Boral Siding and Trim: A Deeper Look - Fine Homebuilding FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Main Menu
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Main Menu Subscribe
FHB House Logo

The 2017 FHB House is a production-built house in a small development of net-zero-ready houses in Wilder, Vermont, all with a focus on affordability and universal design principles. It’s designed to be quickly built and easily duplicated while meeting stringent air-sealing and performance standards and a strict budget.

Vermont 2017

Tools & Materials

Boral Siding and Trim: A Deeper Look

A pictorial look at the TruExterior installation process.

By Sean Groom
Article Image

The finished exterior of the FHB House has the nice crisp shadow lines and solid siding appeal of traditional, cedar clapboards. The siding and the trim, however, are Boral’s TruExterior products. One of the selling points of the homes in the net-zero ready community that Paul and Tim Biebel are building is low-maintenance exteriors. Manufactured from a mix of coal fly ash, glass fibers, and polymers, the TruExerior siding and trim aren’t affected by moisture or heat, are rated for ground contact, can be painted dark colors, and the cut ends don’t need to be painted or sealed.

Please click Launch Slideshow below to take a look at 17 photos with more information.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Sign Up

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

×

The Boral TruExterior trim has the flexbility of vinyl trim boards.

The crew used three guys to run 16-ft.-long pieces through the table saw. Dust protection is a must with this material, and once a saw blade cuts the poly-ash material, the blade should be dedicated to cutting Boral. Blowing the saw clean with compressed air at the end of the day is a good idea as well.

 

Trim boards were screwed in place with Fastenmaster’s Cortex screw system.

The Boral plugs made for a nice clean finished appearance.

Boral’s TruExterior beadboard was used on the porch ceiling.

On a cool day, a couple of guys prefabbed the window trim. The TruExterior trim was glued and pocket screwed.

The preassembled window trim goes up quickly. These were also attached with the Cortex screw and plug system.

The preassembled window trim was a real time-saver on the second floor windows.

The roof overhangs were sized so that a 1×4 on either size of the vent strip closed in the overhang.

Once all of the trim was installed, the painters came in and sprayed it. The crew had held off on shingling the roof so they wouldn’t have to worry about paint over spray. After the roofing was installed the crew turned to the siding.

The cut station for the TruExterior beveled siding had extra long tables to support the material.

The bevel siding is more flexible than the 1x trim; supporting full pieces at the ends and the middle is the best way to move it around the site.

 

The gable vent for the attic also provides the attic access (notice the hinges on the left side of the vent). Skipping the interior attic access eliminates a difficult-to-seal hole through the air barrier.

The siding is blind nailed. The only visible nails are at the ends of each board where there’s a single nail at the bottom.

A piece of roofing underlayment behind each butt joint directs water back out onto the siding below.

A couple of guys paint right behind those installing the bevel siding. First they roll on the paint …

and then back-brush and hit the bottoms of the clapboard.

X
X

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

FHB House Logo

Sign up for FHB House eletters and get insider's access to the build, expert insights and special offers.

Sign Up
Vermont 2017 Videos Behind the Build: Rhode Island 2016 Behind the Build: California 2018 Behind the Build: Kentucky 2019 Behind the Build: Connecticut 2020

Navigate the Build

  • Introduction
  • Foundation
  • Framing
  • Windows and Doors
  • Insulation
  • Roof
  • Siding and Trim
  • Mechanicals
  • Interior Finishes
  • Kitchen and Baths
  • Completed Home

View Comments

  1. GJPehl | Nov 28, 2017 12:52pm | #1

    I made extensive use of Boral this summer, and I was disappointed.

    The marketing claims high stability, but I found dramatic warping in the 5/4 x 11.25" trim- at least a full inch over the length of a 16' piece.

    Also, tight scarf joints opened up dramatically over night.

    1. user-7630316 | Jan 22, 2020 11:46pm | #4

      GJPehl,

      I'm late coming in on this one but my experience was exactly the same. Had tall fascia board, so had 5/4 x 12 with 3/4 x 10 above it, just lipping onto the lower band. The scarf joint in the 5/4 opened about 5/8" pretty quickly. overall length was about 28'. I first thought it was the substrate (long LSL), but that does not explain why the 5/4 opened and the 3/4 board scarf joint stayed tight. We stopped using Boral for any long runs right away.

  2. TrueGrits101 | Dec 18, 2017 11:55pm | #2

    Looked at the pictures; not impressed. If the builders have to wear masks when working with the product, what happens in ten years when someone wants to make a change and is ignorant of the danger? And the picture of the actic vent validates GJ Pehl's comments; the corner joints are open!

  3. User avater
    HunterR | Jul 27, 2018 05:58pm | #3

    Are you sure the attic vent is made from the Boral material? It looks like a cheesy off-the-shelf aluminum louvers vent to me.

    Dust masks are pretty standard when working with any cement-board product, no?

    I'd like to know more about GJPehl's first-hand work experience, though; the marketing materials make it sound like it expands and contracts much less than wood, If not true, that's a real issue.

    1. user-7630316 | Jan 22, 2020 11:51pm | #5

      HunterR,

      We had manufacturers reps from Boral come look at our issues. They sent out two young guys who seemed perplexed, said they had never seen this type of movement/shrinkage before. Never got anything resembling an answer. I had another large project going on about three miles away. My guys there said they had the exact same issues...
      We will still use Boral, but only on areas we know we will not have long runs. Unlike true lumber, we did not experience much movement across the width of the boards, yet way too much change along the length.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Vermont 2017

View All
  • Boral Siding and Trim: A Deeper Look

  • Electric Radiant Ditra-Heat in the Bathrooms

  • Crown Point Kitchen Cabinets Shine With Frameless Cabinets and Glass Doors

  • Interior Wall Finishing With Trim-Tex Drywall Bead

View All

Fine Homebuilding House - Vermont 2017 Sponsors

  • Putnam County Logo
  • SoftPlan Logo
  • TiteBond Logo
  • Boral TruExterior Logo
  • TrusJoist Logo
  • ZipSystem Logo
  • Schluter Logo
  • MAX Logo
  • M. Teixeira Soapstone Logo
  • AMVIC Building System Logo
  •  Crown Point Cabinetry Logo
  • The Dryerbox Logo
  • AdvanTech Flooring Logo
  • Trim-Tex Drywall Products Logo

Up Next

Featured Story

Eldorado Stone veneer installation

Chimney Details and Stone Veneer Siding

The team at the 2020 FHB House discusses why they saved an old stone chimney, and walks us through the details needed to add masonry veneer to a superinsulated house.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • Sidewall Shingles With a Flare

  • Foundations for Success

  • Building a Prototype For Net-Zero Neighborhoods

  • Bath on a Bluff

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

  • Fine Homebuilding All Access
  • Fine Homebuilding Podcast
  • Tool Tech

    Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

  • "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

    Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

    Sign Up See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

  • FHB House Video: Finding High Performance in Good Design

  • FHB House Video: Insulation, Air-sealing, and Mechanical Details

  • FHB House Video: A Modern Exterior

View All

New Construction

View All
  • Foundations for Success

    Foundations for Success

  • Building a Prototype

    Building a Prototype For Net-Zero Neighborhoods

  • Bath on a Bluff

  • Third-Floor Deck Framing

    Third-Floor Deck Framing

View All

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition

    Buy Now
  • Fine Homebuilding Magazine Slipcase

    Buy Now
  • Musings of an Energy Nerd

    Buy Now
  • 2020 Fine Homebuilding Archive

    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 297 - February/March 2021

    • Foundations for Success
    • Staircase Renovation
    • Ditch the Hose
  • Issue 296 - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

    • Insulating Glass Keeps Getting Better
    • Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb
    • Making Sense of Minisplits
  • Issue 295 - Kitchens & Baths

    • Condo Kitchen Reimagined
    • Row-House Remodel
    • Rise of the IAQ Monitor
  • Issue 294 - Oct/Nov 2020

    • Schoolhouse Reimagined
    • Tool Test: Folding Sawhorses
    • A Better Way to Build Tall Walls
  • Issue 293 - Aug/Sept 2020

    • A Practical Guide to Fall Protection
    • Installing Frameless Cabinets
    • Make Any Tablesaw Safer

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Manage Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

© 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk
  • Account

  • Log In
  • Join

    Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk
  • Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

    Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

    All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

    Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

    More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

    Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up See all newsletters

Follow

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 52%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in