I plan to replace the siding of my 15 year old with new cement fiber siding.?

Question

Is the structure of 15 year old house strong enough to support heavy weight of cement fiber siding? Also the siding contractor suggests that I should replace all the glass windows as well.
Is it nesscessary ? What do I need to know when I deal deal with the siding contractor?
Thanks in advance for you help.

Answer 1

My experience with replacing wood siding with Hardyplank required no additional support. My exterior wall studs were at the standard width, and I used a nail gun to attach the hardyplank in place. As for the best way to deal with a siding contractor.....

get a second and third and a fourth opinion. And then be very clear on the scope of the work. You may have heard the saying, "contractors don't make money on what they do....they make money on what they don't do."

Answer 2

If your house can support a layer of stucco on the walls, it easily should handle cement fiber siding. Most houses have 2x4 stud walls (2x6 if you are really lucky) and they can handle the weight of the CFS.

Make sure your contractor used hot-dipped galvanized nails (HDG are far superior to anti-rust than are electro-galvanized nails.) I think that 8d nails will be sufficient, but 10d will be best. Also check with the CFS mfr for proper installation techniques (for one: www.jameshardie.com) that you can review with your contractor. Sealing the cut edges with a primer paint, and using caulking to fill all panel-to-panel gaps are important for long-term performance. And make sure that all your piles of not-yet-installed CFS panels are covered from rain, moisture, dew, etc. during the construction process. Esp. at night - moisture can soften the panels and they can break in two easily during handling.

I would recommend sheathing the house with OSB or plywood, and then install a whole house wrap such as Tyvek to prevent air from leaking through gaps in your walls.

Window replacement is optional, and expensive, but replacing the siding with new fiber sanding is probably the best time to do it. How long do you want to stay in your house? Run some energy savings calculations to see what savings you will have in heating & AC using double-paned, low-e glass windows. Energy costs will *only* increase in the future - whether you use electricity, natural gas or propane, or fuel oil.

You also might be eligible for rebates from your state if you install double-paned windows, making the cost actually lower.

Good luck - you will be pleased with the results.

Answer 3

When it comes to your contractor, get a list of work he's done recently, with the type of siding that you want, then go look at it. Talk to the owners to make sure he shows up and completed the job on schedule and within budget. Look at the end cuts of the concrete fiber siding. The should be smooth and square or he isn't using the right saw blade. Most importantly, get a Certificate of Insurance from his agent. Don't let him give you a copy, it could be fake. His agent will fax or mail it directly to you. He needs GL and Workers Comp. Good Luck