Installing fiber cement siding (FCS)—such as HardiePlank®—is easier than you might think, though there are some important differences from traditional wood siding. Installation instructions may vary depending on the manufacturer, and check with your local building inspector for any code requirements.


Safety First

Always follow these safety precautions when installing fiber cement siding:

  • Wear safety glasses when cutting and nailing FCS.
  • Use ear protection when cutting siding with a circular saw.
  • Cutting FCS with a circular saw creates a large amount of dust which can lead to the incurable lung disease silicosis. Always cut siding outside and use a dust collecting saw hooked to a shop vac if possible.
  • Wear a NIOSH approved N-95 dust mask or respirator when cutting FCS.
Safety equipment

Storage and Handling

  • Inspect siding carefully for damage when it arrives.
  • Store off the ground, making sure it is flat and well supported.
  • Keep it dry until it has been installed.
  • Carry pieces on edge to prevent breaking.
  • Support siding along its length when cutting.

Prep Work

  • Sheath walls with plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or foam.
  • Cover sheathing with housewrap or felt paper.
  • Pop chalk lines to mark the location of studs.

Cutting Siding

  • Circular Saw: While this is the most common method of cutting, it produces the most dust. Use a polycrystalline diamond toothed blade made for cutting FCS. Cut from the back side using a rafter square as a guide for right angle cuts. Several pieces may be stacked and cut at the same time.
  • Fiber Cement Shears: Special handheld electric shears can be used to make straight and curved cuts. An attachment called the TurboShear converts an electric drill into fiber cement shears. When using shears, cut with the back of the siding facing up.
  • Jigsaw: When fitted with a carbide coated blade, a jigsaw can be used to cut holes and curves. Cut from the back of the siding.

  • Scoring: Fiber cement siding can be scored and snapped like drywall, though the cuts are not very smooth. Score the face of the siding then pull up to break. A carbide tipped scoring knife lasts much longer than a standard utility knife blade.

Fastening Siding

Fiber cement siding can be nailed by hand or with a pneumatic nailer. It can also be attached using corrosion-resistant screws.

  • Use hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel nails.
  • Nails should penetrate through the sheathing and at least 1” into studs.
  • Position nails ¾” to 1” from the edge of the siding.
  • Siding can either be blind nailed at the top or face nailed at the bottom.
  • Use roofing nails for blind nailing and siding nails for face nailing.

Installing Trim

Begin by installing the inside and outside corners on the wall.

These can be made from wood, vinyl, or thicker fiber cement products such as HardieTrim®.

Corners should be at least ¼” thicker than two stacked pieces of siding to allow room for caulking.

Putting up trim before installing fiber cement siding
Putting up trim before installing fiber cement siding.

Installing Siding

Fiber cement siding should be installed 6” or more above the grade level of the house with a 1”– 2” gap between horizontal surfaces like decks, steps, or adjacent roofs. Flash above doors and windows, leaving a ¼” gap between the flashing and siding. If you’re working alone, overlap gauges can be used to support the siding while you nail it.

Begin by attaching a 1¼” wide strip of FCS 1/8” above the bottom of the first row to provide the proper angle for the siding. Next, nail the first row of siding into the studs, leaving 1/8” gaps at the corner boards to allow for caulking. Blind nailing is preferable to face nailing, since any nail heads are hidden by the next row of siding. Nails do not need to be predrilled except near the ends.

Center joints over studs unless special metal off stud joiners are used. Joints should be butted loosely together with a 4” wide strip of 30 pound felt positioned behind each one. Make sure the felt overhangs the previous row of siding to keep water from running behind it if the caulking fails.

Each row of siding should overlap by 1¼” or more. A spacer stick with a notch cut the length of the exposed part of the siding makes alignment easy.

Use a square or level to check that the rows line up at corners.

When notching the siding around doors and windows, hold it in place and mark each end. To determine the depth of the notch, hook the spacer stick on the previous row of siding and measure from the top of the stick to the window or door unit.

When cutting angles on gables, start by cutting a piece of scrap siding or wood to the proper angle then use it to mark each piece. To measure the top row of siding on horizontal eaves, hook the spacer stick on the previous row and measure up to the eave, then rip the siding to width.


Finishing

While fiber cement siding should be painted as soon as possible after installation, factory primed FCS can go as long as six months without painting.

Make sure it is clean and dry before painting.

Caulk joints and ends first with a high quality latex caulking. Prime bare siding and any exposed cuts then topcoat with 100% acrylic latex paint.

Painting fiber cement siding
Painting fiber cement siding.

Manufacturer Installation Instructions:


Further Information

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Danny Lipford

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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