Caulk and its Role with Hardie Plank
If you are planning on installing hardie plank siding on your home, it is important to know about one of the key installation processes. The process I am referring to in this article is the Caulking process. The Caulking process is actually very important, and it must be done correctly and with the right kind of caulking.
Why is Caulk such an important part of hary plank? If you did not caulk the seams of hardy plank, you will be in a world of trouble the first time it rains. Caulking plays a vital role in keeping wind driven rain and snow from penetrating into your home through seams, and butt joints. So remember that everywhere two pieces of hardy plank meet, you will need caulking. You will also need to place caulking any place that hardy plank meets up with door trim or window trim.
While installing the hardi plank, you must caulk the joints before intalling. So what you need to do is take the caulk, and apply a bead along the edge that will be butting up to another piece. Push the two pieces tightly together and allow the excess to spooge out of the seam. Take a damp rag and wipe away any extra caulk.
When you are installing hardi plank with wood trim, it is important that you allow the wood trim plenty of room to expand and contract. It is recommended that you allow 1/8″ at any seam where the two materials meet.
So now that you know how to caulk, lets talk about what kind of caulk. It is very important that you buy a permanently flexible caulking. If the caulking is not flexible, it will crack and peel in a short amount of time. After you have installed your hardi plank and are ready to paint, make sure that you allow the caulking to dry the recommended amount of time, before painting. If you paint over wet caulking, your paint will crack and peel, along with the caulking.
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17 Responses to “Caulk and its Role with Hardie Plank”
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Hi,
I’m a homeowner. I recently damaged the bottom piece of hardy plank on a wall while lawn mowing!!
Fortunately I got a replacement piece from a contractor working on a nearby home extension. Same paint even…
Any advise on the ‘cleanest’ way to replace the broken peice (ie remove the damaged one, and install the new one .. the nails are hidden below the second plank.. how to nail (or glue?) in the new piece under the piece on top of it.
Thanks
Hello,
On a hardie plank repair like that, most often the easiest way to fix it, is to slide your new piece into place and nail or screw it in through the bottom of the piece on top of it. Make sure the screws or nails are countersunk just barely below the surface of the hardy plank and fill the holes with caulk and paint. Hope this helps!
Hello,
Does it matter what side of a Hardie plank faces out. One side has a wood texture and the other side is smooth. If the customer prefers the smooth side facing out, is that considered a proper installation.
Does Hardie plank need to be painted in order to maintain the warranty?
I have a bid from a LOCAL CONTRACTOR WHO WANTS TO INSTALL HARDIE PLANK WITH SEAMLESS CAULKING. I DO NOT WISH TO ACCEPT THIS BID IN THE FACE OF WHAT I JUST READ FROM YOUR WEBSITE. ANY COMMENT?I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION YOU LISTED. THANKS.
I need to find out the right way to correct this problem. At a lot of butt joints(70%) I have noticed caulking separating from one or the other piece it adjoins….now what?
A friend of mine just resided his home and used a small piece of flashing behind the seams/joints, and did not use any caulk He claims this is the “new” method of installation. What is your take?
Can you help ? I just had Hardiplank installed on my addition. The installer did not caulk between planks as required. In addition we changed from radom to straight style which required each pre-painted plank to be cut even. Is there a fix short of taking it all down and starting over ? Can the bottom of each plank be painted to prevent running ? What about where the planks come together ? Thanks
how do you repair golf ball dents on hardy plank…. I have a beautiful house on a golf course with bad golfers
I am planning to put up 12″x12′ planks. I do not have a nail gun. I was told I could screw the planks with 1 1/4″ deck screws. It will be screwed into a 5/8″ t-siding. Do I have to drill out the holes before screwing in and do I have to screw the planks into the 2×4’s. I thought the t siding would be thick enough to hold the planks.
Thank You
What kind of caulk is used between hardy plank boards. I used two different types and they still cracked out.
Your installation instructions specifically say ” …James Hardiedoes not recommend the use of caulk at field butt joints.” Which one is right. I have a client that has gaps at their butt joints (from the original contractor) and they want me to caulk them. Should I? and do you recommend Quad?
We are having hardi plank installed starting today. The workman told me they leave an 1/8″ space where they butt with a piece of felt behind the butt joint, but they use no caulk in that space. So, what happens when it rains and snows?
I get the comments on caulking when two end pieces meet…what about the over lap of the boards. I had contracto recently install HardiPlank and I love it however he did not caulk the under part of the boards that over lap…hopefully you understand what I am referring to…should that be caulked as well???
Hi! What is the life span of the caulk? We have had our hardie plank for 5 years and in some spaces it appears the caulk has deteriorated. If proper caulk is used and applied correctly, how often does it need to be maintained/reapplied?
Thank you!
I have been installing my siding since last summer and I have a problem. For some reason my gaps have gotten way to big and im afraid the gaps may be to big for caulk. What can I do about this?
Hi,
First to get the damaged piece of siding removed.
Take a flat pry bar and slip it under the damaged piece of siding and pry outward gently to give you a view of where the nails are.
Then place the flat bar under a nail and hit the othe end of the flat bar upwards, that will push the nail out. Do this to all the nails untill the piece of siding comes out.
Then you can slide the new piece of siding into place and face nail the siding with a finish nail.
Then you can paint it or touch up the nails.
Carl Brown
Siding Innovations, Inc.
Reno, NV
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