Constriction Standards Concrete Next To Wood Siding

In this case the fiber cement siding has been stained to help capture.

Constriction standards concrete next to wood siding.

One of the most common builder errors that home inspectors have to deal with is the installation of concrete surfaces over the top of wood siding or any kind of siding for that matter. I ve seen jobs where fiber cement trim was in direct contact with a concrete slab and the trim and siding crumbled after a few years of freezethaw cycles. Things you need to know photo by courtesy matt thompson thompson construction finish. Asbestos cement coatings also were used.

Inspect caulked joints every few years and be sure to keep foundation plants pruned back so that siding can dry out. Replacing your wood with fiber cement siding allows you to keep the appearance without the upkeep. Since so many builders install concrete in. Best of all fiber cement siding can give you the appearance of wood siding.

Rustic natural wood homes are a big draw in some areas but they can be difficult to maintain. Fiber cement siding stormed onto the scene a few decades ago and revolutionized the house siding industry because it possesses the best of many worlds. Why you shouldn t pour a concrete sidewalk directly next to a wall with wood siding. It offers the look of authentic wood shiplap siding even with lookalike textured wood grain.

I ve repaired decayed trim and even rotten rim joists and mudsills where water regularly got in the open joint between concrete and trim and wreaked havoc over time. It has the look and feel of real logs but with less maintenance. It is not a good idea. Section r317 1 of the code states that only naturally durable wood or wood that is preservative treated to awpa u1 should be used for wood siding sheathing and wall framing on the exterior of a building having a clearance of less than 6 inches 152 mm from the ground or less than 2 inches 51 mm measured vertically from concrete.

Concrete log siding is a lower maintenance alternative to traditional log siding. Fiber cement siding has to be painted or stained. As with wood siding spray it with a garden hose every 6 to 12 months. A sill gasket made from a soft plastic material is designed to prevent moisture to seep from the foundation to the lumber frame.

Asbestos cement roofi ng and siding in the early 1900s manufacturers reinforced portland cement with asbestos fibers to create a fire resistant and durable building material. Don t install concrete sidewalks next to wood siding building and construction. Mistakes like these can. It is not a good idea.

When wood is kept in direct contact with concrete the moisture in the concrete will be drawn up into the wood and after a period of time the wood will rot.