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Learning About Remodeling Contractors

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Learning About Remodeling Contractors

Hi there. My name is Mark. I am here to talk to you about hiring remodeling contractors. When we had our third daughter, the home immediately felt way too small for our growing family. Since we planned on having more kids later in life, we decided to expand our current home. The choice made sense since selling would eliminate the equity we had built. On this site, I want to explore the services offered by remodeling contractors. I will talk about the different tools, techniques and materials used throughout the process of renovating homes. Thank you for visiting my site.

Installing And Maintaining Fiber Cement Siding Materials

17 May 2017
 Categories: , Blog

When it comes to siding on your home, fiber cement is one of the most durable materials that you can choose. Even though this siding is durable, there are some thigs that can be done to improve it, such as backing it with rigid sheathing and using a good moisture barrier. In addition, maintenance of fiber cement siding will include cleaning and painting the exterior of your home. Here are a few tips to help you if you plan on having fiber cement siding installed on your home:

1. Plywood Backing for Stronger Siding Finishes

The back of the siding should be backed with a rigid sheathing material. Many of the insulating boards used on the exterior of structures are more like a dense foam material; when siding is nailed to it, there are often waves from the nails sinking to far through the sheathing. With plywood sheathing, the backing is a solid surface and there will be no visible waves from nailing the materials to the wall. This is also a good idea for other siding materials, such as vinyl and composite lumber materials. On existing homes, a new layer of plywood can be installed over the old insulated board sheathing.

2. Moisture Barriers That Help Keep Water Off the Plywood and Seal Air Leaks

With plywood backing, a good moisture barrier is important to prevent condensation and moisture behind the siding. House wrap is a plastic like material that is used to cover homes and prevent air leaks; it also acts like a moisture barrier and is a good choice for homes with siding. If you use house wrap for the moisture barrier on your home, also make sure that all the seams are taped up well to reap all the benefits of using this material on the exterior of your home. Un-taped seams allow air leaks and possible areas for moisture to get behind the house wrap.

3. Cleaning and Painting Siding to Prevent Aging and The Wear Of Fiber Cement

The painting of siding is important if you are using fiber cement materials, which usually come in an unfinished grey or with a dull primer. Even the colored products will begin to show age over the years. The siding needs to be painted every few years to keep it looking like new. In addition, maintain the siding by regularly cleaning it; especially the areas that are nearest the ground and pick up the most dirt.

With a few improvements and a good maintenance routine, fiber cement siding will last for decades and only need a few repairs. Contact a painting service to help with the painting and maintenance of your fiber cement exterior finish. Companies like Dave's Minor Changes can help.