How to Install Fibre Cement Cladding

Health and Safety

Health and safety should always be your first consideration before starting any job. Here are the safety precautions that should be followed when installing fibre cement cladding:

• Wear safety glasses when cutting and nailing
• Use ear protection when cutting with a circular saw
• Cutting fibre cement cladding with a circular saw creates a lot of dust. This dust can be dangerous and cause an incurable lung disease called silicosis. Make sure to always cut cladding outside and use a dust collecting saw attached to a shop vac if you can
• When cutting always wear an N-95 dust mask or respirator

Storage and Handling

• When the cladding is delivered carefully inspect it for signs of damage
• Make sure to keep it off the ground, laid flat, and well-supported
• Always keep it dry until installed
• Carry pieces by the edge to prevent breaking
• When cutting the cladding provide support along its length

Preparation

• Sheath walls with plywood, foam, or oriented strand board
• Cover the sheathing with felt paper or housewrap
• Make chalk lines to mark the location of studs

Cutting Siding

• Circular saw: Cutting with a circular saw will produce the most dust so remember to take precautions. It is best to use a polycrystalline diamond toothed blade for cutting fibre cement. Cut from the back side and use a rafter square as a guide for right-angled cuts. It is possible to stack and cut several pieces at the same time.
• Fibre cement shears: These specialised handheld electric shears can be used for straight or curved cuts. When using these shears, cut with the back of the cladding facing upwards.
• Jigsaw: When cutting with a jigsaw, cut from the back of the cladding. A jigsaw can be used to cut holes and curves when fitted with a carbide coated blade.
• Scoring: Fibre cement cladding can be scored and snapped just like drywall. Simply score the face of the siding, then pull it up to break. A carbide-tipped scoring knife is recommended for this.

Fastening Cladding

You can nail fibre cement cladding by hand or by using a pneumatic nailer. Fiber cement can also be secured using corrosion-resistant screws.

• Use hot-dipped galvanised or stainless-steel nails
• Nails should go through the sheathing at least 1″ into the studs
• Nails should be positioned about 3/4″ to 1″ from the edge of the cladding
• Cladding can be blind nailed at the top or face nailed at the bottom
• If blind nailing use roofing nail or for face nailing use cladding nails

Installing Trim

• Start by installing the inside and outside corners on the wall
• Corners should be a minimum of 1/4″ thicker than two stacked pieces of cladding, this allows room for caulking

Installing Cladding

• Fibre cement cladding should be 6″ or more above the grade level of the house, leave a 1″-2″ gap between horizontal surfaces such as decks, adjacent roofs, or steps
• Flash above doors and windows should have a 1/4″ gap between flashing and cladding
• Start by attaching a 1 1/4″ wide strip of cladding above the bottom of the first row to give the correct angle for the cladding. Then, nail the first row of cladding into the studs, leaving a 1/8″ gap at the corner boards to allow for caulking
• Blind nailing is better than face nailing as the nail heads are hidden by the next row of cladding
• Centre joints over studs unless using special metal off stud joiners. Joints should be held loosely together using a 4″ wide strip of 30lb felt placed behind each one. Ensure the felt overhangs the previous row of cladding to prevent water from running behind should the caulking fail
• Each row of cladding should overlap by 1 1/4″ or more

Finishing

• Fibre cement cladding can be painted straight after installation
• Before painting make sure it is clean and dry
• Make sure to caulk joints and ends first using high-quality latex caulking
• Finally, prime any bare siding and exposed cuts, then topcoat with 100% acrylic latex paint