Allowance should be made for expansion and contraction by leaving a 1 4 6 4mm gap between the siding and all corner posts and channels.
Expansion gap for siding.
Hardie boards should be joined in moderate contact.
Allowing for expansion and contraction.
Gap for expansion wherever siding butts accessories.
If the panels are 20 feet 6 1 meters or longer refer to the manufacturer s instructions for how to increase the gap.
For siding up to 6 inches wide use one nail one inch up from the lap.
Vinyl siding contracts and expands as the outside temperature changes.
If joint moulding option is selected add the thickness of the web to the gap allowing a net 3 16 in.
Leave 6 4mm gap at the top and bottom.
Choose the right nails.
Do i need to seal edges at a butt joint.
Increase to 3 8 9 5mm when installing in temperatures below 40 f 4 4 c.
Do not caulk between siding and any built in receiving channels located at or around windows.
These will serve as starter strips in which to lock the vertical siding.
And it can move a lot through expansion and contraction especially along the length of the clapboard style panels.
Leave a 1 8 gap between the siding and the trim or other materials to allow for structural movement.
Always caulk between the siding and the trim.
Siding must be cut in lengths to provide for expansion.
There is no need to leave a gap for expansion.
Allow for expansion and contraction.
By having the small additional overlapped piece of siding you are still allowing for expansion but you are effectively covering all the gaps in the siding.
When installing in freezing weather below 40.
To compensate for this movement adjacent siding panels are overlapped so that they can slide sideways past each other without buckling or creating gaps see nailing details and expansion gaps.
If you are using primed siding you must seal all exposed cuts of siding including those at butt joints.
For horizontal applications start with the bottom course and work up with the channels pointing upwards.
This means that the boards should be touching each other when they are installed.
Lap siding can be installed horizontally or vertically.
Vinyl siding must be nailed so expansion and contraction are not restricted.
To avoid structural or aesthetic problems associated with temperature fluctuation take the following steps.
James hardie recommends that a slip sheet joint flashing is installed behind each butt joint in the siding.
By obtaining some additional siding and carefully preparing it small pieces can simply be snapped into place covering the wide gap your home builder is forced to leave for expansion.
Allow a 1 4 in.