We’re home-handiman types, re-siding our old house with Hardiplank, (using planks rather than panels.) The instructions on the Hardie website say that you should fill dents, chips, and cracks with a “cementitious patching coumpound”, –what’s that? In another place says you should use caulk for over-driven nails–can we just use caulk?
Any recommendations?
Also, we would prefer to invest in a good tool and spray the paint on, but the directions say “back-rolling is recommended if the siding is sprayed.” If you have to roll anyway, should we even bother with spraying?
Thanks!
Replies
It sounds like you are very new to fiber cement. I would recommend calling james hardie and getting one of thier "installation experts" come out and do a demo for you. It is free and they will go to your site and walk you through everything, including types of tools you should use, best practices, painting, caulking, etc. Hardie has very good customer service and they are always willing to assist in any way. They also do quite a few demo's at building shows.
Also do a search through the archives, fiber cement/ hardi comes up a lot and you'll find most of your answers there. At the top of the thread field to the left, at the top you'll see "advanced search".
You do you need to back brush if you can spray well. All the pro painters I know that deal with hardi only spray.
Also, whatever you do get a set of the fiber cement shears for cutting. They will only cut one peice at a time but it is completely dustless. Miter's and circular saws will cut mulitple pieces but the dust will make it a very long day. The shears are about $200, mine are snapper steelhead fiber cement shears, http://www.snappershear.com/. You might find some on ebay or you can buy new and sell on ebay for about $150. Basically a $50 rental fee for your using them.
If your in the New england area, I'll email you the hardie contacts I have, installation people, etc.
Edited 6/21/2005 1:48 pm ET by DDay
Edited 6/21/2005 1:49 pm ET by DDay
I wondered about that statement myself, but I've had no badwill using regular exterior spackling and/or good quality exterior caulk. Believe me--there will be lots of "hammer tracks" and small chips, etc. in the course of a job. Spraying is definitely better than rolling, time-wise, and on the smooth stuff the results will be better.
If time permits I would take the other poster up on his offer, though.
Jason Pharez Construction
Framing & Exterior Remodeling