Attaching Cement Board Siding

Leave a small gap at butt joints and fill.

Attaching cement board siding.

Install flashing at all end joints where two pieces of siding butt together. Or you can prime and paint them on site. Whichever method you use you will need to coat with latex paint all cut ends of the siding before installing the siding. Measure and cut to length the first piece of siding and nail it in place photo 7.

It can be cut and drilled like wood but you ll need to use a masonry bit to drill this tough board. Mark the siding where you want to drill the hole. Apply caulk to the joint before and after installing the siding. Hardie plank is a type of lap siding that contains cement fibers making it extremely durable.

Install the next piece so its end butts lightly against the first photo 7 inset. When installing fiber cement siding always leave a gap at the ends of each length of siding. Typically this is done at the saw by the person cutting the siding. Attach the siding by blind nailing it with a hammer or nail gun.

Work with a friend to hold the siding in place along the chalk line. Drive galvanized or stainless steel nails through the siding at each marked framing stud along the wall 1 in 2 5 cm from the top edge of the siding. Hanging fiber cement siding nails used to hang fiber cement siding shall penetrate at least 1 into the studs or the structural framing. Be sure the flashing overlaps the siding course below.

Remember that the siding is hard so be sure the nails are located at the right place before driving them. The siding is installed using the same general techniques as wood siding with planks layered up the side of the building and nailed securely into place. 2 place the siding on two 2 by 4s so that the mark is between the boards for support when the siding has not been installed.