Angela Powell Thank you! Yes - we moved 11 years ago from Seattle. I saw that you guys are in Fremont - my old hood. I used to live on Albion Pl N - near the Troll!

DeForest Architects And now we have a N. California office (Tahoe) and are starting design of a golf clubhouse north of Calistoga. Small world! Let us know if you know anyone who wants to design a cool house in Napa :-) John

geojigeorge Thanks John for the info. I will let you know about anyone need architect in Austin b/c you folks seem to have some nice designs. BTW since you made the comment on the wood. I'm going to ask i'm using stone and horizontal siding. For this particular area I was going to use this board and batten look as a vertical trim. I was going to use a composite for the board and batten then paint as you suggested. Then I saw this great wood trim at then new whole foods store coming up in Austin using Ipe wood (i hear pretty durable wood...also where the board is batten is facing very shady). From your perspective would do you think the composite material would be much better from maintenance perspective compared to a hardy wood like Ipe? Thanks, GG

DeForest Architects Ipe is beautiful, has natural decay resistance, and requires less upkeep than some wood siding if it is left to weather to a silver gray like teak. If you want to keep it reddish-brown, you'll need to refinish it fairly often. It is way more expensive than fiber cement, however. I know of one source that supplies a profile that can be lapped but otherwise it needs to be installed in an open rainscreen system which adds some cost, requires more careful detailing, and can become a nice little habitat for insects. Closed rainscreens are a good idea behind wood siding; but I try to avoid open ones. I our moist climate, I have heard of some people who had trouble with mildew on vertical ipe surfaces. In short, ipe is really a different animal than hardie. we have used it on fences,gates and decks where cost was less of an issue than appearance. Probably more than you wanted to know!

rwong1984 Could taupe work with this cedar siding?

nycsd I tried Benjamin Moore Topeka taupe, not as nice.
BM eagle rock 1469 and bear creek 1470 are nice

mrkigodwgs Is there a 1/4 in gap between panels or are they butted together?
Thanks!

DeForest Architects I honestly don't recall but a gap seems like a good idea to allow any moisture to drain. I believe that Hardie may now have recommmended details...

tierney348 We are a four unit live work HOA and are in the process of investigating siding options to replace 23 year old cedar V channel siding. Cost is an issue. One builder recommended board and batten with primed plywood and cedar batten. Are you able to place the hardie panel directly on stud (with only tyvek between the surfaces?)or do spacers+plywood have to be set off the stud/tyvek. We are looking for the magic bellet of low cost/low maintenance and longest life solution. Lots of windows to work around as well.

DeForest Architects Hi, there. Hardie siding is inexpensive compared to most options and very durable IF stalled correctly. This especially true around windows (and for wood siding, too, for that matter.)

The post at the top of this thread is probably the best answer I can give about the various types of product and installation you see in the photo of our project. There is a debate about whether an airspace between hardie siding and moisture barrier is a) necessary or b) just a good idea or c) 'wouldn't hurt'. Such "rainscreen" installations allow the siding to breathe on both sides and equalize the pressure. This is a really good idea for wood siding as the siding and finish are likely to last longer. The case for a rainscreen behind hardie-siding is not as strong and it adds significatnt cost, but I can't advise you either way from a distance. The best thing might be to check the manufacturer's recommendations (i.e. James Hardie Co.) and talk with reputable local contractors who will know what holds up over time in your area. There are other manufacturers of similar material, by the way. Hardie is just the best known.

John DeForest

DeForest Architects hi, there. the stain was a custom color that involved a couple of rounds of samples of different mixes so I don't have a spec to pass along. It also depends on the quality and variation of the cedar underneath. you'll want to experiment with different amounts of pigment to achieve the right degree of opacity. good luck and thanks!

bertha11 Thank you for taking the time to post and share information about your work. It is much appreciated. We will definitely need to experiment with the stain.

DeForest Architects Hi again. I believe the color is Benjamin Moore's HC-160 “Knoxville Gray.” It looks grayer in a small sample than outside in natural light with some texture from the siding.

Happy Thanksgiving!

John

bethdoherty John - Can't thank you enough! Picking up a sample to paint on a board today.

snewtdog Thank you for your reply. The detailing between the flat horizontal panels on the second floor looks like aluminum trim? Is that so?

Great work, by the way!

DeForest Architects Yes. Frye Reglet makes some extruded aluminum shapes for vertical, horizontal and corner joints. James Hardie also sells them. John

Kelly Porter Mission Wall 3502 by Sherwin Williams is a similar stain.