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HardiPlank Siding Contractor in Irvine
Beautify your home
with new wood or Hardi-Plank siding & trim!
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Orange
County Construction 'strongly suggests' that you read this page in full
if you are considering siding for your home. In our years of installing
different types of siding products on homes, we have found that the
HardiPlank products are far superior over most other products. Not to
mention that termites don't eat Hardi siding products.
Here
are some common question and FAQ's regarding siding:
-- Is
HardiPlank better than wood siding?
-- Which siding is better to use for my house?
-- What siding is better termite resistant?
-- Can I install siding myself?
-- What different types of siding are there to choose from?
-- I am buying a house, should I have the siding inspected first?
-- What is better between siding and stucco?
-- How much does siding cost?
Below are some of the
great Hardi sidings that we use:
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Products /
Exterior
HardiePlank® Lap Siding
HardiePlank® Lap Siding is the most popular brand of siding in
America and can be found on over 4 million homes. With its strength,
beauty and durability, HardiePlank® siding enhances and protects
homes in all kinds of climates.
more
HardieShingle® Siding
HardieShingle® siding has the same warm, authentic look as cedar
shingles, yet it resists rotting, cracking and splitting. It's
beautiful as a primary siding or as a complement to other styles of
James Hardie® siding. Our shingle siding panels come in a variety of
decorative edges, and expedite installation in larger areas.
more
HardiePanel® Vertical Siding
For applications that call for vertical siding, HardiePanel®
vertical siding is equal to our lap siding in value and long-lasting
performance. Because of its structural strength, HardiePanel siding
may be used as a shear panel. When combined with HardieTrim® planks,
it can also help you achieve a board-and-batten look.
more
HardieTrim® Boards
Our fiber cement trim and fascia add the finishing touch to a
beautiful, lasting James Hardie home. They provide unmatched
durability in corners, columns, windows, rakes and friezes.
more
HardieSoffit® Panels
James Hardie pre-cut soffit panels eliminate the need for separate
box or strip vents and minimize the need for cutting. HardieSoffit®
panels are available vented or non-vented, in a range of pre-cut
sizes.
more
Colorplus® Technology
Take advantage of the ColorPlus® Technology to get the look you
want, without the maintenance. Find out which James Hardie® Siding
products with ColorPlus® finish are available in your area.
more
Artisan® Exterior Design
This new architectural grade line from James Hardie features
Artisan® Lap and Artisan™ Accent Trim products. Backed by 15 years
of research and development, Artisan Lap delivers. Currently
available in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Oregon,
Washington, Lake Tahoe, Northern California, Minneapolis, Denver,
Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
more
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Hardboard Siding -
WARNING!
Hardboard siding has come under intense scrutiny over the last few
years, due to manufacturing deficiencies by certain producers, and
partly due to installation deficiencies. Many manufacturers are stopping
production due to numerous lawsuits.
This article will examine the common installation problems. If you want
to research the manufacturing problems and lawsuits, go to the "Home
Claim Services" website at Home Claim Services. You will also find
information regarding any class action lawsuits against manufacturers in
your state.
In my experience, hardboard siding is rarely installed according to the
manufacturer's specifications, and this is obviously a contributing
factor to siding failures. There are two primary aspects of siding
installation - the physical installation itself (cutting and nailing)
and the finishing (caulking and painting) of the product. Hardboard
manufacturers have very clear specifications regarding both aspects, but
many contractors disregard this vital information.
Most hardboard is warranted against product defect for 20-25 years.
However, if you have siding that is not performing as expected, and file
a warranty claim with the manufacturer, you may find that the warranty
is VOID, due to improper installation and/or finishing! Since problems
don't usually manifest till several (3-5) years after installation, the
builder's one-year-warranty will have expired, and your only recourse
may be to sue the builder for negligence (assuming the statute of
limitations hasn't expired!)
Obviously the ideal situation is to monitor the installation and have
deficiencies corrected as they occur. This is where you friendly home
inspector can be of assistance. But what if you are buying a resale
property with hardboard? Again, a qualified inspector can identify
deficiencies and any related damage, and propose remedial action needed.
I have seen many homes where the siding is beyond repair and the
replacement cost would be around $10,000. The moral of the story is
"Don't skimp on the cost of a quality inspection!"
Moisture is the enemy of
hardboard siding. Almost all installation deficiencies allow exposure to
moisture, resulting in absorption and subsequent degradation of the
material.
Defect #1 - Overdriven nail heads. Nail heads should be driven to where
they butt tight to the siding or are flush with the siding face. If the
nail head is "sunk" beyond flush, the siding fibers are exposed which
will allow moisture absorption. The siding then swells out beyond the
nail, creating more access for moisture and the situation goes from bad
to worse. If the nail head is sunk less than 1/8" it can be caulk filled
and painted. More than 1/8" requires caulk fill and a new nail adjacent
to the overdriven nail.
Defect #2 - Thin/missing paint. Most builders spray paint a house.
Unfortunately this technique results in less paint applied than the
specifications require. Even for pre-primed material, at least 2 spray
coats would be necessary to achieve proper coverage. When was the last
time you saw a builder apply 2 coats? That is why builder homes tend to
need to be repainted after 3-5 years, whereas a quality paint job should
last 10 years! Also, the bottom edges of lap siding tend to receive
little or no paint, especially on the lower courses, since the painter
is spraying downward at this point. To cover those bottom edges properly
would require hand brushing, but again this is rarely done. Water tends
to hang on these bottom edges and gets sucked into the siding through
micro cracks in the material. The result - swollen and decomposing
siding! Inspectors should walk along the lower rows with a mirror. You
will be surprised how the bottom edges of the lower 3 or 4 rows is
different in color than the higher rows!
Defect #3 - Unpainted cut edges. When siding boards are installed whole
(uncut), the end edges are generally unpainted, but since most hardboard
comes pre-primed there is some protection at least. Ideally these ends
should be painted prior to installation. However, the bigger problem
occurs when the boards need to be cut to fit. This leaves an un-primed
edge that is thirsty! Caulking and/or joint clips help but don't
eliminate the problem. Even worse is where a sloping section of roof
frames into an upper wall. Here the slope-cut boards are almost never
painted on the cut edge, and at a very wet location!
Defect #4 - Deficient Clearances. Compounding the slope cut problem at
roof/wall junctions is the fact that most builders provide too little
clearance from the bottom of the siding to the roofing material below.
Most manufacturers require 1-1/2" clearance, but 0" to 1/2" is a typical
deficient installation. The other common clearance deficiency occurs at
the bottom row of siding adjacent to the ground. Building Codes and
hardboard manufacturers require at least 6" clearance (8" in some
areas), but this is frequently violated in the name of providing good
drainage away from the house. The real problem is that the house was
sited too low on the lot. This location is doubly sensitive since the
bottom edge of this bottom row rarely gets painted, as previously
mentioned.
Other Defects - There are many others but the preceding citations
represent the major defects that typically result in moisture related
damage to the siding and are therefore, in my opinion, the most
important defects to be aware of.
HOMEOWNER TIPS:
If you are buying a home with hardboard siding, have it professionally
inspected. Caulk and paint any areas that could allow moisture
absorption, especially those bottom edges. Remove joint clips and/or
strip caulking at joints and brush coat the gap between boards - then
recaulk or replace clips. Fill all overdriven nail heads with caulk, and
paint. Find out from the seller when the last complete paint job
occurred. If the paint is original and the home is more than 3 years
old, plan to repaint soon!
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