Exterior Transition Band HELP

6 years ago

Help. I am stuck in a hard spot with my builder. I am trying to finalizing my exterior siding and there is some clear confusion and/or lack of knowledge to blame.

The first floor will be horizontal smooth plank cement board (hardie) w a woven edge. The second floor is board and batten. I do not want a thick/wide transition band between the two. I want something narrow, modern, and clean. But he keeps telling me that I cannot do that because the weight of the siding plus the paint will be too heavy resting on that narrow of a band. It kind of made since to me not really know how it all works. But now that I have done some more research i don't believe that is the case. It does not bare the weight bc it is applied to the side. The band is just decorative, right??? I have photos of multiple homes in the area and idea phots that are doing the narrow application. I even spoke with the siding salesman and he doesn't think our builder is correct either.

What do I do to get the look of the home I want without risking an huge argument or losing my contractor?

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Like most exterior cladding details the band is both decorative and functional. I hope the contractor was referring to the visual weight of the upper siding which would be a legitimate issue.

A 5/4 flat horizontal board is usually added below a drip cap for support with a rabbeted bottom edge to receive the horizontal siding. For some reason it was omitted in the detail below but mentioned in the caption.

"To divert water away from horizontal siding when vertical siding is used on gable ends, install a transition board with a drip-cap and Z-flashing."

Journal of Light Construction

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Comments (8)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
" . . . the weight of the siding plus the paint will be too heavy resting on that narrow of a band."

Did his nose grow a few inches at that point??
Allison Benton thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
millworkman
6 years ago
What do the drawings show? Who does this "builder" work for? Post and elevation here so people can offer help. But as you have realized and has been pointed out, this is a decorative element and doesn't have anything to do with the siding & paint weight. Did he actually say this with a straight face? If so you need to sit down with him and get on the same page as one of you has not described what you want properly as this really makes no sense as written.
Allison Benton thanked millworkman
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PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
6 years ago
If you want a clean look, then just use one type of siding all around, top to bottom. Either the smooth plank or the board and batten would look very nice. But you definitely should post an elevation for better responses.
Allison Benton thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
Allison Benton
Original Author
6 years ago
I cannot make this up!

We spoke again today about it and he said things will start to sag. When I showed him photos of other homes with the same look I like he said "no way that looks sturdy enough for all that weight". He also said, homes that have that must be on concrete not framing.

Here is my elevation plan. Note: That I did not have the designer draw the exact exterior details to a tee. It was my understanding the exterior details can be changed unless it something is structural. It never occurred to me to call out the detail of removing the corner board and calling out the size of the transition board.

I then asked him what is the most narrow he would go...he said he won't agree to anything less than 10".

Thank you for the replies. I have yet to find one professional that agrees with him.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ask for Z flashing on an Azek AZM 197 drip cap on top of a 5/4 x 4 (or 6) Azek board screwed through the sheathing into blocking between the studs (or the band joist of the floor). Since it can only be as strong as the screws, the height of the band will not matter.

Or you could fire him.

I hate to say this but I believe the size of the band is the least of your architectural problems with this house. Do you have a 3D model of it? As it is currently designed the use of two cladding materials is not helping.
millworkman
6 years ago
"We spoke again today about it and he said things will start to sag."

I only read that far but all I have to say is...........WHAT?
Allison Benton
Original Author
6 years ago
Well...after all of that. The one thing we did agree on is that with all the different roof lines of the home, 10 foot ceilings, large floor trusses, etc, board and batten wasn't going to look the best anyway. We are going with 9-1/2 plank on the bottom and 6-1/4 plank on the bottom with mitered corners. Thank you all for your advice.