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 Mobile ViewEXTERIORS of buildings ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BARK SIDE DOWN on DECKS, TRIM, STEPS BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DECK COLLAPSE Case Study DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring ENGINEERED WOOD Products ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR FIBER CEMENT SIDING FLASHING, ASPHALT SHINGLE VALLEYS FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK FLASHING for METAL ROOFS FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU FLASHING WALL DETAILS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES LOG HOME GUIDE PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS CEMENT SHINGLES SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD SIDING, LOG SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION STONE CLEANING METHODS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION WOOD SIDING PRODUCT CHOICES WOOD SIDING INSTALLATION WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLASHING, ASPHALT SHINGLE VALLEYS FLASHING, CLAY TILE ROOFS FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK FLASHING for METAL ROOFS FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU FLASHING SIDING DETAILS FLASHING WALL DETAILS FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOG HOME GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings MOISTURE CALCULATIONS MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR Moisture Impact on Paint Exterior Surface Paints Solid-Color Stains Application of Paints & Stains Discoloration Problems Extractive Bleeding Mildewed Exteriors? Semitransparent Penetrating Stains Clear & Lightly Tinted Finishes Bleaching Oils Unfinished Siding & Trim Product Suppliers PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES PAINT & STAIN LIFE CHART PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PAINT FAILURE CHECKLIST PAINTING MISTAKES PAINT FAILURE DICTIONARY PAINT FAILURE ANALYSIS LAB PHOTOS Paint Failure Case Photographs-SITE Paint Failure Case Photographs-LAB PAINT LAB SAMPLE PREPARATION PAINT SURFACE PREPARATION PORCHES & Sunrooms PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH RAILINGS, STAIRWAY RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SEARS KIT HOUSES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SHEATHING, FIBERBOARD SHEATHING, Gypsum board SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board SHEATHING, OSB SHEATHING, Plywood SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS CEMENT SHINGLES SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD Abatibi Siding Claims Boise Cascade Siding Claims JamesHardie HardiPlank Siding Masonite Siding Claims SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL VINYL SIDING INSPECTION & REPAIR VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAINS & Thermal Tracking STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STRESS SKIN INSULATED PANELS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE TERMITES, ROT BAIT TRAPS for Termite Control CARPENTER BEES / Powder Post Beetles Drill Marks & Termite Treatments INSECTS & FOAM INSULATION MOLD in FOAM INSULATION POWDER POST BEETLES Preservative-Treated Framing Lumber ROT, TIMBER FRAME ROT-RESISTANT Deck Lumber & Flooring TERMITE DAMAGE Case - Activity Un-Noticed Termite Damage Case - Severe Damage Termite Damage Indicators, Clues Termite Damage Indicators Outdoors Termite, Insect, Rot Articles TERMITE MUD TUBE Photographs TERMITE SHIELD Installation TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE FELT 15# ROOFING, as HOUSEWRAP/VAPOR BARRIER HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS VENTILATION in buildings WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WINDOWS & DOORS ALUMINUM WINDOWS Best Practices Guide for Windows & Doors: CLIMATE, WINDOW CHOICES FOR CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS Doors, Exterior, Energy Efficiency Guide Doors, Exterior Flashing Details Doors, Exterior, Frames DOORS, EXTERIOR, Selecting & Installing DOORS, INTERIOR FIBERGLASS WINDOWS GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss HURRICANE, WIND, & STORM-Resistant WINDOWS LOW-E WINDOW GLAZING LOW-E VS QUAD-GLAZING LOW-E RETROFIT ADD-ON FILMS POLYCARBONATE GLAZING SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS SKYLIGHTS, Guide to Choosing & Installing Skylight Condensation Problems Skylight Window Design Issues Skylight Energy Efficiency Skylight Installation Procedures SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS SLIDING GLIDING WINDOW DEFECTS SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS STORM WINDOW INTERIOR STORM WINDOW PLASTIC CHOICES STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS VINYL WINDOWS VINYL / PVC WINDOW WARPING WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO Window Certification WINDOW EFFICIENCY Features & Ratings Window Flashing & Sealing Guide WINDOW HARDWARE PHOTOS Window Installation, Flange-Type Window Installation, w/ Integral Brickmold WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT Window Materials & Construction Window Types, Guide WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide Window & Door Sources WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves More Information |
This article discusses the selection and best-practices installation of fiber cement building siding products. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.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 CEMENT SHINGLES. Also ASBESTOS CEMENT & FIBER CEMENT ROOFING and also CORRUGATED ROOFING. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, Daniel Friedman, Steve Bliss, Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Fiber Cement Siding: Product Choices, Installation Details
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.
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
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 & FIBER 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
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
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
Blind Nailing Procedure for Fiber Cement Siding
Cutting Methods for Fiber Cement Siding
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 SidingAfter installation, small dents or chips can be filled with any cementitious 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. List of Fiber-Cement Siding Brands, Sources, Manufacturers and Trim Suppliers
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