How to Install Hardie Siding
Hey, everyone. We’re out on a custom home project in Ramona, California. The siding installers are here today, so we’ll walk around and show Hardie board and batt siding installation works.
Behind me, you can see the siding guys working on Hardie Siding installation. So this is a board and batten siding. We got these bats that are 1 x 3s, and they run up vertically. They’re about 16 inches apart in the center, so you can see that here. The boards are 4 x 10 sheets, and they cover that with that horizontal piece of Hardie siding panels at the top to cover the joint where we have the Z bar.
Quick Recap About Other Installations
So, a couple of weeks ago, we did a video on the siding flashing that you need to do where the roof and the wall metal come together. You can see right up where this fascia runs into the wall and where the flashing comes out. The roof has a kick-out metal, and the gutters go up underneath. So that’s been done, and you can see what that finished product looks like now that the siding installation is done and all the roofing has been completed.
We also got these IWC windows. They are aluminum windows that give you a good look. You can see many products used on this house that exude farmhouse vibes.
How to Do Board-and-Batt Siding installation
So what we’ll do now is we’re going to walk around the other side of the garage to show you what this looks like when it’s just the siding sheets on the wall before they start putting the bats on. Check it out below.
Step 1: Install the Siding Board
You can see what this board-and-bat siding looks like. The guys got the Tyvek up top. The waterproofing membrane (WRB) is also up there. Then, there are 4 x 10 sheets of Hardie, each 5/16-inch thick. The bats cover those butt joints.
Step 2: Install the Bat
The guys will snap the seam lines up to mark their studs. Once they do that, they know where these bats will go. Thus, the bats will cover the breaks where the sheets are stopping and butting together.
Step 3: Install Zip Flashing
You can also see the zip flashing in any hole in the wall. We put waterproof stretch tape around the penetrations to seal this nicely and tightly. We don’t caulk around such openings because stretch flashing is better for finishing and waterproofing.
Step 4: Install the Z Metal
I want to show you the Z metal up the wall. The top half is up underneath the paper, which went on first. The guys then came in and slid this metal back up in there. The bottom half comes down the top of the sheets and then back over so the water won’t leak inside the house.
Step 5: Install the Horizontal Band
The siding lap (1 x 6 or 1 x 8) covers the Z metal and the other sheet. There’s a 1/4 inch that the guys will leave for spacing, so the band waterproofs it behind that sheet. Nothing will get behind the siding, so that’s an excellent detail to do right here.
Step 6: Install the Soffits
Up on the soffits, you’ve got the truss tail that comes out. This is often done in wildfire zones, so it’s being done in this location.
We have a 1/4-inch soffit material, and it’s nailed on the bottom of the truss chord. So the guys have started on one end and continue around the house — unless a heavy timber is on the way.
Step 7: Work Around Heavy Timber
Now, we’re at the house’s front porch, and I wanted to show you some of the heavy timber where the soffit material is supposed to go.
If you look up, you can see we have 2 x 8 materials used for the tongue and groove on the roof. They are used in high-fire zones and look really good, too. This is how the guys deal with open beams.
The beams are 8 x 8s — all reSAWN material. And you can see that even over here on the overhangs. Even the 4 x 6 rafters up inside the porch are all reSAWN.
All these things meet the fire code regulations and look fabulous, too. So they will end up staining this, and it will be fantastic.
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Step 8: Install Trims Around IWC Windows
Around the IWC windows, Hardie siding trim has also been installed. This is 5/4 x 6 inches.
Step 9: Install Hardware on Open Beams
If you look up the beams, you can also see the hardware that the guys have used. This will only get painted for the bolts, but it’s a nice look. They’ll use L brackets for such joints and have some T brackets on the king post.
Understanding The Trim and Bats Material Used
If you look up the beams, you can also see the hardware that the guys have used. This will only get painted for the bolts, but it’s a nice look. They’ll use L brackets for such joints and have some T brackets on the king post.
How Do Trims and Bats Fit?
So the guys put the 4 x 10 sheets on the walls first, then butt the bat to the trim. The trim is thicker, so the bat dies into this material, giving a nice clean look since you don’t get an edge.
Thickness: Trim vs. Horizontal Band
You can get this trim in a bunch of different thicknesses. Around the window, you’re going 5/4 x 6 inches. Meanwhile, the horizontal bands are 5/4 x 8 inch materials.
Final Thoughts on siding installation
Well, thanks for joining us today. I hope you learned something new about bat board siding installation from us. Contact us if you’d like more information about building a custom home, building an ADU, siding houses, or doing a whole house remodeling project. We also have an FAQ section with a ton of information for you. Thank you, and we’ll see you again soon.
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2 Comments
You really offer a great glimpse into the Hardie siding installation process! Could you share some details about the specific project and the type of Hardie siding product used?
Thank you so much! This project was a board‑and‑batten Hardie siding installation we completed in Ramona, California. We used James Hardie fiber‑cement panels—specifically their board‑and‑batten profile known for its clean lines and durability. For this project, we chose Hardie board product, paired with matching Hardie trim for all edges and trim work.