Replies

1. 
   DanH | Oct 09, 2013 09:36am | #1

   About 30 years ago I did this, around our front concrete stoop:

   Remove the crummy hardboard siding.

   Remove the beaverboard sheathing about 10 inches up from the stoop, going behind the stoop to the extent possible.

   Replaced the sheathing with cement board tile backer.  (I made a point to only attach the cement board at the top.  Don't know if that was important or not.)

   Used thinset tile mud to create a fillet of sorts between the horizontal stoop surface and the cement board.  The fillet is about 1-1/4" high, angled at 45 degrees.

   Installed tempered Masonite siding, taking care to maintain a 1" gap above the horizontal surface.

   30 years later it still looks perfect.

2. 
   florida | Oct 09, 2013 03:48pm | #2

   What do the steps butt into on the sides?  In any case you can't install Hardi that close to the steps. You'll need to keep the Hardi about 2 inches away and fit around the steps with PVC trim.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 09, 2013 09:07pm | #3

   And of course all cut edges on the Hardi should be primed with a good alkyd primer, then two coats of paint.

1. 
   florida | Oct 10, 2013 12:35pm | #4

   Only if you want to void your warranty.

   From Hardi installation instructions.

   "• DO NOT use stain or oil/alkyd base paints on James Hardie® products"

2. 
   [email protected] | Oct 11, 2013 09:20am | #6

   I believe the steps butt close to the sheathing, but I will double check to make sure. I like the idea of the pvc trim. I'm asking this question for a friend who recently bought this house as a short sale.

   Thanks for the responses.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 11, 2013 09:00pm | #7

   You will note from the pictures that the real problem is that the siding on the bottom steps essentially sits in standing water and soaks up water into the untreated cut edge.  Increasing the gap even modestly (to maybe 1/2")  combined with proper priming and painting of the cut edges will get you about 90% "there"

1. 
   florida | Oct 11, 2013 09:24pm | #8

   Hardi's instructions are pretty clear, "there" is 2 inches and nothing less.

3. 
   MarkH | Oct 10, 2013 10:12pm | #5

   Acrylic primer is recommended.  Alkyd can cause saponification of the hardi products.