For regular Hardiplank lap siding (the kind you paint AFTER installation), caulking at butt joints is optional. This from installation instructions: A high quality, paintable caulk is recommended. For best results use caulks
Caulking
Caulk or caulking is a material used to seal joints or seams against leakage in various structures and piping. The oldest form of caulk consisted of fibrous materials driven into the wedge-shaped seams between boards on wooden boats or ships. Cast iron sewerage pipe were formerly caulked i…
What is the best caulk for exterior siding?
What is the best caulk for exterior siding? Exterior silicone caulk is the most commonly used type of exterior caulk because of its incredible durability and water resistance. Silicone is also a very flexible material, even after it has cured, making it an ideal option for sealing drafty windows and doors.
Which caulking is best for outdoor vinyl siding?
- Indoor/outdoor Alex white painters caulk, 10. 1 oz. - 441230
- This is highly durable
- This is manufactured in United states
- For interior and exterior applications.
- Paintable and water clean-up.
What is the best brand of caulk for my bathroom?
- BEST FOR BIG JOBS: Gorilla Silicone Sealant Caulk
- BEST FOR SMALL JOBS: Red Devil DuraGuard Kitchen & Bath Caulk
- BEST MILDEW PREVENTION: GE Sealants & Adhesives Advanced Silicone
- BEST QUICK-DRYING: DAP INC 18152/11440 10.1oz White Alex Plus
- ALSO CONSIDER: Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone
Do you caulk under Hardie plank?
Other products may also be suitable. James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank®siding with ColorPlus®technology. James Hardie also DOES NOT recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks (see Figure 2).
Should I caulk Hardie board siding?
When James Hardie siding products butt into wood-based materials, a 1/8" gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood-based product. Caulks and Sealants: James Hardie recommends the use of caulks and sealants that remain permanently flexible.
Should you caulk fiber cement siding?
Many professionals, like those at James Hardie, also agree that you should not use caulk on fiber cement siding unless there is no metal flashing underneath. Flashing acts as a waterproofing layer for this type of siding, and caulking will prevent the flashing from doing its job.
How do you caulk Hardie planks?
0:464:19How to Caulk Hardie Plank Siding (Gaps/Cracks) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just cut the tip. That's all you need a little metal metal strip. And break the seal. There's aMoreAnd just cut the tip. That's all you need a little metal metal strip. And break the seal. There's a seal in here and you break that seal put it in like that.
Where do you caulk Hardie board siding?
Ugly Caulking Wherever Hardie siding meets a trim board, the company recommends you leave a 1/8” gap between the siding and the trim and apply a 3/8” bead of approved caulking to protect and seal the edge of the siding.
Should Hardie board have gaps?
Do not caulk fiber cement siding butt joints/edges. It is never acceptable to leave a gap of any size at a butt end/joint. Butt end/joints should be installed with factory sealed or factory-prefinished ends butted together in moderate contact.
Does Hardie board and batten need to be caulked?
Make sure that the flashing is sloped away from the wall and does not rest flat on the top edge of the panel. Install the second level or gable panels leaving a 1/4 in. minimum gap between the bottom of the panel and the Z flashing. This gap should never be caulked.
Does caulking Hardie board void the warranty?
These such areas are called “field butt joints.” In the case of James Hardie's Color Plus siding, which has a pro-rated 15-year warranty, using caulk at field butt joints will flat out void your warranty!
Should I caulk siding seams?
The bottom of siding boards should not be caulked While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together, caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage.
Do you caulk horizontal Hardie board siding?
James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank® siding with ColorPlus® technology. James Hardie also DOES NOT recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks (see Figure 2).
Does Hardie board expand and contract?
Fiber cement (complying with ASTM C1186), as do all building materials, expands and contracts with changes in relative humidity and temperature. James Hardie recommends designing for this type of movement on buildings with long runs of continuous siding.
How often should hardiplank be painted?
every ten to twenty yearsHardie Plank is also called fiber cement siding. While it's far heavier than aluminum, vinyl or wood, it is extremely durable and typically only needs a new paint every ten to twenty years for maintenance. It is one of the best materials and long-term solutions for protecting your home.
Can you pressure wash hardiplank?
The manufacturer recommends that you do not pressure wash your Hardie siding. The hard spray of water from the power washer can damage the surface of the siding.
Do you caulk Hardie trim around windows?
On the top of your window or door DO NOT install the trim tight to the siding. Leave a ¼ inch of a gap and do not caulk this gap. This allows moisture to get out, and it can stop mold. Caulking above windows not only voids James Hardie's warranty it will lead to moisture damage and problems.
How do you seal fiber cement siding?
Cut ends of fiber cement siding should have been sealed using 100% acrylic latex primer or paint (Certainteed) or in some cases using an approved caulk wiped on the cut surface (see our notes on Hardieplank installation). And caulk is required at certain joints such as vertical trim at windows, doors, corners.
How do you seal fiber cement siding?
Cut ends of fiber cement siding should have been sealed using 100% acrylic latex primer or paint (Certainteed) or in some cases using an approved caulk wiped on the cut surface (see our notes on Hardieplank installation). And caulk is required at certain joints such as vertical trim at windows, doors, corners.
Does fiber cement board expand and contract?
Fiber cement (complying with ASTM C1186), as do all building materials, expands and contracts with changes in relative humidity and temperature. James Hardie recommends designing for this type of movement on buildings with long runs of continuous siding.
Does fiber cement siding absorb water?
2. Fiber Cement Absorbs Moisture. Absorptive claddings like fiber cement can hold moisture, leading to panel damage, rot, and even mold problems.
Why does hardi paint fail?
The thing about hardi is that it is a great surface to paint, but caullking joints tend to fail faster. This is usually caused by improper installation, and there should be a 1/8 gap the the ends where it meets windows or corners. The installers almost never caulk the butt joints properly either.
What happens if Hardie's are not finished?
If Hardie's are not finished to spec they will crumble in no time.
Can caulking crack out on you?
I have seen it both ways. It could crack out on you though as the house expands and contracts and that looks terrible. If you do I would use a caulking that stretches like big stretch but that stuff is expensive.
Does fiber cement siding contract?
On the contrary fiber-cement siding expands and contracts much more than wood or wood-fiber hardboards.
Do I spray or backbrush siding?
Also, I spray and back-brush the bottoms of every board when painting siding. It looks better and protects against moisture and mildew.
Does Hardi siding work on tract homes?
They use Hardi for probably 75% of the tract home siding here. Pure junk. Have never caulked the underside seam due to moisture trapping issues. One of the biggest hassles is sealing the lower edge. One nick or ding and darn near the whole edge will swell and rot.
What is the gap between James Hardie siding and wood?
When James Hardie siding products butt into wood-based materials, a 1/8" gap will allow for expansion and contraction of the wood-based product. Caulks and Sealants: James Hardie recommends the use of caulks and sealants that remain permanently flexible.
Is James Hardie siding good?
APPLICATION: General: James Hardie believes it is good building practice to seal the joints to prevent moisture, such as wind-driven rain and snow, from penetrating the wall cavity. Caulking around windows, doors , eaves and trim edges gives added insurance that leaks will not occur. When James Hardie siding products butt into wood-based materials, ...
Why can't you span the gap between two pieces of plexiglass?
A little illustration - if you put a drop of water between two pieces of plexiglass and slowly pull the two pieces apart you get to a point where the drop cannot span the gap between the two pieces because the surface tension is not great enough to hold.
What happens if you don't follow manufacturer recommendations?
Not following manufactueres recommendations opens the contractor up to a lot more liability much like doctors when they decide to do what is best for you instead of what the AMA says is the proper protocol. You're out on a limb.
What is the term for how moisture gets into and behind cladding?
One of the important dynamics (the other being the sun)that I remember him describing of how moisture gets into and behind cladding is what he called "capillary suction". Water is literally wicked/sucked up (defying gravity) between the overlapping siding because the gap between the clapboards was too tight!
Should you caulk planks along the horizontal edge?
I believe the answer is that you should NOT caulk the planks along the horizontal edge.
Do they care about caulking planks?
In short they don't care how you caulk it or what you caulk it with, so long as you buy the planks and don't call them if you have a problem.
Can you nail a board with a nail head?
Using the nail head to hold the next course away from the one below may be a workable concept for drainage, but the literature also indicates that face nailing of the boards is also an acceptable application method.
Do you caulk horizontal nails?
We do not ever cau lk the horizontal joint. We do this nailing with nail guns using fasteners that meet all size and shape requirements, but not stainless nor hot dipped galvanized coatings.
What to do if you have old siding?
If you are concerned with the condition of old siding, call a local expert. Keeping moisture out and air circulating properly are key to protecting your home from damage. Sometimes caulking is the answer, while other times flashing is a better alternative.
Is siding retaining water?
There’s a chance everything is fine, but there are many variables, too. Keep your eye on siding that might be retaining water. Indicators of this could include siding that is swelling, cracking, or peeling underneath the laps. Any of these issues could be worth a close look.
Does James Hardie require caulking?
In fact, many newer siding systems, such as James Hardie fiber cement siding, don’t require caulking where you’d traditionally expect to see it. In this post we’ll outline some key locations and why and when they matter — and even introduce a few alternatives to caulking.
Can nails be embedded in siding?
A common misconception is that the builder may have done this intentionally to ensure nails are embedded into the siding. Although this could be the case, more often than not it’s an indicator that the nail was fastened into a stud, and the wood siding is now swelling, beyond the nail head.
Can you fill gaps in aluminum siding?
Remember, any water that gets behind the siding needs to be able to drain out the bottom. This is why it’s filling the gap with spray foam or caulking isn’t always the best choice. Instead, use aluminum trim coil, which allows for proper flashing — and also proper drainage and air circulation.
Is caulking a protective measure?
Tradition might have you thinking: “Caulk everything!” While caulking is indeed an overall important protective measure for your siding and home, “more” isn’t always better. What’s more important is focusing on “the where.”
How far down should nails fall on hardie plank siding?
Hardie Plank siding has a nail line across the top of the board that is 1” down from the top, and nails are supposed to fall between ¾” and 1” from the top of the board to give the best hold. Any lower and you might see a few nail heads poking through the bottom of the next board, any higher and your siding is likely to be loose and could even rattle in the wind.
How much gap between James Hardie siding?
Hardie siding requires a minimum 2” gap from all hard surfaces like decks or rooflines, and at least 8” from any soft surfaces like grass, dirt, or gravel.
What is hardie siding made of?
By now you probably know that Hardie siding is made of fiber cement, which requires installers to take care when cutting to make sure that they don’t breathe in small sand (silica) particles. Continued exposure to these particles can lead to severe long-term health issues for workers if it isn’t managed correctly.
Why are James Hardie nails so high?
High nails are very common from inexperienced James Hardie installers, because they think the nails can go anywhere above the nail line. If you can easily fit your hand underneath your Hardie siding, 9 times out of 10 that’s because the installer didn’t nail the boards properly.
What are some common mistakes James Hardie makes?
1. Ugly Touch-Ups. Touch-up mistakes are by far the most common error that Edmonton’s James Hardie installers make. Because James Hardie paints and cures its siding in its factories, the sheen of the touch-up that it sends out doesn’t quite match up.
How long does James Hardie siding last?
James Hardie siding is a beautiful exterior product that can last longer than 30 years in Edmonton’s harsh climate. However, to ensure that the product lasts as long as it should and looks great throughout its lifespan, it’s important that your siding contractor follows the installation instructions.
What is the best tool for siding?
Hardie Plank siding is almost always installed with air nailers, which are the best tool for quick installation. The only downside of pneumatic tools is that sometimes the installer will get going a little bit too quickly, and will lose track of where the nails are going.
