Getting the Most Out of Hardie Board Siding Installation: A Homeowner’s Guide

If you’re considering siding installation using Hardie Board products for your home’s exterior, understanding proper guidelines helps ensure exceptional durability and aesthetic results from this fiber cement option. While considered lightweight and easier to cut than wood, Hardie siding must follow meticulous fastening methods over studs and joint detailing between planks to maintain weather resistance and structural integrity.

Follow this homeowner’s guide covering basic Hardie Board siding installation techniques as well as finishing considerations when using horizontal lap siding, vertical board-and-batten looks, or wide Hardie Panel products. Your careful planning and contractor selection determines long-lasting curb appeal and performance for decades.

Choose the Right Hardie Siding Thickness

Hardie Board siding comes available in a variety of widths and thicknesses for custom appearances on every home. Thicker options provide extra rigidity and load-bearing capacity for multi-story dwellings. The most common sizes include:

• 5/16-inch thick HardiePlank lap siding for single story homes on 16 inch stud spaced framing
• 7/16 inch thick HardiePlank for two story homes or commercial structures
• 1/2 inch thick HardiePanel vertical siding for a board-and-batten aesthetic
• 5/8 inch thick Hardiepanel stucco-textured look

Measure existing exterior walls to calculate the exact lineal footage you need when ordering. Having extra material on-hand avoids installation delays.

Follow Code-Compliant Fastening Methods

Proper Hardie board siding fastening ensures planks withstand high winds and avoid cracking, warping or falling off the structure. Always follow manufacturer specifications and local building code standards based on your area’s wind zones and typical weather.

For stud walls framed 16 inches apart, code approves fastening Hardie lap siding with either:

• 6d corrosion-resistant siding nails – place one every 6 inches staggered along outer board edges and one in the center stud.
• Corrosion-resistant 2 in. 11 ga. roofing nails – one every 6 inches along board edges and one in the center stud
• No. 8 1-1/2 in. corrosion-resistant siding screws – one every 8 inches along edges and one in the center

Nail heads must sit flush without denting the fiber surface. Over-driving or under-driving fasteners risks compromising durability. Follow all spacing and placement consistently across entire walls.

Cutting Fiber Cement Requires Diamond Blades

Cutting and fitting pieces of Hardie siding demands using the right tools – never cut fiber cement materials using standard woodworking saws. The cement and silicates dull ordinary saw teeth almost instantly. You must use diamond-grit edges specifically designed for cement boards and tiles.

These specialty saws come as circular saws, jigsaws, angle grinders, or manual snips. For longest blade life and minimal dust, cut boards face down with the decorative side underneath. If using grinders or sanders finishing cut edges, always wear safety goggles and N95 dust masks to filter microscopic particles. Clean tools and surfaces with water often since allowing cement dust to accumulate harms functionality.

Include Expansion Gaps Under Windows and Over Openings

Like natural wood, Hardie Board siding expands and contracts slightly as temperatures fluctuate through seasons. Thus installation requires leaving carefully calculated gaps under horizontal edges of windows or above doors and ventilation holes. This gives Hardie Planks room swelling in summer heat without buckling against trim edges above.

As a rule, leave 1⁄4 inch gaps anywhere horizontal siding butts against adjacent trim or materials across openings. Where vertical board-and-batten pieces meet corners or openings, allow slight gaps as well following manufacturer specifications to prevent warping or waves forming across surfaces over time. Moldings and battens cover gaps for clean finished aesthetics.

Add Painted Caulking for Seamless Corner Joints

For flawless exterior corner joints, apply quality latex or acrylic caulking between abutting edges of Hardie trim and siding boards. Smooth all gaps and cracks with caulking before painting so cured sealant blends in seamlessly with your chosen colors. For caulking underneath lap siding and edge gaps, use flexible joint sealant meeting ASTM standards for maximum adhesion properties and resistance to shrinkage or cracking.

Well-installed caulk beads prevent air and water seeping underneath siding joints during storms – reducing leaks, damage, and costly repairs. They also deliver beautifully rendered home exteriors free of conspicuous cracks once painted over fully cured beads. Follow all caulk package curing times before applying latex exterior paint.

Add Style with Decorative Battens or Other Architectural Details
Beyond basic siding planks, Hardie Board fiber cement products lend themselves well aesthetically to creative customization with battens, molding, medallions and trims adding designer flair suitable for all home genres from coastal cottages to modern farmhouses.

Consider wide vertical board-and-batten siding using contrasting colors to accentuate architectural lines. Line horizontal lap planks with vertical trim battens running from roof eave to wall baseboards. Use wider Hardie Panel pieces as shingles for front gables or façade focal points. Create classic Craftsman woodwork looks around garage doors with layered molding built out from siding.nThe possibilities for bespoke fiber cement detailing really appeals to artistic homeowners and designers looking to establish custom personality with durable materials.

Maintain Proper Clearance Above Grade

Regardless of hardy fiber cement’s durability, direct ground contact risks moisture damage over time. Ensure the lowest edges of horizontal siding plank installation maintains clearance above final landscaping grade level around the home’s perimeter.

As code requires, keep a minimum 2-inch clearance gap between siding and soil – allowing air circulation and drainage underneath. Use furring strips where necessary to maintain proper height over finished grades after they settle post-construction. This prevents soil, grass or mulch from touching siding. Check clearance gaps annually ensuring sufficient height above the ground has clearance behind borders and edging stones.

Regular Washing Maintains Appearance

While correctly installed Hardie Board withstands weathering admirably, periodic cleaning maintains maximum curb appeal. Use garden hoses or low-pressure power washers to rinse settled dust and dirt off surfaces annually – avoiding abrasive brush scrubbing which scars textures over time.

Re-coat any worn painted surfaces or caulking beads showing conspicuous cracking every 4-5 years to protect weather-exposed fiber board humidity damage at seams. This prolongs durable integrity keeping homes looking like new construction for decades beyond old-fashioned wood trim maintenance hassles.

Conclusion

When seeking roofers in Nashville TN, adhering to essential best practices during Hardie Board siding installation guarantees that your residence achieves the utmost in durability and visual appeal. Though fiber cement entails a higher initial investment compared to vinyl alternatives, expert planning and craftsmanship deliver prolonged exterior safeguarding and design flexibility that is hard to replicate otherwise. Make a prudent investment by collaborating with certified siding contractors to ensure your fiber cement paneling becomes a showcase-worthy feature of your home.