Fiber Cement Siding Installation

What is fiber cement siding? It is a composite made of cement, silica, and wood fiber.

• It has the capabilities of significant weather protection.
• It is non-combustible and widely used where there are high risks of fire.

History of Fiber Cement Siding

Invented in Austria in 1901, it was named "everlasting." Until 1980, it was built with asbestos, though a change in composition, it did not affect its utility. It still provides protection from heat, moisture, and frost. It is impervious to insects, and does not provide food for termites. Moreover, it does not rot. It is subject to damage from impact, however, and must be used where impact potential is low – especially for the lower densities.

Description and Requirements

Fiber Cement Siding is a chameleon material. It can be used to imitate wood, clapboard, and shingles, such that only close inspection will reveal what it actually is. It can also be used to substitute timber fascia where a high danger of fire is present.

• It comes in sheets of varying sizes and densities—and is quite heavy, requiring at least two people to move and install. It is a cast material, so it will chip and break if it has not been correctly handled. Depending on the thickness selected, it must be cut either with metal hand shears or with diamond-bladed,heavy-duty cutting blades. This, in turn, generates a workplace hazard of silica dust. There are NIOSH regulations that cover the cutting of the panels.
• Because of its weight, it must be hung on a reinforced wall. The addition of fiber cement siding may require modificationsto surfaces in order to distribute the weight. Fiber cement panels are most often hung with hot dipped galvanized roofing nails.Cement interacts with ordinary roofing nails, causing them to break.
• Unlike other forms of cladding, fiber cement panels are designed to overlap. Thisrequires "step flashing" to prevent water damage. End joints must be spaced, and must ultimately be caulked to keep water from under the sheathing.
• While the material may also be used internally, the use for siding provides durability and flexibility.
• It can be painted on either sawhorses before it is hung, or once in place. The latter painting method is the most used, as the caulking can itself be covered in this manner. Pre-hanging application of paint does provide a more effective weather seal, though.

Dangers of Installation

There is one danger in the use of fiber cement products. When the panels are cut, there is an exposure to silica dust. If you are considering the installation of fiber cement siding, please ensure that your contractor is equipped to cut the boards in isolation, and with suitable vacuum facilities to gather the silica dust created by a circular saw.

The selection of fiber cement siding is appropriate where long-term maintenance is to be kept to an absolute minimum. Fiber cement siding installation offers the greatest return on your siding investment.

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Author is an expert article writer who has written many articles on the topic of residential roofing. Currently, he is writing articles on metal roofing contractors