Hardi panel batten attachment without studs ?
Planning an addition on a house that is sided with reverse board and batten redwood plywood. The plywood has grooves 12″ OC.
On the addition I would like to achieve a regular (not reverse) board and batten vertical siding look with 4×9 sheets of hardi panel and battens 12″ OC. The addition walls will have studs 24″ OC, so every other batten would be over a stud. All hardi panel joints will be over studs.
Could the battens that are not over studs be attached through the siding into sheathing of sufficient thickness ? I could use 5/8″ plywood sheathing if that provided better fastener retention (either nails or screws) for the battens.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
couple other options...
1. You could plan on installing horizontal blocking 2'-0" O.C. to facilitate solid fastening of both your hardi panel and battens.
2. Or install siding as a rain screen by fastening 2x horizontal strapping over wall sheathing (same concept as #1, but outside the wall plane). You could shim out your strapping with 1/4" x 2" plywood strips fastened vertically at each wall stud in order to maintain air gap (vented).
staples?
I have asked contractors if they install blocking to accept nails for battnes. I have been told that they have had sucess using staples and no blocking. Hmm?
I have no experience but would think nails into 1/2 plywood siding and 1/2 inch osb would be ok. I would drive the nails at a downward angle so as to ahve gravity be your friend and if teh batten tried to move it would be more difficult.
I would be very interested to hear from others.
i havent seen anyone use staples. if i were to do what you are proposing i would make sure to use ring shank nails.
no doubt ..
no doubt ring shank and I am still not sure if that woudl be good enough. Just hate to add blocking, lots of work and muck up insulation in the walls pretty good.
i would not trust just the nails thru the hardi and sheathing. I would set up at least 3 blocks...pain in the butt... yeah. could space out the batten to 2' centers
I would think that trim screws would hold the battens securely. I've never worked with Hardie stuff, so I don't know how well the screws would hold in that, but they would certainly grab the plywood sheathing OK.
Batten attachment
Mike,
Siding contractors regularly use trim-head screws to attach the battens, through the batten, sheet and into the cdx sub-siding. The length of screw is important to ensure "full thread" contact with the cdx. This method is far easier than blocking and you can tighten up the fastener pattern to suit.
1/2" or 5/8" CDX for batten attachment with screws ?
I wonder if there is an advantage to using 5/8" CDX instead of 1/2" CDX. Around here there is not much cost difference and 1/2" is 4 ply, 5/8" is 5 ply.
Thanks,
Mike
CDX
You should be able to find 1/2"-5 ply. If the cost/sheet is close, I would prefer the 5/8", you will notice a big difference.