Fiber Cement Roofing

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  Letters

  Fiber-cement clip; more on employee theft of clients; attic-ventilation misconceptions; more

   
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  Letters

  Attic temperatures and asphalt shingles; cynicism vs. basic economics; when employees compete

   
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  Q&A: Do Fiber-Cement Butt Joints Have to Be Caulked?

  Q: The clients on an upcoming project are interested in installing fiber-cement siding, but they're concerned about how the butt joints will look. While they don't expect the tight-fitting seams characteristic of wooden clapboards, they also don't like the look of wide caulked joints. Is there a...

   

• Q&A: Substituting Synthetic Roof Underlayments for Housewrap

  Q: After stripping the original siding from a 30-year-old house, I'm being asked to re-side with 4x8 and 4x9 fiber-cement panels designed to look like stucco. The installation instructions permit caulking at the vertical joints, but call for Z-flashing at

   
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  Products

  Fiber-cement siding clips; dune-friendly decking; drywall & accessories; ridge vents; masonry

   
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  Q&A: Bamboo Floor Not as Hard as Claimed?

  Lightweight pneumatic hose; paint for fiber cement; wet-dry central vac; landscaping products; metal stairs; fire prevention products

   

• Q&A: Painting Fiber-Cement Siding

  Q. Fiber-cement siding comes primed. Can I go straight to a top coat? What's the best paint to use?

   

• Letters

  Crawlspace insulation & fire codes, nail gun injuries, fiber-cement siding

   
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  Installing Fiber-Cement Siding (Subscriber content)

  Fiber-cement siding is no fun to cut and handle, but its price and durability make it a good deal for spec houses. An experienced installer tells you how to work with it efficiently.

   
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  Products

  Heat pumps, siding and accessories, lighting, interior millwork products, more

   
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  Cutting Fiber-Cement Siding (Subscriber content)

  Cutting fiber-cement siding can be a dusty job, but a number of manufacturers offer tools designed to keep the air clear.

   
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  Stabilizing Basement Walls with Steel I-Beams

  A foundation repair contractor shows how steel I-beams, placed vertically against the basement wall, can prevent soil pressure from pushing in a cracked wall.

   

• Engineered Trim & Siding (Subscriber content)

  Engineered wood, fiber cement, and plastic can provide the look of natural wood siding and trim without the limitations of the real thing.

   

• Reader Survey: Siding Choices (Subscriber content)

  What do you think of today’s siding materials? What would you put on your own house? We asked 1,000 readers for their views; here’s what they told us.

   
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  Trade Talk: Can You Substitute Synthetic Fibers for Wire Mesh?

  Although contractors often substitute synthetic fibers for wire mesh in concrete slabs, the two products perform different functions

   

• Q&A: Fiber-Cement with Aluminum Trim

  Q: Is it okay to butt fiber-cement siding against aluminum-clad windows and aluminum soffit, or will the fiber-cement cause a reaction that damages the aluminum?

   

• Deck Railing Options (Subscriber content)

  Plastic, wood-composite, and metal railing systems simplify installation and reduce maintenance while giving your clients the look they want.

   

• Notebook

  High school vo-tech programs in decline; fiber-cement roofing woes; photovoltaic glazing; faulty hvac system proves deadly; more

   
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  Cutting Fiber-Cement (Subscriber content)

  A Texas builder field-tests the best of the new fiber-cement shears and saws, and reports on his favorites.

   

• Engineered Exterior Trim

  A wide range of engineered wood, plastic, and fiber-cement trim products are available for builders who are considering alternatives to solid lumber.