Trying my Hand at Hardie Lap Siding

[Stimw]

I've never used the clips. I found that I just have to hold it up where I want it and get one nail in the center of the board. Then I set my level on the top or bottom of one side, put a nail in it, then do the other side. It's very fast and easy to do.

How are you setting the reveal?
The Solosiders set it perfect every time and I have been spotting the plank then moving the tools to that plank and finish fastening.
I have been checking every plank for level and haven't missed yet, but I have to know!
Those chimney pics show how not to install at a roof.
There should be step flashing and kick-outs.
Also I just checked the Hardie instructions and it says 2" gap above the roof/shingles.

 

[Cord]

I'll be doing a siding a garage later this summer, but using the Certainteed product instead. This siding was discontinued and we found a bunch for only pennies. The siding tended to crack from excessive shrinkage so I'll have to be careful and not nail it too well. Last year I was able to find a antique asbestos shingle snapper at an auction. Paid $35 for it. Put the siding in, pull a lever and it snaps it right off. Not a clean as a saw, but no dust and just as fast. Even has a punch and a notcher built into it. After a lot of searching, I was also able to find the old tin corners - and they make them for cement board! Pro Siding Accessories If you are down south, also consider Nichiha. They're a Japanese company and they have some pretty innovative takes on cement board siding. Some of their wood grain products actually look pretty good. Nichiha USA, Inc. - Fiber-cement exterior cladding & siding for Commercial & Residential Construction.

 

[Stimw]

Up dating this thread and my progress with the Hardie siding.
I have been replacing old windows and installing Hardie Plank Siding on my 4 bedroom ranch house.
Pics are before, during and after doing a complete side of the house.
I have been cutting with a 4 1/2 grinder and found that a diamond blade with notches in it cuts best and I am still on my first blade!
I am also using an old table saw with notched blade to rip lengths of the board.
I have had to use Hardiebacker square head screws to fasten because the house has metal studs and I am fastening the siding to T1-11.
The screws hold so good that they will pull all the way through the siding if I don't stop!
I bought a whole pallet of the siding and had it put on an old trailer that I have so I can move it around the house as I go.
Gonna be a long summer!

 

[elbowroom]

Looks great!

I did my my entire house with LP smartside using the Solosider tool. I found it too be invaluable for being able to work alone with 16 ft pieces on a crooked old house!

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks good. Hardie is really a wonderful product with a quick learning curve.

 

[Stimw]

Looks good. Hardie is really a wonderful product with a quick learning curve.

Saw a "Homes on Homes" episode on DIY network where they were removing 8 year old Hardie Plank Siding because of water damage to a new house. He did point out that the problem wasn't the siding but was the installation. They didn't flash the windows properly and it let the water in rotting the partical board.
He also replaced the siding with a different (sponsored) siding! I guess the instructions didn't translate in Canada.
I finished most of the north wall last weekend, see before and after pics. Saturday it was 100* in the shade of the porch at 2 pm!!
I am about 2/3 done but making good time.

 

[EddieWalker]

In the latest issue of Journal of Light Construction (JLC) magazine, there is a great article about flashing windows and using liquid flashing instead of tape. There are too many cases of tape failing for a variety of reasons. The liquid membrane goes on like paint and gives you a permanent water proof seal. It's also used in showers a lot, and some contractors are even using it instead of house wrap on the entire house.

 

[GLyford]

Zip system still seems to be the big thing here. Haven't been able to get close enough to any of the houses going up to see which products they are using on the windows.