Because fiber cement is heavy and dense, it is difficult for one person to hold it to a line, match up to an end, and start the first fastener. My method makes it a lot easier for one person to juggle those tasks. As shown in the drawing, I use a bracket affixed to the wall near each end of a piece of siding to support it with the correct amount of exposure. If the siding needs to be tweaked, a shim can be slid between the siding and the block. Once the siding has two or three fasteners, the screws in the coil stock are removed, the brackets are pulled down and out, and they are reset for the next course.
—Roger Stenhoff, Spring Grove, MN
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #190
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Check out Gecko Clamps, I bought some but haven't used them yet.
Ditto on Gecko clamps. Ive bought some and used them. Great product.
Yep, made my own and now can hang 12' pieces no problem. Just takes a little longer, but when the 16 year old is at track practice, what you gonna do?
I bought my first set of Gecko Clamps many years ago, and have used them extensively ever since. I am a remodeling contractor with a crew of several guys, and even with a partner who can hold the siding board while another nails it, the clamps save a lot of time. Once you have the first row nailed precisely level, you can install successive rows without snapping lines or measuring your reveal. Simply check your level every 3 or 4 rows to make sure you have applied the clamps correctly, and the siding goes up much quicker. They pay for themselves 10 times over on the first job! You can get them online, or from just about any supplier who sells fiber cement siding.