The Hardie siding has just been installed and I can’t believe that they “patched” the bottom with a thinner board. There is a small patch board on the bottom left side of the door which was obviously shorter than the right side of the door. By “patching”, it is obviously longer than the corner molding and adjacent side of house. I need suggestions from professionals as to how to approach this. I’m sending an email to the construction manager this week.
Replies
How about a better picture or 2.
Close up and at least show this door you mention.
Did grade change from the left side compared to the right side of that corner?
Thanks.
Thanks so much for your reply. Hopefully I’ll add two more pictures that show the siding left of the door was shorter than the right and a small piece was patched to make even. You can also see the corner molding was short as well, but even with the adjacent wall. What is your opinion and how can this be fixed? It would be so noticeable but it is the front door and stands out. Thanks so much in advance.
Hey there,
You're welcome and that second picture tells the story. They botched the layout on the siding on either side of the door, and came up with a bad "headfake" to resolve it. To the left of the door, the first full course of siding seems to align with the siding on the long wall around the cornerboard. To the right of the door, they dropped the first full course of siding down tight to the landing instead of making it match the course to the left. Hardie is not supposed to be in contact, or even close, to horizontal surfaces where it will wick moisture and fall apart (quickly). The fix is to remove the bottom courses (2 or 3) on either side of the door and re-install them spaced up off the landing and level to each other. Alternately, PVC trim could be installed in place of the first 2 courses of Hardie which could be installed down tight to the masonry landing and with "z"- flashing installed above. Definitely something the installer should remedy at no charge. The installation is incorrect according to Hardie's specs with regards to space above horizontal surfaces, and wrong aesthetically obviously.
Hey there,
That looks like the starter strip (ripped piece of siding to give first course the proper kickout) has come loose and dropped down - it either wasn't nailed properly or broke where it was nailed and fell... Easy fix would be to push it back up under the first course and nail it and the bottom course at the same time.. Most Hardie is blind nailed behind the course above, but there are places where face-nailing needs to happen. I would say with 99% certainty this is what happened... Either way, it will be prudent to have the installer have a look.
Thanks so much for your reply. You may be right but I’m thinking it was a deliberate piece to fill in the gap. I’ll send a picture. Thank you.
looks like the right side is not lined up with the left side and the long side. As previously mentioned, Hardie is supposed to be 2 inches off the horizontal surface to prevent wicking up moisture.
l'd grab a 4 foot level and see how the right and left side line up. the right side appears to butt up to something so taking down the right side and putting it up lined up properly may be the answer
not a good situation
good luck with the resolution
also, I don't claim to be a "professional " so please take anything I say/post with a grain of salt ( as my elder family members used to say)