How To Install Fiber Cement Siding - Allura USA

Learn how to install fiber cement siding from Tim Larson, the Product Application Specialist of Allura USA. Tim teaches you how to properly prepare and install fiber cement for homes. Want to learn more about fiber cement installation?    • Fiber Cement Product Review - Allura USA   Today we're gonna be reviewing the general practices for installing fiber cement. When storing and handling fiber cement, it's important that you carry it on edge. And when you have it delivered, that it's on flat ground, out of the mud, and out of standing water. So when taking delivery of the product, it's important that you try not to bend it or damage it. In the old days, and with some lumber yards, they do it off a tilt bed and that bends the product. If you can get a service that has a Moffett base skilled forklift or a boom truck, that will be the preferable way to place it. That allows you to put a unit on each side of the house and reduces some of the back and fort that causes extra time and labor. So when cutting fiber cement, it's important that you cut outdoors, that you wear proper protective equipment. That you use shears if possible. But if not, make sure you use a fiber cement blade to cut it. When you cut fiber cement, it's important you cut it on the back side. The way the circular saws rotate through it. The way the shears work through it. You get a cleaner cut on the backside of it. So when I stack my material on my set up, I try to put all upside down. And that means when I'm raining dust down, it rains down on the back side and I get a cleaner cut. It also allows me to criss cross my cuts when I notch, and keeps me from having to whittle it out with a knife. When fastening Allura fiber cement, we recommend using a corrosion resistant fastener, stainless steel being on the best. A double hot dip nail, but we will accept electrical galvanized but don't recommend it. When you use a fiber cement, you have some choices. A roofing nail, a siding nail, a coil siding nail, minimum inch and 3/4 inch flank for the most part. It's an inch and a quarter embed into framing that can include OSB or plywood. If you're using a nonstructural substrate like gypsum, soletex, any of the products that don't have holding power, you're gonna have to be an inch and a quarter into wood with a nail. With a screw, it's only 3/4 of an inch. So you take the minimum. Add the thickness of the non-structural and the thickness of the product and that's gonna tell you your minimum length. So there are some fasteners you don't wanna use, and that's because they don't work or we haven't tested them. Those fasteners are staples, work great for wood not for fiber cement, a d-head nail, a clip nail, and that's because we haven't tested them, aluminum nails or gluing the product on. PRODUCT RESOURCES: From real-world success stories to handy install guides to warranty details, here you'll find a wealth of in-depth information about Allura Fiber Cement: http://www.allurausa.com/resources ALLURA USA: For over 75 years Allura has been manufacturing and distributing fiber cement exterior building products that include lap siding, panels, soffits, shakes, exterior trim and decking. Allura products, manufactured in North Carolina, Indiana and Oregon are specially formulated for high performance, look like natural wood but are fire, bug, moisture, impact and fade resistant with the strength and durability to handle any kind of weather in any climate. Our products also save you money because they are long-lasting, greatly reducing the need for repairs or replacement. Plus, they're backed by a tremendous 50-year warranty. All in all, Allura is the ultimate alternative to other building materials. ALLURA PRODUCTS & SERVICES: Fiber Cement Lap Siding Panel Siding Plycem Trim Shingles and Shakes Soffit Backerboard Underlayment Fiber Cement Decking Fiber Cement Installation