Thanks. Whats the best way for a home owner to repair this before we paint. 17, the company provides a description of PinBack nailing for use at loose planks that were "high nailed" at original installation) or where there are problems with gaps, loose planks, or rattling noises. - Hardie FC Siding Best Practices cited above. Step 1: For holes larger than 1/2-inch in diameter, use a carton knife or carbide-tipped tool to cut a V-shaped groove behind the edges of hole. Though it requires only basic skills, a paint job (including preparing the walls, which is often more work than the actual painting) must be approached with careful planning and attacked with diligence and attention to detail. I'm not clear what sort of siding you have installed: shingles or boards, nor if the concern is just for painting vs a possible asbestos concern if the siding were to be power-washed or cut/sawn etc. How to Fix Loose Siding Steps. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The patch is mixed, formed, and spread to match the contours of the board. Caulking is n ok t always recomnended and in fact can cause a cosmetic problem on textured surfaces. We confirmed that the siding was not made by James Hardie nor by Certainteed. The truth is there is always variables with any home product that could require repair down the line, mostly having to do with faulty installation (gaps, uneven, loose from poor nailing, lack of backer flashing) but could also include rodents, collisions, extreme weather, or water damage to the underlayment. The do it yourself resource for homeowners from home improvement professionals. Hammer 6d nails through the bottom edge of the board that is directly above the loose siding board along the entire loose section. Please see your question and my reply, now at I think I'd cut any sealant/caulk with a knife and pull off the corner trimt if replacement were needed. The siding is so stiff, if installed correctly it would not move. Many of the siding boards have nails at the bottom of the butt joints, so after-installation flashing isn't a good option. In any event, the installation troubles documented here are largely attributable to failure to follow fiber cement board lap siding installation specifications from either of the major U.S. manufacturers. Siding in high places might also present a problem if you want to avoid working on a ladder. Pry off the plank using a pry bar or hammer and chisel until it comes loose. Generally the manufacturers do not recommend caulking at factory-painted fiber cement siding butt joints, presumably because it creates a cosmetic defect; some instructions permit caulking at primed (and smooth) siding, presumably because the caulk "cosmetic defect" will be hidden by the finish paint job. At left we illustrate another failure to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. I then remembered that it yielded unsatisfactory results for me when I attempted your suggestion on various applications where I needed to adjust the exposures on lap siding. www.yhboard.com/en, personal correspondence 3/21/2013. I would not just nail down buckled siding; let's first understand what's going on. SIDING, FIBER CEMENT DEFECTS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. When was the siding installed? Of course the surface has to be both clean and dry. Mobile: 0086-15924317823; E-Mail: sales6@yhboard.com; Skype: dajiezi107, Choosing the best remedy for failing paint on fiber cement siding or any other exterior building surface depend on at least these considerations: Cosmetic issues: Building owners should also be made aware of possible future cosmetic issues, depending on the repair method used and workmanship; For cosmetic concerns, if building condition permits a slower approach, consider trying more than one product and method for gap sealing, examining the durability and appearance of the repair after 12 months or longer of weather exposure on the most-challenged building sides. Once you locate all areas of looseness, begin snapping the loose edge back into place against the locking ridge. Snap the bottom edge of the piece of siding into top locking ridge over the nail them. Bill, Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Although the material expands and contracts less than wood, best installation practices still allow for some movement and to respond to shifts in the home. Mold growth in or under a paint coating is a possible cause: it would be diagnostic to know if the siding was ever painted on-site. Theres no doubt that removing entire sections of board risks damage to corresponding areas but in many ways its the only tried and true way of how to repair cracked fiber cement siding. The home was built in 2001. SIDING, FIBER CEMENT NAILING DEFECTS https://inspectapedia.com/exterior/Fiber-Cement-Siding-Nailing-Defects.php HardiePlank is fastened to the home by either blind nailing or face nailing. How do you fix a hole in cement board siding? At CONSULTANTS & EXPERTS DIRECTORIES https://inspectapedia.com/Expert-Consultants-Directory.php you might find a home inspector or paint failures expert who can help you diagnose your home's particular condition. ", 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. I would also not jump to tear it off. To repair you will need a siding removal tool that you can find at most home centers for about $5. Repairing Damaged Siding: Patching House Wrap. This detail keeps water collected by that top horizontal "gutter" from being sent into the wall behind the siding regardless of whether the siding is vinyl, aluminum or FC. The siding on the second floor appears over the years to have been effected by rain dripping off the roof or back-splashing onto the siding that has caused gray streaks in wide areas of the siding. [9] Thanks to reader Marie Carr for James HardiePlank siding photograph and case history information. Re-applying caulking when it has begun to show signs of wear can help keep moisture from getting into the wall cavity. The hardy siding was installed with finish nails only. Once our house went on the market we knew we needed to take care of it and decided to share with you, our lovely readers, how easy the process is: How to repair hardie board siding. Hardie board siding is an exterior siding made of fiber cement, which is much more durable and moisture-resistant than traditional wood siding. associated with paints, and other non-approved materials as touch-ups. We have a metal roof on the second story and a metal roof that surrounds an 8' veranda porch. Fiber cement siding won't "rot" but it will be water damaged, and worse, besides risking rot in the wall structure behind the siding, you are continuing to issue a platinum-engraved invitation to termites and carpenter ants to invade the building structure. a House . Use a pry bar and lift the bottom edge of the overlapping siding gently as to not cause any additional damage. I'd like to see some sharp closeup photos of the damage (you can post one photo per comment). It doesn't rain a lot here, so wind driven moisture is not our biggest concern. This results in a loose installation that will flap in the wind. To repair hole in fiber cement siding there is a special putty that can be used as a patch. Hold the grinder with both hands and cut down into the board. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07, i think hardi is a great siding and in your case the fire resistantance would make it my #1 choice. Mobile: 0086-15924317823; E-Mail: sales6@yhboard.com; Skype: dajiezi107, Our photos below illustrate what we found when taking a closer look at this installation: leaks at window tops and rotted trim everywhere on the building. For more diagnosis we ask about the fiber cement siding's original installation & nailing: was the siding installed according to the product specifications for type of nail, nail spacing, overlap, back priming, butt joint and trim joint end priming & caulking? Both pieces have numerous bubbles opening up and showing open holes on the face and the sides. Use the siding removal tool to gently expose the nail hem that needs new nails. I just moved into a new house and the previous owners built some planter beds right up against the house. There we also discuss adding back flashing to seal open lap siding butt joints against leaks into the wall system. This article does have a lot of good things to say. Patching holes is an easy and relatively inexpensive fix at . The painter said the butt joints don't need to be caulked and that the backing paper was adequate to prevent moisture intrusion. We called James Hardie's technical support line where a courteous representative told us he would refer us to Hardie's expert Benjaman Batres. Fiber cement siding is a highly durable product but anything installed 30-40 years on the exterior of a home is going to be vulnerable to damage at some point. Evan products with ColorPlus Technology. 2023 Today's Homeowner Media. Is there a good company to go with when it comes to this I got a quote from conservation construction of texas and lowes. Patricia Replace missing and non-repairable pieces. The flashing should be a non-discreet color so that it is barely noticeable. PsBut don't let your favor bamboozle you. A builder might think that by using housewrap and flashing tape around openings, the abutment to trim or windows and doors is not a critical joint. The Hardie practices you sent, on discussing use of J-channels, focuses on directing water out from behind siding at the bottom of the vertical J's but omits a top J-channel detail that can send enormous amounts of water running down the exterior wall above a window or door into the space behind the vertical J-channel. How can it be fixed? We have just build a high quality modular home, and we have Certainteed lap siding, (cement board siding like Hardie). Push the blade down so that it will cut into the board and then pull the trigger. When sliding the last board into place underneath an overlapping row of siding, you may have to face nail it into place because the top nailing lip is hard to reach. Fit the siding removal tool underneath the lower edge of the loose siding piece. We want to paint but have noticed some cracks in the cement. Don't assume all fiber-cement details are the same.) - Anonymous pending agreement, the writer is a professional home inspector working in the South Eastern U.S. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07. Step 4. Example 4 shows loose siding and missing flashings at butt joints. James Hardies warranty provides coverage for defects in materials and workmanship on ColorPlus products and its Touchup Readers please use the page bottom COMMENTS BOX or find our email at page top or bottom CONTACT - Ed. If you had any concern, you could put a few dabs of caulk behind them. Now just a few years later the siding ends are curled away from the building. If the siding has been improperly attached to the house, there isn't any practical way to fix this. The hook on the tool grabs the locking edge at the bottom of each panel. If you are able to expand the pictures, you can see the gray areas. My mobile is 20 yrs old and has the cement fiber siding. Fiber cement siding defects, failures, problem troubleshooting: This article describesthe 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. Buy a few metal-cutting hacksaw blades and a simple handle that attaches to one end of the blade leaving about 6" of free hacksaw blade. Let us know what you're told and post some sharper photos if you can and we may be able to offer other comments. The installers also brought the siding down onto the roof surface where sidewalls intersected a roof (see image 10 above). Looks like a 1x6 by 8 long. Any help would be appreciated. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Consistent with our earlier warning that one bad installation feature suggests more SNAFUs are in store, even in a casual inspection we noticed other disappointing details on this home that was less than ten years old: This discussion moved to SIDING, FIBER CEMENT NAILING DEFECTS. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Hardie Board vs. Other Fiber Cement Siding Brands. It is important that they are not sunk below the surface of the boards so that they create a weather-tight seal. [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. products. The owners thought they were contracting for HardiPlank siding. Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. James Hardie routinely receives inquiries from consumers and builders regarding the use of paint as touch-up on ColorPlus Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SHINGLE-BOARD DEFECT DIAGNOSIS, BUTT JOINT CURLING in FIBER CEMENT SIDING, BUTT JOINT GAPS & FIBER CEMENT SIDING SHRINKAGE, HOMEOWNER COMMENTS on FIBER CEMENT SIDING, LOOSE FIBER CEMENT SIDING, NAILING FAILURES, PRIME COAT on END CUTS of FIBER CEMENT SIDING, SIDING FIBER CEMENT COEFFICIENTS of EXPANSION, MOISTURE ABSORPTION into FIBER CEMENT SIDING, TEMPERATURE EFFECTS on FIBER CEMENT SIDING, James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices, Appendix A, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT DEFECT DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SHINGLE CUTTING TOOLS, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BUCKLING FIBER CEMENT SIDING, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BUTT JOINT CURLING in FIBER CEMENT SIDING, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BUTT JOINT GAPS & FIBER CEMENT SIDING SHRINKAGE, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BUTT JOINT BACK FLASHING OMITTED, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT CAULKING ERRORS on FIBER CEMENT SIDING, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT COEFFICIENTS of EXPANSION, SIDING, FIBER CEMENT PRIME COAT on END CUTS, MASONITE WOODRUF ROOFING OR MASONITE OMNIWOOD SIDING LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT NOTICE, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES, Openings left un-sealed where mechanicals penetrated the building walls, Clogged non-functional weep holes in brick veneers, Improperly-constructed masonry patio and steps abutting wood siding and trim, settling, trip hazards, rot. A good design is for what people will do in construction, not what they should do. Siding pieces that keep coming loose could indicate improper installation. Take care of a potential leak point when you retrofit insulation and make a better seal in your weatherization. But, hey that's what happens when you are having fun with a sprayer. Removing fiber cement boards from the exterior of a home is basically installing in reverse. If you are having trouble removing the board, use a saw to cut it along the seam where it meets the adjacent boards. My house was built six years ago with hardie board siding and trim. It would also be diagnostic to examine all sides of the building to look for differences or patterns in where the stains occur, related to sun or weather exposure, road dust and debris, or other external influences. This article describes repair procedures for cosmetic or functional siding issues that may arise such as loose siding, wind-damaged siding, siding paint or coating failures, and siding gaps, especially gaps at fiber cement siding butt joints where lap siding is installed. Fiber cement lap siding is generally blind-nailed at the top of the plank with the nails being covered by the subsequent row of siding. Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 15, 2023, Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 8, 2023, Todays Homeowner Radio Show Podcast | April 1, 2023, Ask Danny | Ep. I have a new house with fiber cement siding on it. After all, this is an exterior cladding. In my experience if we can remove loose paint and then use a primer/sealer that is recommended by the paint supplier as compatible with the top coat of paint, that will give the best results. However, if siding boards have simply become loose over time, it may be possible to repair the loose siding boards. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. 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], Paint and Surface Coatings, Theory and Practice, R. Lambourne & T.A. We called James Hardie to ask for guidance in determining just how much moisture was "too much" in Hardieplank siding, after observing that siding at a job arrived visibly wet from the factory even though still inside its original sealed plastic wrapping. CertainTeed's installation guide has the same recommendation and is an extensive document with plenty of advice for the installing contractor and homeowner. 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