Hi Guys
I was working the other day nextdoor to a new house that is going up, and after work I walked over to take a look at the siding job. The siding was a type of cement board but I don’t think it was actually ‘hardie’ anyhow they were nailing it up with a dewalt straight collation finish nailer. Is that what is supposed to be used? I hadn’t ever seen or heard of that. I was under the impression that it should be put up with a roofing type nail with a large head. Heard anything?
AJH
Replies
Not too sure about that method but if thats what the manufacturer recommends then so be it.
Were they nailing it at the bottom or top?
Dave
do you know of a manufacturer that recommend finish nails for cement siding or just giving the guys the benifit of the doubt?
CAG
Never heard of it myself but if I would of said that it was wrong then sure enough someone would of posted that they do it like that all the time and then the flaming starts. Then this thread would end up like the Vacation thread. :-)
"Never say never"
Dave
guess I have to go check out the vacation thread now...
as for someone using finish nails to hold cement siding on, well I'd like to meet the idiot that supports that.
Seems to me they were nailing it at the bottom. And as to nail heads I saw several that were proud, like and 1/8 in. out of the board. I think the brand was certanteed. But I am not sure, don't even know if they make cement siding.
AJH
Were the nail heads recessed or standing proud of the surface? Not that it actually matters much for a finish nail...
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Fiber cement lap siding (Hardie has 90% of US market now since they bought up smaller competetors) can be face or blind nailed.
Blind nailing (along top edge) should be done using galvanized roofing nails or 6d galvanized nails. 1 1/2" - 2" Roofing nails are best I think - bigger head than 6d.
6d or 8d galvanized are used for face nailing. The nail heads can not be countersunk. They must be left flush with face of siding. breaking the face is like breaking the face paper on drywall - once broken it's holding power is greatly diminished.
You're supposed to nail into studs when possible but driving just into structural sheathing (OSB / Plywood) is fine as long as the nails stick through 1/4" or so. You can actually just apply fiber cement lap siding right over studs with no structural sheathing - provided there's a let-in brace or metal strap to resist racking. In that case you have to break end joints on studs.
I always blind nail so the nails are consealed. The only case where I use finish nails is nailing on HardiTrim. The specs call for 6d or 8d galvanized nails but again you can't countersink. So you end up seeing nail heads. I use finish nails at my own risk. 'T' head finish nails are better than smaller bugle style heads.
MG
Blind v face
I think the face nailing give you an extra 25 MPH wind resistance like 125 raises to 150, or some other really high number - house will be gone by then
What mike said.
I use 6d ringshank coil gun nails exposed. I would like to blind nail , but as we get at least two hurricanes a year I dont trust blind nailing.I always make sure I hit the stud. And either set the guns or compressor so as not over drive. Use to hand drive 8d ptls and let them stand just a hair proud.
God I love a nail gun.
Finish nail??????? Bound to fail. Hate call backs.
Tyke
Just another day in paradise
G.E. Ely Construction
Ocracoke, NC
I use 8d ring shanks, galvanized, of course, to install either the Hardie brand or Certainteed cement siding. I blind nail the siding, except where I'm worried about it not laying flat or the ends flanging out, then I face nail it. I'd be real leery of using finish nails to hold it on a house
I use a Makita AN611 coil siding nailer. The nails I use are 6d ring shanks with a siding head. The nailer has a flush nailing head and does a great job blindnailing.
For attaching FC to ICF's such as ARXX, there is a coalated screw made for the purpose and it sucks the planking down better than nails. I'm tempted to try it on a conventional application.