I have been out of home building for twenty years so need some updating. Plan on changing the windows on my cedar lap sided house and was looking at replacing the siding with cement siding. My questions are can this be installed with a nail gun ( framing or finish gun ) and what kind of nails would you use. I have a Bostitch stick nailer to use if I want. The local lumber yard said predrill and hand nail or buy a special gun. What are the real builders out their using? Thanks for any help.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Source control, ventilation, and filtration are the keys to healthy indoor air quality. Dehumidification is important too.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Roofing nailer with 1 1/2" bostich double galv or stainless roofing nails for blind or face nailing is my preferred method, but have used the Bostich stick nailer with galvinized 8d.
I don't like ring shank nails for this app because trying to remove them for repairs will destroy the siding.
Troy Sprout
"Don't forget the screws"
Thanks for all the suggestions, and I know all about the ring shank nails. The siding is nailed with them. Dan
One other thing regarding whether or not you need to buy another nailer.
The Hardie rep im my area carrys around a paslode framing nailer and uses special siding nails designed specifically for hardi siding that fit that nailer. They are 2 1/2" ring shank galvanised siding nails. And it is just a basic paslode framing gun, nothing special or diffferent about it.
So you might be able to get siding nails that will fit in the framing nailer you already have. It's worth a few inquiries at the ol' supply house.
If it works out you at least will have the option of either blind nailing or face nailing.
Now, let's talk about that electric shears you'll be buying..." If I were a carpenter"
> Now, let's talk about that electric shears you'll be buying...
For a small one-time job, perhaps look into the accessory type of shears that are powered by a drill motor.
-- J.S.
Thanks again for all the replies. This internet thing is pretty neat. Decided to go with 8p Galv's and see how that goes. Now its on to the siding shears. Dan
Exactly what Hack said.
I tried to hand nail some. It was a pain so I bought a Max siding nailer and used ring shank stainless nails. Worked very well. I'm sure a roofing nailer would work fine too.
I like the 8's run from a siding nailer best, you need to be more careful with roofing nails because of the head size. It's easier to keep the 8's head under when blind nailing. If you have access to a roofing nailer or siding nailer, go that route. Doing siding with a stick nailer will work fine (make sure you get the depth set right, do not over drive) but the weight of the nailer and the limited capacity of the nailer will slow you down. Roofing nails will save you some money over the 8's.
Don't bother pre drilling and hand nailing, you will go absolutely cazy.
If you don't have a roofing or siding nailer, you could probably get a used on on ebay or other for cheap money (not really for a sider in good shape though) then you could resell it after you finished and recoup the money.
FC is nice but do a search cutting it, the dust is a killer. The shears work great. http://www.pactool.us/snappershear/index.htm
I'm not a "real builder" and don't even play one on TV. But I did hang 15 squares of Hardi using SST screws. Every nailer I tried (Hitachi, Paslode, Porter) was too unpredictable and would either overshoot or undershoot depending on the air pressure, wood density, or phase of the moon. It takes a bit longer to run screws, but they are far easier to control. Buy the screws intended for Hardi -- they are self-drilling and have ridges under the head to cut a countersink.
I use a Duofast coil siding gun that shoots plastic collated ringshank galvanized (I hear stainless are available also) 1 3/4" and 2 1/4" nails for Hardi and Cemplank sidings, but I have heard of others using the coil roofing guns, I like the smaller heads on the nails from my gun though.
To me, if your blind nailing, the ss are a waste. The wire coil galv's in my area are $35 and SS plastic collated coils are $98. Not worth the extra money. Anything exposed is SS though.
"
To me, if your blind nailing, the ss are a waste. The wire coil galv's in my area are $35 and SS plastic collated coils are $98. Not worth the extra money. Anything exposed is SS though."
I agree with the blind nailing-galvanized, exposed-stainless, but I really like the light weight of my plastic collated coil gun (Duo-Fast RCN-60/225ADJ) for ease and maneuverability.
What model Paslode do you use JRuss?
I like the Kett KC-193 fiber cement siding shears.
Edited 5/26/2006 10:31 pm ET by WoodWolf
I have a Makita An611 siding nailer, it will run both the plastic and wire collated. I only use the plastic when doing trim and decking, those little wire burrs are a PITA.
Will the duofast run the wire too?
I use a roofing coil gun for blind nailing Hardi lap siding...try to get some Maze HDG coil nails, as I just don't trust EG roofing nails to last as long as the Hardi under any exposure.
For face nailing, I have a Max siding gun that shoots both 15 degree wire-weld and plastic-collated siding nails. It works equally well for both Hardi and wood products (as well as PVC).
For nailing the 3/4" and 1" Hardi trim, use a framing gun with HDG or SS nails...the siding nails are just too thin and bend too easily...even the 8d framing nails bend occasionally.Jason Pharez Construction
Framing Contractor
For the small amount of money, go with the stainless. It won't break the bank.
http://grungefm.com
6d galvanize ring shanks out of a Paslode.
I blind nail it with my Hitachi roofing gun. It requires that some nails be smacked again with a hammer, but most go right in.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." Voltaire