HardiePanel over 1″ foam- screw vs. nail
I’ll be putting HardiePanel over the existing 1″ XPS on my house this summer, and I’ve been debating what type of fasteners to use. Hardie says you can use nails or screws, and I’m leaning towards screws. I’ll gladly trade a little speed for more control.
Any specific suggestions on what type of screws to use? Or even strong suggestions not to? I’ve seen GRK R4s recommended in several places, and they look ideal to me.
Any thoughts?
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Greetings WacoJosh,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
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They'll do the job, but i'd still use nails for cost, speed and eaase
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Waco Josh.. If you use screws they willhold much much better so you'd better be sure you won't tire of a siding which while popular will soon reach a point where it's a negative. (because it'll go out of fashion like so many other sidings have)
What does that have to do with it?Screws would remove as easy or easier than nails to take apart. Screw guns have a handy dandy little switch that makes them reverse now days to back a screw out.And I'm sure the screws he is talking about are for the furring rain screen strips over the EPS
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With nails it's so easy to remove that you forget the labor involved in removing screws.. Shove something under it and pry and nails pop right out.. with screws assuming you can still get into the head you have a chance of stripping the screw out. then go on to the next screw and repeat.. Too labor intensive for most people..
Your experience is pretty much the exact opposite of mine.Anything that needs to be removed multiple times will get a screw.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I've never even heard of somebody installing siding with the likelihood of removal in mind.frenchie has been so good lately, but he's out to lunch again on this one.
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well let's see where we agree and where we disagree, OK?
Screws retain things better than nails do?
screws take more time to install and remove?
nails are faster to install and remove?
I think I can agree with you that if something needs to be temporally assembled and then removed adjusted or whatever screws are an easier (and better) way to do it.
However if you were to remove a siding because it's gone out of style wouldn't you rather have something that would pop right off rather than have to unscrew every fastner?
Think of it like sheetrock, It's easier to clear studs of nails than screws isn't it?
"Screws retain things better than nails do?"
Generally, but I would not want to make a blanket statement. Still, for our discussion, I will concede that this is true.
"screws take more time to install and remove?"
Again, I agree with you generally on the installation time. On removal, screws are almost always faster to remove.
"nails are faster to install and remove?" See above.
"However if you were to remove a siding because it's gone out of style wouldn't you rather have something that would pop right off rather than have to unscrew every fastner?"
Who does that? Are you going to remove your stone work in 10 years because you want a change of color? I can think of very, very few instances where someone is planning on installing a siding that they plan to remove a few years down the road.
Now, if you're talking about vinyl or aluminum siding, then I would prefer it to be nailed on as those nails would "pop off" more readily than having to unscrew the fasteners.
However, if the OP is planning on installing HardiePanel 4' wide sheets, I would much prefer screws for removal. Of course, I can't imagine why anyone would install Hardie if they didn't think they would like the siding in 7 years, but that's another story.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Ok We're in general agreement.. I feel that it takes more time to remove a screw than to pop out a nail but that's trivial. The reason I mentioned removing it is because In my lifetime I've seen too many trends and styles die almost as soon as they become common..
While the OP may have no intention of removing it, the reality is that the average American moves something like every 5 years..
Since I've been here for 25 years 5 more families have had to move more often to replace me <grin>
My neighbor has aluminum siding and his house stands out dramatically in a neighborhood of stone, stucco, and cedar shakes.. As a result I'm sure when it's sold it will be a tear down.
You haven't used GRK screws, have you?
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