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Siding is one of the important structural elements of our house. It provides a good curb appeal to the property and also make its foundation stronger. Siding comes in a different type of materials. You can pick any according to your own preference. Furthermore, if you are not able to decide better regarding the lap siding installation, then you can get in touch with an expert for the right guidance.
In the following blog, we will be talking about the wood or fibre-cement lap siding and its installation. We will also discuss how to prepare your exterior walls and layout siding (also known as horizontal siding or clapboard) for installation.
It comes in various materials including fibre-cement, fibre, hardboard, and other similar materials. However, even with a wide range of materials available, the installation methods are the same with just a few variations. For instance, if you are going to install fibre-cement lap siding, then the way of installation is the same as for the wood siding.
Majority of the manufacturer will advise you to leave 1/8-inch gas at the end of boards to allow expansion and then caulk the gaps. However, it is suggested to follow the manufacturer’s direction as well.
It is important to note that siding installation is not an easy job to do. If you are looking to connect with professionals to get the best siding installation, then you need to contact professional companies to avail Cape Cod siding services.
Important Things to Know
In this process, most of the lap siding is bevelled and the bottom edge is thicker as compared to the top. As it is clear by the name “lap” clearly focuses on the upper siding boards all over the board below it by 1 to 2 inches.
It is important to note that on thick profiles of the sidings, nails will be hidden, and driven on the upper portion of a board so they are covered by the lower part of the board above it.
If this is the case, then nails may be left exposed and covered by the paint. In this, they are driven into a lower portion of a board so they pass above the upper edge of the board below them.
Wondering, how much does it cost to install lap siding? Well, the price for lap siding installation cost is $360 to $520 per sq. ft. The price may vary according to the type of lap siding material.
Painting Lap Siding
Moving on, if you are planning to paint your siding, then it is a good idea to prime all the pieces from all sides before installing them. The backsides will be protected against rot and the board will be less likely to cup or twist. Furthermore, it is better to always prime the cut ends of the board before installing them.
Preparing Wall for Lap Siding
The walls should be stripped of all previous lap siding wood or any other material. You have to keep the surface fairly smooth. Some 3/4-inch-thick pattern of siding will be applied directly over the wall studs. Moreover, a thin pattern should be installed over a base of plywood or oriented strand board sheathing.
You should staple a layer of house wrap to the sheathing, working from the bottom up and overlapping joints by several inches. Due to this, the water that approaches will shed down the wall. But it is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as well while working.
You have to install the metal flashing around doors and windows before you apply the trim to ensure that water will not infiltrate. Remember that some installers will install vertical strips of roofing felt on the studs. This will help you to locate the studs and also seal the nail shanks for preventing moisture penetration.
Installing Lap Siding on Layout
To begin this task, you have to determine how the boards will look where they meet an eave at the top. You might be able to install a trim piece but after installing the siding, you may have to cut the siding to fit properly.
In addition to this, you have to determine the desired reveal, the vertical width of boards that will be exposed. For instance, you might have 8-inch-wide boards with a 5 ½ inch reveal.
If you are going to buy siding that is having installation grooves such as shiplap or bevel-rabbeted siding, then reveal will be determined by the rabbet or the shiplap you are going to simple stack boards on top for a consistent reveal.
Furthermore, on non-grooved siding, you will have to ensure that reveals are all equal by evaluating the space frequently or using a story pole.
In the majority of the cases, the siding will wrap all the way around the house. The last boards will meet at the same level or the installation will look unprofessional.
This means that you must establish and mark a level baseline all the way around the house. It is recommended to utilize a water level, line level, or a transit level for making these layout lines.
You might want to modify the layout so you have full-width boards at the top of the windows or doors. This will be the case if you are having a number of windows at the same height. You need to ensure that you have calculated the space ahead of time.
Hope now you are aware of the things that you should know regarding lap siding installation. It is better to understand the things properly before starting the project. In addition to this, if you are going to install fibre cement siding or any other siding, then you should hire fibre-cement siding contractors or experts of the related siding you want to have for your house respectively.
In this way, the work will be done properly and you don’t have to worry about anything because the competent team will be using then right techniques and tools to complete the job.
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