Home exteriors are exposed to all sorts of environmental elements – weather, water, fire, pests and time are just some. James Hardie products are engineered to stand up against them all and continue providing comfort in any season or climate.
Home theater systems come in an assortment of colors and textures – from cedar wood graining to smooth surfaces – giving you virtually every option when designing the perfect look for your living space.
1. Remove the Old Siding
As part of your Hardie Plank installation process, it is vitally important to remove all fasteners like screws or nails from your existing paneling carefully to prevent damage to wall sheathing during the installation process. This step should help ensure a successful result.
Before beginning the removal process, first conduct an inspection of your existing siding for signs of rot or moisture damage. If there are soft or soft-to-the-touch areas of wall sheathing that require repair prior to installing your new fiber cement siding panels.
Installing Hardie Plank siding yourself may be possible, but professional installation is highly advised for best results and to avoid costly errors that require time-consuming and costly repairs in the future. Good Guys Contracting Services’ qualified contractor team will ensure your new HardiePlank is installed according to James Hardie’s exacting standards ensuring maximum durability, longevity and beauty for your exterior of your home.
2. Prepare the Substrate
Step two is to prepare the substrate, by clearing away debris and cleaning up any area where there may be debris accumulation. Marking the stud locations at this stage will help speed up installation later on.
Substrates, or layers of wood under your siding, can be composed of various materials like OSB or plywood; however, most people tend to opt for OSB (oriented-strand board) or T1-11 as their substrate. It is crucial that a product designed specifically for exterior construction be chosen; otherwise moisture could seep into walls and cause lasting damage.
Substrates must be fastened to the studs with nails long enough to penetrate at least 1-1/4 in, using siding nails of appropriate length that penetrate 1-1/4 inches or deeper. A wrong type of nail could damage sheathing and nullify any warranties; also caulking around penetrations, flashings and trim-and-plank connections should also be applied; any non-James Hardie approved caulking could nullify such warranties as well.
3. Install the New Siding
Before beginning the installation of new siding, gather all the supplies that you’ll require in one convenient place – this will save time and prevent multiple trips to the store. Some supplies that may come in handy include a circular saw with a fiber cement blade, siding gauges and either an 18-gauge trim nailer or 15-gauge siding nailer.
Caulking should be used along the edges of siding, as well as around eaves, doors and windows. Make sure you use permanent flexible caulk for optimal results in preventing moisture from penetrating into your home and leading to mold or rot growth.
Fiber cement siding is more resilient than hardboard, providing better weather resistance. Plus, its easy maintenance requires no special tools – simply water and nonmetal brush should do. Aim to have it professionally washed twice annually so your Hardie Plank exterior adds value and curb appeal to your home!
4. Finish the Job
After measuring and pre-cutting your new siding materials, the next step in installation should be dust masks for cutting operations to protect installers from breathing in sand (silica) particles that may pose health hazards over time. Long term exposure can have severe health repercussions.
Installers should ensure they use wood sheathing as the substrate and attach it securely to studs for proper fastening. Furthermore, caulking between Hardie boards and sheathing may prevent water from seeping into the wall cavity and entering.
Hardie Board should be regularly cleaned with a garden hose and nonmetal soft bristle brush to maintain its aesthetics, according to James Hardie’s recommended maintenance guidelines. Intentional neglect could void your warranty. As with any home renovation project, it’s also key that all parties involved work well together on maintaining good communication; this ensures everything runs smoothly during installation and removal processes.