Fiber Cement Siding Installation Problems

Absorptive claddings like fiber cement can hold moisture leading to panel damage rot and even mold problems.

Fiber cement siding installation problems.

This article describes the 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. Fiberboard cement siding looks identical to wood once it s painted. Hardie siding problems a k a. While traditional wood or vinyl siding can be cut by hand most fiber cement board requires specialized saws designed for the material.

A siding pro shows the tools and tricks needed for a weathertight installation. The other manufacturers of fiber cement siding have nearly identical installation instructions. When you want the classic. Once cut to length minus the recommended wiggle room attach each trim piece by driving nails through it the house wrap and the sheathing and into wood framing.

While fiber cement siding is prized for its strength and durability these same features can be a problem during installation. Half the cost of a fiber cement board siding job is labor so you can save thousands of dollars by installing it yourself. The number one problem associated with fiber cement siding involves moisture seeping into cracks and being absorbed by the wood particles in the fiber cement material which can cause substantial damage. There are many fiber cement siding problems you need to be aware of.

If you re hanging fiber cement siding you ll typically use fiber cement trim from the same manufacturer on areas like inward and outward corners. Improper clearances must be kept 2 away from roof surfaces decks driveways steps and other. Fiber cement problems are rare but do happen from time to time. Where some siding options such as vinyl thrive in erratic weather and require little maintenance fiber cement tends to struggle.

Fiber cement is a siding material that was first introduced in the 1980 s as a replacement for asbestos cement wood aluminum and vinyl siding products. It is critical that all installation steps are very carefully followed by a professional to ensure all penetrations and gaps are properly treated with the appropriate paint or caulk to protect the panels from moisture infiltration. The only thing different is the necessity of a fiber cement saw blade. One of the biggest problems is the difficulty in cutting the planks.