Your vinyl or aluminum siding has been damaged or is simply worn out. Or maybe you have decided you want to upgrade your home with durable, beautiful fiber-cement siding to give it a brand-new look and feel. Regardless of why you are thinking about a new siding project, there are several things to consider so you can be assured the job will run smoothly and you will be happy with your decision for decades to come.
Rationale
If your siding has fallen victim to one of South Florida’s hurricanes or damaged or worn to the point where one or several panels require immediate replacement, opting to redo the entire exterior may be the more economic and aesthetically pleasing option. Piecemeal replacement of each panel as it gaps, tears or sags often amounts to fighting a losing battle. A professionally installed siding project not only makes for a seamless job, but also gives you the opportunity to get a thorough inspection of your home’s framing to ensure there is no mold, mildew, wood rot, critter infestation, or other threat to the house’s framing and interior walls.
If your home is clad in some other material besides siding, you can still upgrade to sleek, modern siding to give it a facelift. Siding also offers high insulation properties, helping you keep conditioned air in and hot, muggy air out. This ensures you can keep your family cool and save on energy bills.
Material Selection
Fiber cement siding is by far the superior choice for cladding homes in South Florida. While some homeowners choose vinyl siding, and we are perfectly willing to install it on your home, we highly recommend you opt for James Hardie cement fiber – Hardie board – siding. It costs somewhat more than vinyl but more than makes up for the initial cost by saving you money on maintenance and energy.
As the name suggests, Hardie board fiber cement siding is made from tough, resilient cement and wood fiber to bind the cement and give the finished product a rich wood-grain appearance. The heavy cement stands up to all the dings, collisions, and every day impacts your family can throw at it and the worst Mother Nature has to offer, from salt air and thunderstorms to bright sunlight, high humidity, and hurricane-force winds. Paint it once a decade or so to keep it looking brand new.
Siding Over Wood, Block, or Stucco
Most South Florida homes are constructed of cement blocks, making them perfect candidates for cladding in fiber cement siding. Holeman’s professional installers first attach code-compliant wood furring to the concrete to give the fasteners something to bite into to provide the proper fit. For the remaining 10 to 20 percent of homes in the area that are built from wood frames, a little preparation work is all it takes to make them ready to receive the siding. Our team will remove the old wood cladding and make any repairs to the interior. We nail the siding directly to the existing, repaired, or replaced studs, sheathing, or insulation board. In most cases – assuming the framing and sheathing are structurally sound – we can install fiber cement siding on stucco homes without removing the stucco. Similar to furring, strapping is used to provide a smooth, level nailing surface. Difficulties may arise if the windows do not project far enough beyond the stucco to accommodate the strapping and siding thickness.
Do Your Part
Since no two houses are exactly alike, only your contractor can estimate how long it will take to complete the siding project on yours. Holeman completes most Hardie board projects in less than two weeks, including tearing off the old siding, wrapping the house in a moisture barrier, if required, panel and trim installation, and cleanup. Painting, if you choose unfinished siding, repairs to the home’s infrastructure, and inclement weather may increase the project timeline. To help the project run as smoothly as possible, provide your contractor with a 20-amp power outlet and clear the area around the home to give clear access. Keep kids and pets away from the workers and materials and remove hanging decorations, as hammering may cause the interior walls to shake. If you work from home, consider relocating to a library or other quiet location for the duration of the job and inform neighbors that they should expect some noise for a week or two.