How To Install Hardie Board Siding Over Stucco

A case study in how it can go horribly wrong.

How to install hardie board siding over stucco.

Install the two together for extra strength. Replacing stucco with james hardie international s hardiplank siding on the exterior of your home dramatically changes the styling of the home. Lap siding or the j channel used to install vinyl siding is attached directly to the furring strips. At the top of the window and door frames attach the siding strip to a strip from the next row up.

Once the wall is furred out you need to fasten closed cell foam boards between them. Eric on installing siding over siding. If you love stucco nothing else will substitute. Pre drill holes in the furring strips about 8 inches apart.

While holding the strip in place on the stucco wall insert concrete screws through the holes and into the stucco using a hammer drill. The best method involves installing strapping structural wood framing fastened through the existing stucco to the studs. The short answer is that yes we can install hardie over stucco. Get a reliable james hardie siding contractor that stands behind their work to install your siding the right way.

Use 2 by 4 inch strips made from treated wood because stucco being a masonry product can absorb moisture and transfer it to the furring strips. Learn how to install hardiepanel vertical siding products. Cut the siding to fit around the sides of the window and door openings and drive nails into the furring strips to hold them in place right around the edge of the frame. If you have traditional or hard coat stucco you need to fasten nailing boards every 16 inches on center onto the stucco wall.

Unfortunately it isn t a good idea to try to install hardiplank siding over the top of surfaces that aren t flat and even. Hardie plank siding has a nail line across the top of the board that is 1 down from the top and nails are supposed to fall between and 1 from the top of the board to give the best hold. Barry on painting hardie board siding a custom color before installation. This allows us to nail the hardie boards and trims to the strapping which is a level and structural fastening surface.

Each furring strip is attached to the stucco wall using a 16 inch center. But if you want a look that echos stucco without all the hassles fiber cement siding is a better choice. Even though most reputable contractors will never install siding over existing siding there are knuckleheads out there that will say you can do it and it s not a problem.