Fellow contractors re:Masonite siding question

[ClaraD]

We did some termite repairs at a home in South Carolina. The house is 5 years old and her Masonite siding is buckling and loose. We helped secure it, but is the sun causing it? It’s a wall where the sun hits full on. It does look like a horrible install to boot, but the wall is awful. What alternative would you offer her? (Vinyl siding is prohibited by her HOA)
My thoughts was stucco and either a ceder or wood siding accent and stone along the foundation to make it look nice, but she’s already had termite issues so I’m a little worried about stucco as the solution. The first pic is my idea and I’m trying to attach a pic of her wall but it’s saying too large so give me a second

 

[ClaraD]

This is her actual wall

 

[instagramsci]

We did some termite repairs at a home in South Carolina. The house is 5 years old and her Masonite siding is buckling and loose. We helped secure it, but is the sun causing it? It’s a wall where the sun hits full on. It does look like a horrible install to boot, but the wall is awful. What alternative would you offer her? (Vinyl siding is prohibited by her HOA)
My thoughts was stucco and either a ceder or wood siding accent and stone along the foundation to make it look nice, but she’s already had termite issues so I’m a little worried about stucco as the solution. The first pic is my idea and I’m trying to attach a pic of her wall but it’s saying too large so give me a second

idk how many contractors there are here but I'm pretty sure there are a decent amount on the DIY subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/

it might be worth posing that question to them

 

[ClaraD]

idk how many contractors there are here but I'm pretty sure there are a decent amount on the DIY subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/

it might be worth posing that question to them

I am a contractor, there are a few of us on this site....I don't want to discuss with DIY because those are folks who aren't going to know things like issues with heat and humidity and what exterior solutions are better for that. It's not the first time I have seen issues with the Masonite siding...but South Carolina is very humid and I am a bit worried about her tendency to want stucco and want to think about alternatives that would be attractive.

 

[instagramsci]

I am a contractor, there are a few of us on this site....I don't want to discuss with DIY because those are folks who aren't going to know things like issues with heat and humidity and what exterior solutions are better for that. It's not the first time I have seen issues with the Masonite siding...but South Carolina is very humid and I am a bit worried about her tendency to want stucco and want to think about alternatives that would be attractive.

Fair enough

stucco is pretty ugly

 

[ClaraD]

Fair enough

stucco is pretty ugly

depends on how it is done...I don't think it is ugly...especially if combined with other exterior materials....my concern is she has already had termites and behind stucco you aren't going to see them....the quality of her build is sub par....they used the cardboard junk trim in the house....and this house cost her a small fortune for South Carolina. A $400,000 home in South Carolina should never have the cheapest baseboard and crown available. So, she is likely going to have some ongoing issues with her home, because of the low quality of the build....

 

[Ginger Ale]

Could you use fiber cement instead of stucco? I think that handles the wet heat in SC better. You could do the same design as your picture which is really cute! We use a lot of stucco in the dry AZ desert where I'm at, but I've heard fiber cement handles the moisture and heat better.

 

[ClaraD]

Could you use fiber cement instead of stucco? I think that handles the wet heat in SC better. You could do the same design as your picture which is really cute! We use a lot of stucco in the dry AZ desert where I'm at, but I've heard fiber cement handles the moisture and heat better.

I had thought about that too, but wasn’t sure how it would do with straight on sun hitting it. I’ll draw it up and see what she thinks.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

Masonite? Doesn't this belong in Beliefs and Skepticism?

 

[ClaraD]

Masonite? Doesn't this belong in Beliefs and Skepticism?

Yeah Masonite is one of those you get what you pay for products and when the installers are horrible at it it’s worse

 

[ClaraD]

So did some work up with Ginger’s idea…which is better the first one or this one ?

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

Could you use fiber cement instead of stucco? I think that handles the wet heat in SC better. You could do the same design as your picture which is really cute! We use a lot of stucco in the dry AZ desert where I'm at, but I've heard fiber cement handles the moisture and heat better.

Agree, Hardie board would be the way to go. It's pretty much the go-to anymore for anyone that doesn't want 'cheap'..

In contrast to Masonite, which practically dissolves once water gets inside, Hardie Board is durable.
When properly installed, Hardie Board tends to protect your house during extreme weather conditions. When installed according to the Hardie company’s strict guidelines, James Hardie siding lasts 30-50 years.

Hardie Board vs. Masonite: Which Is Best for Your Home? - EHE

Is your Masonite siding falling apart? Check out what we have to say about Masonite siding vs. Hardie Board and let Elite Home Exteriors take care of everything.

www.elitehomeexteriorsnw.com

 

[Moon]

Not a contractor, but I’ve worked in the home building industry before and Hardie gets my vote. I have it on my house and it’s incredible. I have one wall that is in full sun from mid-morning until sundown and the siding has performed exceptionally well. I’d recommend it to anyone building or remodeling a house to consider it.

 

[Ginger Ale]

So did some work up with Ginger’s idea…which is better the first one or this one ?

Are we deciding on color or product? So, wood and creme, or gray and brick? Or stucco wood vs fiber rock?

 

[ClaraD]

Are we deciding on color or product? So, wood and creme, or gray and brick? Or stucco wood vs fiber rock?

product...the color is pretty much in stone as that is the color of the rest of the house....(she has an HOA grrrrr) The siding option it seems comes in either aluminum or the fiber rock that you suggested. They aren't in an area that is hurricane prone (they are inland) but sometimes they do get tornados and winds.

 

[Ginger Ale]

product...the color is pretty much in stone as that is the color of the rest of the house....(she has an HOA grrrrr) The siding option it seems comes in either aluminum or the fiber rock that you suggested. They aren't in an area that is hurricane prone (they are inland) but sometimes they do get tornados and winds.

I'd go with the fiber rock but, is it more costly? That might change my mind.

 

[ClaraD]

I'd go with the fiber rock but, is it more costly? That might change my mind.

I put in for a materials quote this morning for both. I actually think the aluminum is probably more expensive. The stucco for sure is more expensive...my husband is just really, really good at the stone and stucco work..(26 years experience) however, stucco lasts longer, but both he and I agree that it might not be the best solution for her due to the fact she had formosan termites in her 5 year old build...I literally used a termite resistant trim and moulding to try to keep it from happening again.. Your husband is a plumber right? Ask him what camera he uses to see inside walls and plumbing? We are looking at getting a camera to make sure that there are no live infestations before we open junk....had 2 of those situations recently....one just a few days ago and she had a crap ton of those nasty buggers with wings all over the place....and I plan on getting one before we do her project anyway to make sure she doesn't have an infestation elsewhere...(we are almost certain there is an infestation towards the front of the house but the pest control bonding agency won't let us prod it because it is outside of the hotspot area. ....a camera with verification of infestation though would be different.

 

[Lisa]

Not a contractor, but I’ve worked in the home building industry before and Hardie gets my vote. I have it on my house and it’s incredible. I have one wall that is in full sun from mid-morning until sundown and the siding has performed exceptionally well. I’d recommend it to anyone building or remodeling a house to consider it.

Hardie board or lap siding would also be my choice. Id spec it on my own home.

 

[Moon]

Hardie board or lap siding would also be my choice. Id spec it on my own home.

When I worked in manufactured housing several years ago, the James Hardie rep came in and pitched their product to us. When he said it was fireproof I pulled out my butane torch cigar lighter and put the hottest part of the flame right against the sample piece he brought. It scorched it but it never caught fire. The product is amazing.

 

[Lisa]

When I worked in manufactured housing several years ago, the James Hardie rep came in and pitched their product to us. When he said it was fireproof I pulled out my butane torch cigar lighter and put the hottest part of the flame right against the sample piece he brought. It scorched it but it never caught fire. The product is amazing.

I was an Arch' Designer in the 00s and we spec'd a lot of Hardie siding. It looks as good as cedar, is easy to work with, reasonable price, its bug and mold resistant, and doesn't need much maintenance. Many of the projects still look good 20 years later.

 

[Moon]

I was an Arch' Designer in the 00s and we spec'd a lot of Hardie siding. It looks as good as cedar lap, is easy to work with, reasonable price, its bug and mold resistant, and doesn't need much maintenance. Many of the projects still look good 20 years later.

Yep, I’m definitely a fan. The only issue we had was in cutting it to size, but that just required a different tool and some training.

 

[Lisa]

Yep, I’m definitely a fan. The only issue we had was in cutting it to size, but that just required a different tool and some training.

You need a special blade to cut it and to wear dust protection but the crews quickly got used to that.

 

[Airyaman]

We did some termite repairs at a home in South Carolina. The house is 5 years old and her Masonite siding is buckling and loose. We helped secure it, but is the sun causing it? It’s a wall where the sun hits full on. It does look like a horrible install to boot, but the wall is awful. What alternative would you offer her? (Vinyl siding is prohibited by her HOA)
My thoughts was stucco and either a ceder or wood siding accent and stone along the foundation to make it look nice, but she’s already had termite issues so I’m a little worried about stucco as the solution. The first pic is my idea and I’m trying to attach a pic of her wall but it’s saying too large so give me a second

Is it Masonite? That hasn't really been available for close to 20 years. Nowadays it's typically LP Smartside (basically OSB with better water resistant glues) and of course, Hardie plank. Based on the photo, my guess is that they didn't gap the end pieces enough and expansion is causing the buckling. I know LP requires at least 3/16" gaps at the butts, Hardie only requires 1/16" because it doesn't expand as much.

 

[ClaraD]

Is it Masonite? That hasn't really been available for close to 20 years. Nowadays it's typically LP Smartside (basically OSB with better water resistant glues) and of course, Hardie plank. Based on the photo, my guess is that they didn't gap the end pieces enough and expansion is causing the buckling. I know LP requires at least 3/16" gaps at the butts, Hardie only requires 1/16" because it doesn't expand as much.

probably smart side...I call it Masonite...sort of like calling drywall, sheetrock. Old habits die hard...its pressboard, cheap garbage...you are right though...their install skills were very substandard...the builder did cut a lot and I mean a lot of corners...

 

[ClaraD]

You need a special blade to cut it and to wear dust protection but the crews quickly got used to that.

that is because it is a cement fiber...the blade needs to be geared for it specifically