I have a real problem — based on information from a Fine Homebuilding article (or press release) I went with Certain Teed new ICON siding for our new house. Which we were delighted with in appearance, weight, ease of installation, etc.
However, when it was being painted the painter came back the next day and realized that the siding contracted during the night and there were gaps between the longer pieces which disappeared when the sun came out and hit the siding, i.e. this great new product expands and contracts with changes in temperature. We contacted the company, have a claim in, but now am told that the product was discontinued and that they won’t reimburse us for anything except the siding itself, not the labor to install it, nor the money that we paid the painter. (Nor the trim that went with it.)
We cannot afford to take everything off and reside and repaint the house. But aside from the appearance of these reappearing and disappearing gaps (which were caulked by the painter), I am very worried that this will allow water to get behind the siding.
What should we do?? I am completely astonished that CertainTeed won’t take responsibility for not properly testing this product before they brought it to the market, and that we are paying the price — at least they want us to.
Any advice would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks!
Replies
No experience with that particular siding, but to answer your question about water intrusion consider what a shingled wall looks like. There are gaps every few inches but they don't leak. If the gaps don't line up, then the water will drain out through the next piece down. For horizontal lap siding the butt joints typically have a small piece of tar paper or other WRB type of material behind the joint to give another path of water drainage. If that was done on your install then I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I have had experience with that product as a builder and would never use it again. As a matter of fact it was removed from all the lumber yards in my city, and there is a national class action settlement against the company in Canada.
Not only does it expand and contract as you've described but it also is a very brittle product so be careful if there are kids who like to play ball against the house or leaning anything heavy up, it may crack the siding.
If your siding was installed on a rainscreen system then you should have nothing to worry about as any water that penetrates your joints will drain out through your drainage capillary's. If the siding was installed directly on the building envelope then you could slip in small ( about 3"x8" ) strips of tar paper behind the joints if the installers didn't. If you have problems making the strips stay you can use a 18 gauge nailer and pin them in, but be careful because certainteed cracks when nailed to close to the edges.
best of luck.