Wood siding looks great in many homes, but the material usually does not last very long. Hardie boards are durable materials that can work excellently as siding for your home. However, a lot of people wonder if you can put these boards over existing wood sidings. We were just as curious as you are, so we researched this topic to find the answers for you.
Installing a Hardie board over a wood siding means that the existing siding will be the substrate for the fiber cement boards. To put a Hardie board over wood siding:
- It should be in good condition.
- The Hardie boards must also lie flush and flat against the existing siding.
- It also shouldn't have any gaps because the Hardie board won't be able to hold onto the substrate properly.
Choosing a more durable and long-lasting material for your house siding is very important to maintain the beauty of your house. In this post, we will talk about how you can attach Hardie boards to your existing wood siding. We'll also talk about other siding options you may want to check out, so keep on reading and enjoy this post!
Can You Put Hardie Board Over Wood Siding?
Building a house requires different components to make it look beautiful. On the outside, the finishing touches involve choosing paint, trim, and siding. These things are important in making the home look pristine and also protecting it from the elements.
Siding is a building material meant to protect the house from the elements. Typically, the siding is installed on top of a weather barrier, which protects the walls from excess air and moisture. The siding also adds a design element to the home because of the different materials you can use as siding.
One of the most popular sidings used is wood. It looks very classic, it is durable, and it is eco-friendly. However, one of the downsides of wood siding is its tendency to rot and get damaged after a few years. This happens when bugs or rodents get into the siding, or the wood is not maintained properly.
Because of this, Hardie boards are now the preferred home siding. They replicate the look and feel of wood, but they are more durable. It has the quality of vinyl, cement, and wood siding all in one material.
If you have existing wood siding and you are planning to change it into Hardie boards, you can install the new one over your old wood siding. This will turn the old wood siding into a substrate for the new Hardie boards.
However, this will only work if the wood siding of your house is still in good condition. It should not be damaged or rotting because the Hardie boards won't be able to attach well in these conditions.
Will All Wood Siding Work As Substrate?
Well, the quick answer is—no. Certain kinds of wood siding will not work with Hardie boards.
Firstly, only flat wood siding can be used as substrate. T1-11 siding (or textured plywood) will turn into a good substrate for Hardie boards because it is flat. You can also put Hardie boards over tongue-and-groove siding, as well as flat shiplap siding.
Wood siding that is not flat, like board and batten, beveled, shake siding, or drop channels, will not allow the Hardie boards to lie flat. If this is the siding that you have, it needs to be removed, and you have to start from scratch.
Things To Consider Before Attaching Hardie Boards On Wood Siding
Before you plan to put on Hardie boards over wood siding, there are a few things that you have to consider. These considerations will ensure that the Hardie boards will attach well to the wood siding and that they won't cause any issues in the long run.
1. Check Existing Siding
Upon first look, you might think that the siding of your house still looks okay after all these years. Generally speaking, the existing wood siding can work as a substrate for new Hardie board siding, but only if they are in good condition.
Inspect the existing siding of your home and see if there is damage and rot on the siding. If there is damage, you will have a hard time installing the Hardie boards on it. Make sure to note the amount of damage your siding has to see if it is still viable to use as a substrate or if you need to start from scratch.
2. Repair Damaged Siding
If there is minimal damage to the wood siding of your house, you can do some spot repairs on it. Small areas that are rotting can get minor replacements, and they will still work well as a substrate for the Hardie boards.
Repairing the siding will only work if the damage is on the surface level. You can remove the rotting and damaged parts, replacing them with new plywood.
3. Apply A House Wrap
After fixing and preparing the substrate, it is time to apply a house wrap or a weather barrier. This barrier will protect your home from excess air and moisture, and it will make your house more energy-efficient.
There are many different types of weather barriers available on the market today. Whichever you choose, make sure that it has good weather and UV resistance ratings and that the material has good tear strength.
4. Flash Windows And Doors Before Installing Trim
Before installing new Hardie boards as siding, it's important to protect the house by properly flashing the windows and doors. This step is important because it will keep water and bugs from getting into the home. The windows and doors must be properly flashed before installing siding because it's a lot harder to fix when everything is already in place.
After flashing the windows and doors, it's now time to install the trim. The trim will cover all the unsightly edges from flashing the windows and doors, making your house polished and clean.
5. Installing New Hardie Board Siding
Once you've gone through all these considerations, you can now install new Hardie board siding. If you have experience in working with this material, you can probably do the job yourself. However, there are also professionals who can install the siding properly, and they can also make sure that everything is up to par while they work on this project.
What Else Can You Install As House Siding?
Of course, there are many other options you can use as siding for your home.
Vinyl Siding
Aside from Hardie boards, a lot of homeowners also prefer using vinyl as the siding to their houses. Vinyl siding is another option as a siding because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. It is also very resistant to rot, but its downside is poor durability. However, some homes do benefit from using vinyl sidings.
Metal Siding
Another great option for homes is metal siding. This type of siding will work great for modern homes or those who are going for an industrial feel. Metal siding is known for its durability and low maintenance. However, it is not preferred in locations where there is high humidity because it has a tendency to rust.
Stone Or Brick Veneer
For more traditional homes, there is the option to use stone veneer siding or brick. These two sidings are quite uncommon in urban areas, but they still look very beautiful in the right kind of house. While both of these sidings may look like stone, they do have different qualities.
Brick siding is great for temperature control, which is why this is a preferred material for homes in cold climates. Bricks are quite expensive, but their durability and resistance to fire make them a worthy investment.
Stone veneer siding, on the other hand, only looks like stone. They don't necessarily have the same benefits as using real stone siding on the house. However, stone veneer is a great option because they are easy to install and it is easy to replace or repair.
Final Thoughts
The siding of your house shouldn't just be beautiful, but it should also be durable. Hardie boards are great options to use because you can now have the same look and feel as the classic wood siding. It's also fantastic if you are simply looking to upgrade the exteriors of your home, and these Hardie boards are sure to last for a very long time.
Are you looking for more information about different sidings in your home? Look no further because we have articles that might interest you:
How Long Does Aluminum Siding Last?
How Many Years Does Cedar Siding Last? [Pros, Cons, & Considerations For Homeowners]