Fiber-cement [in plank form], unlike it's shingle ancestors, is one of the newest entries into the siding field and holds promise in that the material can be fashioned to resemble almost any exterior cladding, holds paint well, and is essentially impervious to decay, insects, UV radiation, and fire.

Modern fiber cement siding products are also very dimensionally stable and resist shrinking and swelling, cupping, warping, and splitting. Warranties run from 30 to 50 years depending on the manufacturer and specific configuration. Fiber cement siding is cost-competitive with vinyl and hardboard siding and significantly less expensive than premium wood sidings.

Older fiber cement and asbestos-cement wall siding (photo at left) is vulnerable to impact damage. Repairs must be done with care to avoid breaking additional siding shingles when removing and replacing the bad ones.

Modern fiber-cement is made up primarily of Portland cement, sand, and wood fibers. It is chemically similar to older asbestos sidings but contains no asbestos, glass fibers, or formaldehyde.

It does, however, produce a very fine silica dust when cut with a saw or abrasive blade, which, if inhaled, can cause silicosis and other serious respiratory problems.

Fiber-cement boards are extremely straight and rigid when held edgewise, but they are much heavier than wood—about 20 pounds for a 12-foot length of 8-1/4 -inch siding.

They are flexible along the flat dimension, however, so any lumps in a wavy framing job will tend to telegraph through the siding. The material is fairly brittle and, if not handled carefully, can crack.

Styles and Sizes of Fiber Cement Siding Products

Fiber-cement is available in a wide array of styles and finishes modeled after other materials ranging from horizontal wood siding to vertical sidings, wood shakes, bricks, and stones. The wood patterns are generally available either smooth or wood-grained and most are available factory-primed or finished as well as unfinished.

Our photo (left) is interesting because it shows two nearly-identical fiber cement wall shingles. The shingle on the right is a new replacement product that does not contain asbestos, while the shingle on the left is an older cousin that contains asbestos. A clue to the presence of new fiber cement shingles on this home might be the observation that the shingle on the right is coated only with the factory primer while that on the left has been painted a few times. See ASBESTOS CEMENT SIDING for details.

Fiber-cement horizontal siding planks are typically 5-1/4 to 12-1/4 inches wide by 12 feet long and are designed for a 1-1/2 inch overlap. Vertical siding panels measure 4x8, 4x9, or 4x10 feet, and shake and shingle panels are typically 16x48 inches. The thickness of most siding materials is 1-5/inch. Smooth and textured soffit and trim boards are also available.

Fiber-cement soffit material is typically 1/4-inch and most trim stock is 7/16-inch thick, but manufacturers have recently introduced thicker profiles (see section on fiber-cement trim, page 34 in Best Construction).

Lap-Siding Fiber Cement Board Installation

Fiber-cement siding products install similarly to the wood products they imitate. They can go over wood-based sheathings or rigid foam, but they must be nailed or screwed directly to studs or 2x blocking. Fasteners should penetrate solid wood by 1 to 1-1/4 inches, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications.

Our fiber cement siding photo (left) courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, shows the product in end view (trade show booth installation detail) and includes the first-course bottom spacer behind the fiber cement clapboard.

The 12 foot long fiber-cement planks can be held edgewise by a single person, but the boards may break in two or deform if picked up flat. One person can install a plank by driving a single nail near its center to hold it in place against guide nails driven into the sheathing to mark the upper edge.

Manufacturers recommend leaving 1/8-inch between board ends and window casings and trim and caulking with a paintable 100% acrylic latex caulk. Butt joints between two planks can be either lightly butted and painted over or gapped 1/8-inch and caulked. Manufacturers recommend priming cut ends on site if the joints are not being caulked. As with other siding products, leave at least 1/2-inch clear at step and other flashings so the bottom edge does not soak up water.

Nailing & Butt-Joint Flashing Details for Nailing Fiber Cement Siding

Our photo (left) shows a pre-fabricated plastic flashing device intended to be inserted at the butt-joints of fiber-cement wall siding. (Photo courtesy Carson Dunlop Associates.)

Fiber-cement siding should be nailed directly to studs with nail penetration into solid wood of 1 to 1-1/4-inches, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications.

Pre drilling is required within 1/4inch of an edge or near sharp angles or other fragile shapes to avoid cracking. Pre drilling may also be required when nailing through foam sheathing to avoid cracking the siding.

Manufacturers require a hot-dipped galvanized or stainless-steel siding nail (or roofing nail for blind nailing) that should be driven flush with the surface.

Overdriving of nails can cause the material to shatter around the nail, weakening its holding power and, with some products, voiding the warranty. Staples and clip-head nails tend to penetrate too far, but coil nailers with adjustable depth-of drive work well. Some contractors hand-nail the siding to avoid problems.

Given the longevity of the siding, a long lasting corrosion-resistant nail is recommended. If fastening to metal studs, use corrosion-resistant pneumatic pins or self-tapping bugle-head screws.

Standard Nailing in Fiber Cement Siding

Figure 1-20: Fiber Cement Siding, Standard Nailing Pattern (C) Wiley and Sons - S Bliss

In most installations, horizontal fiber-cement siding is nailed top and bottom into each stud, with the lower exposed nail going through both layers of siding (see Figure 1-20).

Butt joints should lie over studs. This is the most durable installation. Color-matched galvanized nails are available for the exposed nails on prefinished sidings.

Blind Nailing Procedure for Fiber Cement Siding

Figure 1-23: Fiber cement siding, blind nailing method (C) Wiley and Sons, S Bliss

Recommendations for blind nailing fiber cement siding products vary among manufacturers, but most permit “blind nailing” with siding planks less than 8-1/4-inches wide installed over 16-inch on center framing.

In this siding nailing technique, the fasteners are hidden just above the lap line of the overlapping plank and put a slight curve in the siding, pulling it tight to the wall. Roofing nails work well because of their large heads (see Figure 1-21 at left).

An occasional extra face nail may still be required to hold the lower edge tight to the wall where there is a bump or bulge in the framing. Since the lower edges remain unsecured, blind nailing is not suitable for high-wind areas.

Cutting Methods for Fiber Cement Siding

Watch out: When cut with a diamond abrasive blade in a circular saw, fiber-cement creates a cloud of very fine silica dust which can cause silicosis and other serious respiratory problems.

Ordinary carbide-tipped blades produce less dust but wear out within a few hours compared to a few months for abrasive blades. In the last few years, manufacturers have responded with specialized diamond tipped blades and tools, making the work easier and safer.

The new fiber-cement blades cut smoother, create less dust, and outlast ordinary carbide blades. When used with the new dust-collecting saws designed for fiber-cement, cutting is safe and effective.

Many contractors also use electric shears such as the fiber cement shears produced by Malco Products. (Photo above courtesy Malco Products.)

Fiber cement cutting shears are similar to a sheet-metal nibbler but specially adapted for fiber-cement. These make a clean cut with little dust, but are not as fast as a circular saw and cannot cut through multiple boards at once. Scoring and snapping, as for drywall, is also an option for quick cuts where a crisp edge is not needed.

Finishing & Painting Details for Fiber Cement Siding

After installation, small dents or chips can be filled with any cementious patching compound. Before priming or applying the top coat to pre primed material, wipe away any dust from cutting with a damp cloth or sponge or lightly hose down the siding and allow it to dry thoroughly.

If the siding has been hosed down or power washed (unprimed siding only), allow at least two sunny days before priming. Painting should be completed within 90 days of installation to avoid deterioration of the surface from prolonged exposure to water.

For unprimed siding, manufacturers recommend an alkali-resistant, 100% acrylic primer specifically approved by the paint supplier for fiber-cement. Back-priming is not necessary; in fact, some manufacturers recommend against back-priming so any trapped moisture can dry from the back of the siding.

For the top coat, use a 100% acrylic latex paint. Because fiber-cement is dimensionally stable and largely inert, it holds paint well. Estimates range from 7 to 15 years for a quality paint job. Some of the prefinished products carry 15-year warranties on the finish.

Our photo (above left) of paint failure on a fiber-cement siding installation was provided by BC home inspector Hugh Cairns. Mr. Cairns is a Canadian home inspector located in B.C. and is an occasional contributor to InspectAPedia.com.

Details about fiber cement siding installation, gaps, caulking, flashing, sealing, are at

SIDING GAPS & CAULKING - home: specifications for clearances & gaps for fiber cement siding products; causes, prevention & remedy for unsightly gaps & openings at exterior siding caused by installation errors, shrinkage, color
SIDING FIBER CEMENT GAP & CAULK SPECS
SIDING FIBER CEMENT MAINTENANCE
SIDING FIBER CEMENT REPAIRS.

Chinese Manufacturers of Fiber Cement Siding

The illustration below is of a Chinese-made fiber cement siding product produced by Ningbo Yihe Greenboard Co., Ltd. While we have no specific complaint about this product, it and similar fiber-cement siding board products may add to difficulties in determining the origin and manufacture of various modern fiber-cement siding products.

The siding above is described by the Zhejiang manufacturer as:

Quality-assured by ISO9001:2008 quality control system,and the boards are tested by SGS authority.
Standard board sizes are:1220mm x 2440mm or 1200mm x 2400mm; and the standard thickness varies from 6mm to 18mm; for other sizes or thickness, the company can also customize siding dimensions up to a maximum width of 1220mm & a maximum length is 3000mm.

Watch out: That fiber cement siding is available from a variety of sources is evident from the list below. In addition, some our investigations of fiber cement siding failures (paint or coating failures, shrinkage, gaps discussed at x and x) led to an assertion by U.S. manufacturers that even though the homeowner had been told that a U.S. product was being installed (Hardieplank for example) in fact the manufacturer has told the homeowner that it was not their product. If this is indeed confirmed to be the case, building owners may be paying a premium for counterfeit products and more, when there is a product failure they may have no recourse.

Identification of Chinese-Made Fiber Cement siding may be aided by this additional detail offered by the manufacturer: beginning in 2012, fiber cement siding from the supplier listed above is provided only with a smooth finish. The embossed wood grain patterns that were used before 2012 have, according to the manufacturer "been mostly destroyed".

However in the spring of 2013 the company contacted us with this update

While,unfortunately,since last year we had already stopped producing the Fiber Cement Siding Boards in wood-grain pattern. Because,most of the moulding plate that are used for wood-grain embossing were broken. And now,we can only produce common Fiber Cement Siding Boards without wood-grain embossing.

List of Fiber-Cement Siding Brands, Sources, Manufacturers and Trim Suppliers

Cemplank www.cemplank.com Cemplank fiber-cement siding and trim
Certainteed weatherboards
- CERTAINTEED WeatherBoards™
- CERTAINTEED WeatherBoards identification markings
Chinese-made fiberboard siding products (more than one manufacturer)
- CHINESE fiber cement siding identification markings
James Hardie www.jameshardie.com HardiePlank, Hardipanel, fiber-cement shingles
- JAMES HARDIEPLANK® fiber cement board siding
Maxiplank and Maxipanel (North Pacific, 10200 SW Greenburg Rd. Portland, Oregon 97223 800.547.8440)
Nichiha Wall Systems www.n-usa.com Fiber-cement lap siding and simulated shakes, brick, and stone
CertainTeed www.certainteed.com Fiber-cement lap siding as well as fiber cement vertical and shingle sidings, and soffits and trim including WeatherBoard™ fiber cement siding
GAF www.gaf.com Weatherside fiber-cement siding

Also see

HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS -

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fiber cement siding products, installation, troubleshooting, failure diagnosis

Question: 1/4-inch gaps between siding boards and next course?

How tight should the 5.25" (4" reveal) lap boards rest one on top of the other? For a new install, I would expect the bottom of the board to lay flat on the top of the one under it, however, on a job, I am seeing boards with 1/4"+ gaps, but I can't find any literature saying what the max should be. - Mike 3/13/2013

Reply:

Mike,

Normally they are touching to 1/16"

Your siding is loose or nailed oddly.

Question/Comment: Delamination or Paint Failures in factory finished fiber cement siding

One of the main ingredients of fibre cement siding is cellulose. Where the product is exposed to direct or indirect water, snow or ice, the possibility of the fiber cement siding absorbing moisture exists. This may cause the siding to swell, crumble or result in loss of paint adhesion. The core raw material of fiber cement siding is grayish in colour. When delamination occurs, it is easy to see these areas in contrast to the painted finish. - Hugh Cairns, Subject 2 Inspections, Email: customercare@subject2homeinspections.com, Tel: 250-808-5777

Mr. Cairns is a Canadian home inspector located in B.C. and is an occasional contributor to InspectAPedia.com. Also see his photographs at AMERICAN CEMWOOD ROOFING.

Reply:

Thanks for the comments, Hugh. The manufacturer, e.g. James Hardie, points out that their product must be protected from moisture prior to installation and that improper jobsite storage can result in product shrinkage and shrinkage gaps after installation.

Certainly one has to agree that the siding in your photos has undergone a terrible paint failure. Can you confirm that this was a factory-finished product, and can you confirm the product brand name?

The actual siding board delamination problems we see seem to concentrate in hardboard siding products whereas in fiber cement siding boards I'm seeing and receiving reports of shrinkage, gaps, and coating failures. A detailed report on that failure problem is found at HARDIEPLANK SIDING GAPS though I have to add that just today (3/20/13) we learned that James Hardie has now told the homeowner that the siding that failed on their home is not Hardieplank.

If you can send along some sharp photos of actual fiberboard swelling and delamination, or if you can send me a siding sample, even a paint sample from the home in your photos, we'd be glad to take a close-up look in our forensic lab. Over at PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES we discuss the sorts of paint failures we've been able to confirm by sample analysis in the lab.

...

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
[4] Hugh Cairns, Subject 2 Home Inspections, is a professional home inspector in British Columbia, Canada, with offices in Kelowna B.C. and Kamloops B.C. He contributed the American Cemwood photo used at the top and within this article. Mr. Cairns can be contacted by telephone: 250-808-5777, or by email: okanagan@subject2homeinspections.com
[5] Roger Xu, 徐银杰 (my Chinese name), Ningbo Yihe Greenboard Co., Ltd., No.189, Longzhen Road, Nongkenchang, Longshan Town, Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang China, Tel: 0086-574-63974118/83887668 Fax:0086-574-63974129/83887670 Mobile: 0086-15924317823; E-Mail: sales6@yhboard.com; Skype: dajiezi107, www.yhboard.com/en, personal correspondence 3/21/2013
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Paul Galow - technical consultant on networking, LAN design, applications support. Galow Consulting Services, 914-204-1749, email: paulgalow@galowconsulting.com
John Rudy, Advantage Home Inspections, Flemington N.J. 08822 home inspector, 908-806- 6364, Home, Radon & Termite Inspections, Central & Parts of North New Jersey, email: jonadvantage1@yahoo.com
Malco® Products siding tools are available from that company, including the SideSwiper II SRT2 discussed at Malco's website. Websearch 09/07/2010 http://malcoproducts.com/product/roofing-siding-gutter/siding-vinyl/siding-tools-vinyl/sideswiper-ii. Malco also produces other vinyl siding repair tools such as aprons, awls, hole punches, saw blades, and tools for for fiber cement products including power-assisted cutters
Parmetol, a wood preservativerecommended by the manufacturer was used as a fungicidal additive to paint on the Blue Poplar wood sculpture in Amsterdam, by artist Mari Shields [ - art conservation consult DJF-artist MS 2010]
[1] "James Hardie's Mesothelioma and Asbestos Legacy Continues, 2009", web search 03/01/2011, www.survivingmesothelioma.com
[2] Killer Company, James Hardie Exposed, Matt Peacock, Harper Collins Australia, ISBN: 9780733325809; ISBN10: 0733325807
[3] " Anyone else have HardiePlank siding on their house?", Early Retirement.org online blog, retrieved 1/14/2013, original source: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/anyone-else-have- HardiePlank-siding-on-their-house-19475.html
[4] - DIY Chatroom, retrieved 1/17/2013, original source http://www.diychatroom.com/f2/ certainteed-weatherboard-vs-HardiePlank-4638/
[5] Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
- [5a] "CertainTeed WeatherBoards™ Fiber Cement Siding Installation Manual", CertainTeed Corporation, 2012, CertainTeed Corporation, PO Box 880, Valley Forge PA 19482, Professional Help Line: 800-233-8990, Consumer Help Line: 800-782-8777, Website: Certainteed.com www.certainteed.com/resources/fc017.pdf retrieved 4/11/2013, [copy on file as Certainteed_Fiber_Cement_Siding_Install_fc017.pdf ]
- [5b] "Certainteed WeatherBoards™ Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices for Effective Job Site Management", CertainTeed Corporation, retrieved 4/15/13 original source: www.certainteed.com Copy on file as Certainteed_FC_Handling Brochure-Contractor_FC063.pdf
[6] "Moisture Control in buildings: Putting Building Science in Green Building," Alex Wilson, Environmental Building News, Vol. 12. No. 5. [Good tutorial, "Moisture 101" outlining the physics of moisture movement in buildings and a good but incomplete list of general suggestions for moisture control - inadequate attention given to exterior conditions such as roof and surface drainage defects which are among the most-common sources of building moisture and water entry.--DJF]
[7] J. Tibbets, "Green Houses", NCBI, retrieved 1/17/2013, original source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1469482/
[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.
[9] Thanks to reader Marie Carr for James HardiePlank siding photograph and case history information. 06/01/2008
[10] JamesHardie HardiePlank® Lap Siding information can be found at the company's web page on this material:
http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/products_siding_hardieplankLapSiding.py
[11] "30-Year Limited Warranty HardiePlank® HZ5® Lap Siding, HardiePanel® HZ5® Vertical Siding,
HardieShingle® HZ5® Siding, HardieSoffit® HZ5® Panels", 1-800-9-HARDIE
10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/warranty/hz5.pdf [copy on file as Hardieplank_Warranty_hz5.pdf]
[12] James Hardie Building Products, James Hardie CustomerLink™ Service Centre, 10 Colquhoun Street, Rosehill NSW 2142, Tel: 13 1103, Outside Australia 61 2 8837 4709, Fax: 1 800 818 819. Hardie has operations in Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, United States, and the Philippines. The company is a significant producer of fiber cement siding and backerboard. Email: info@JamesHardie.com and Website http://www.jameshardie.com/
- JamesHardie Corporation, in the U.S. can be contacted at 26300 La Alameda, Suite 400, Mission Viejo, California 92691 - 1-888 J-HARDIE
  1-888 542-7343 or by email to info@JamesHardie.com
- [12b] "Technical Bulletin #9, Joint Flashing at Field Butt Joints", JamesHardie, retrieved 4/15/2013, original source: www.jameshardie.com, copy on file as James_Hardie_9-joint-flashing.pdf - quoting:
  This Technical Bulletin is an explanation supporting the announcement made by James Hardie on September 8th, 2008 withdrawing its recommendation on the use of caulk at field butt joints for HardiePlank® lap siding.
[13] Instructions for application of HardiePlank lap siding can be found at http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/products_siding_hardieplankLapSiding.py?openTab=jsnavLink4
[14] "Homeowners Care and Maintenance Tips", 1-800-9-HARDIE
10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, included with product warranty information, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/warranty/hz5.pdf [copy on file as Hardieplank_Warranty_hz5.pdf]
[15] "HardiePlank HZ5 Lap Siding Installation Requirements - Primed & Colorplus® Products",JamesHardie, November 2012, 1-800-9-HARDIE, 10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/hardieplank-hz5.pdf, [copy on file as Hardieplank-hz5_Install.pdf]
[16] Technical Bulletin #9, Joint Flashing at Field Butt Joints, James Hardie corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/9-joint-flashing.pdf
[17] Technical Bulletin #17, Fastening Tips for HardiePlank® Lap Siding, James Hardie Corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/17 -fastening-tips-for%20-plank.pdf [copy on file]
[18] Technical Bulletin #8, Expansion Characteristics of James Hardie® Siding Products, James Hardie Corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/8-expansion-characteristics.pdf [copy on file]
[19] Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions. Personal communication 3/20/2013.
Masonite Woodruf® Roofing or Masonite OmniWood® Siding Lawsuit Settlement Notice - PDF file
Paint Handbook: testing, selection, application, troubleshooting, surface preparation, etc., Guy E. Weismantel, Ed., McGraw Hill Book Company, 1981, ISBN-10: 0070690618, ISBN-13: 978-0070690615, [Excellent but a bit obsolete paint theory and practice, also a bit light on field investigation methods, out of print, available used-DF]
How to select and apply the right paint or coating for any surface. The first major reference to help you choose the correct paint or other finish to do the job best on a particular surface exposed to a particular environment. Experts in the field give full advice on testing surface preparation, application, corrosion prevention, and troubleshooting. The handbook covers wood, metal, composites, and masonry, as well as marine applications and roof coatings. A ``must'' working tool for contractors, architects, engineers, specification writers, and paint dealers.
Paint and Surface Coatings, Theory and Practice, R. Lambourne & T.A. Strivens, Ed., Woodhead Publishing Ltd., William Andrew Publishing, 1999 ISBN 1-85573-348 X & 1-884207-73-1 [This is perhaps the leading reference on modern paints and coatings, but is a difficult text to obtain, and is a bit short on field investigation methods - DF]
Provides a comprehensive reference source for all those in the paint industry, paint manufacturers and raw materials suppliers, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and industrial paint users. R. Lambourne was in the Research Department at ICI Paints Division and the Industrial Colloid Advisory Group, Birstol University, UK.
Seeing Through Paintings, Physical Examination in Art Historical Studies, Andrea Kirsh, Rustin S. Levenson, Materials in Fine Arts, 2000 ISBN 99-051835 [ forensic science, technical reference, focused on art works - DF]
Sealants, Durability of Building Sealants (RILEM Proceedings), J.C. Beech, A.T. Wolf, Spon Press; illustrated edition (1995), ISBN-10: 0419210709, ISBN-13: 978-0419210702
This book presents the papers given at the RILEM Seminar held at the Building Research Establishment, Garston, UK in October 1994. The book provides an opportunity for researchers to review up-to-date progress towards the achievement of the objectives of the standardisation of laboratory techniques of sealants in the variety of service conditions to which they are exposed.
Staining, Prevention of Premature Staining in New buildings, Phil Parnham, Taylor & Francis; 1996, ISBN-10: 0419171304, ISBN-13: 978-0419171300
The appearance of ugly staining early in a buildings life, ruins an otherwise pleasing appearance, tarnishes the image of the owners and gives rise to costly refurbishment works. In this book Phil Parnham raises a number of questions that should be considered whenever a new building is being designed or built. These are: * why has staining become so prominent; * what causes premature staining; which parts of new buildings are likely to be affected; * how can it be avoided? By using a number of highly illustrated case studies, the author answers these questions and ends by suggesting measures that should be taken by all design and construction professionals to prevent premature staining.
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE

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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for this article. All rights and contents are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
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