Siding contractor mistake advice

8 years ago

Hello,

We have Allura (fiber cement) siding going up on our house right now. Board and batten style. The crew putting it up is about 1/2 way done - it's a 2300 sq ft house. I noticed yesterday when I was inspecting the siding that they are using a pneumatic staple gun to put up the 8 foot boards. It is specifically written in the installation instructions to use stainless or galvanized nails and NOT staples. I am going to call Allura tomorrow (Monday) to find out if our warranty will be void. I assume it will be. I am going to ask if the crew goes back over the siding with nails whether that would be acceptable.

I also noticed that they're not leaving a 1/4 inch between the siding and horizontal flashing of the windows. There are so many specs for putting this type of siding off and I fear they're doing none of it.

Does anybody have any general advice for me on how to approach the siding contractor about this? What kind of remediation should I be asking for?

Thanks for your advice in advance, I really appreciate it.

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Print out the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Meet with the contractor first thing on Monday. If he wants to argue with the manufacturer, you’ve got worse issues on the build than just siding.

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Comments (6)

klem1
8 years ago
I 100% agree with Sophie. I will add. If this is new construction and you have a builder,go to him NOT siding crew. Call him now because if you lose the debate,you will owe siding crew for time they spent waiting to be told to go back to work. If you are doing your own hireing,make the mfgr's instructions an addendum to contract and both of you sign it. Now,having said that,the staples are likely galvanized. Are you sure "Galvanized Fasteners"aren't ok? One problem I've seen with all pneumatic fastening systems is over driving and cracking siding. They used pneumatic staples on my fiberglass roof and drove them all the way through layers of shingle.
hollidaylynn thanked klem1
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
Sophie is correct. You want the argument to be between the manufacturer and the installer, not you and the installer/builder. You are simply pointing out that they are out of specification.

Get ready for a load of "...but we've always done it this way..."
hollidaylynn thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
hollidaylynn
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you everybody for your great advice! This has been worked out. I called the guy who sold us the siding and he promptly spoke with the manufacturer and our siding contractor. He explained to the manufacturer how the siding contractor was putting the siding on. Turns out it was OK by the manufacturer to use the staples to attach the large siding boards to the studs since they were going back and using nails to nail battens over the siding, again, on the studs. Thanks again.
millworkman
8 years ago
Hopefully you have this in writing from the manufacturer in case you EVER need to make a warranty claim for ANY reason.
hollidaylynn thanked millworkman
hollidaylynn
Original Author
8 years ago
Great idea. Thought of that but you’re motivating me to follow through.