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Fiber siding gap filler…

rwjiudice | Posted in General Discussion on March 20, 2009 04:37am

I have a “fiber composit” lap siding home and the gaps between the ends of some of the siding boards drives me nuts to look at.

I have caulked but it doesn’t seem to help much (falls out or tears). My neighbor has the same siding but he has what look like plastic gizmos wedged into the gaps and painted over. The “gizmos” overlap the gaps.

I’ve tried Lowes but the only thing they have similar, are metal gap fillers that are put on prior to putting the siding on. They have flages on the back side…. so I can’t install those.

Am I nuts or are there actually plastic gapfillers with “teeth” that can be used after the fact?

I’m going to have my house painted in a month or so and would like to fix the gaps.

Any thoughts??


Edited 3/19/2009 9:38 pm ET by rwjiudice

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  1. Scott | Mar 20, 2009 05:04am | #1

    Is this fiber cement siding (aka Hardiplank, Certainteed, etc.)?

    Scott.

    1. rwjiudice | Mar 20, 2009 03:25pm | #2

      No, it's not "cement". It's fiber (dark brown / black center)... I think its called "fiberboard". It was installed 10 years ago and I saw some at Lowes yesterday, so I think its a 'second generation' fiberboard. Still available, still holding up well.

      1. jimblodgett | Mar 20, 2009 06:11pm | #3

        Have you tried http://www.prosidingaccessories.com ?

        I've ordered stuff from them.  Reasonably priced, good selection, prompt service.  I'll use them again.  

      2. frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 06:13pm | #4

        You have masonite siding.  Those filler strips were required when installing your product.  I can't think of a way to install after the fact, sorry.

        By the way, not having those strips invalidates the warentee, so whoever installed the siding, owns it now!

        1. rwjiudice | Mar 20, 2009 09:15pm | #7

           so whoever installed the siding, owns it now!

          I hope not! I think the "installers" are back in Guatamala by now!!!!

          1. frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 09:18pm | #8

            Who built the house?   Was it put on new?

          2. rwjiudice | Mar 21, 2009 12:07am | #10

            Yes, house was built new in 1997 , that's when the siding was installed.

            This will be the first paint job since then. I'm pretty happy with that anyway! 11 years on the orig paint!

          3. frammer52 | Mar 21, 2009 12:13am | #12

            You need to keep the caulk up between pieces, unless you want to tear down and start over.  That is one of the weak spots in the siding.

        2. florida | Mar 20, 2009 11:39pm | #9

          You insert a small pry bar on each side of the joint and tap the filler strips in. Real easy but a lot of work on a whole house.

          1. frammer52 | Mar 21, 2009 12:12am | #11

            I tried that on one house.  Did not wrk well.

      3. User avater
        Dam_inspector | Mar 20, 2009 06:17pm | #5

        DAP 230, big stretch, GE MAX 5000 etc. Get something that has stretch and does not get hard and brittle.

        1. frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 07:01pm | #6

          That will work, but he still has an unaproved method of installation.

  2. DanH | Mar 21, 2009 12:32am | #13

    What you have is generally referred to as "hardboard", or, (usually) less accurately "Masonite".

    IMO, the joiner strips installed with the siding are the only way to go, but you might be able to find plastic edging (designed to press into a saw kerf) that would work. I looked at Rockler and didn't find it there, though I've seen it there before, or you might try an auto parts place for something similar.

    Otherwise, the ends of the boards must be primed before caulking.

    The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

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