Hardie Siding

Caulk plays an important role in the installation process of any kind of fiber cement siding. Without caulking, is virtually impossible to keep out humidity, moisture, rain or any other forms of weather or elements that can penetrate your homes outer shell due to mother nature. There are many places throughout a home's exterior were caulking is needed.

Any time a butt joint is created, it is important that caulking be placed between the two pieces of siding. A butt joint is simply a joint where two pieces of siding meet on a flat surface. In general you want to keep anywhere from 1/16 of an inch to 1/8 of an inch gap between your two pieces of siding at any given butt joint. The small gap you have left will then be filled with caulking. Some manufacturers also recommend that caulking be placed on both ends of the fiber cement siding where butt joints are going to meet before they are installed. This ensures that a solid joint is made and that caulking penetrates all surface areas of the butt joint being created.

There are other areas of the home that you will come across but joints other then went to pieces of siding meet. Often times when people are installing fiber cement board, they will trim their windows with either Cedar trim, pressure treated lumber or fiber cement board trim pieces. Fiber cement siding will but up close to your door jams, window trim, soffits and any decorative trim your home may have. It is important to remember that all of these areas of the home will also need caulking as well to ensure that they are resistant to the ever changing weather patterns.

The kind of caulking that you use will also determine the life expectancy of the court itself and how soon you will be having to repair it. A permanently flexible caulk is highly recommended. As the outside temperatures fluctuate flexible clocking will be able to expand and contract as needed without tearing, cracking or pulling away from the siding itself.

If you have purchased a pre-colored or prepainted fiber cement siding that does not require any further painting, then it will be important that you use a clear caulking. If you decide to go with a white or any other color caulking, then you will be able to see every seam around the entire exterior of your home. As you can see caulk plays a very important role in the installation process of any brand, style, texture or size fiber cement siding that is installed on any home or business. Do not skip this step would take shortcuts, as it will only hurt the finished product of your home's exterior and the end.

My home is in Texas, I have lived here my entire life. My home is currently covered with a cedar shingle that is holding up well. If it ever starts to fall apart you can be assured that I will replace it with hardie siding.