Cures for Fiber Cement Siding Gaps
Fiber cement lap siding installation butt joint gap remedies are described in this article.
Companion articles explain where are clearance gaps required and how big should they be; where should there be no gap (butt joints).
The article series describes a problem of gaps at siding board butt joints that has been observed at some fiber cement lap siding installations.
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Here we describe approaches to fixing both the cosmetic complaint "I don't like to see those gaps in the wall siding" as well as a possible leak complaint if the butt joints were not back-flashed.
Separately at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT GAPS we explain why unsightly gaps may appear at the butt joints between individual pieces of fiber cement lap siding on a building. Unless the builder erroneously and deliberately left such openings, the gaps are usually due to having installed fiber cement siding while it was at a "too high" moisture content.
First, it is important to listen to what the manufacturers of fiber cement lap siding have to say about the expansion/contraction (and buckling or gap formation) of this product:
It is normal for building products located on the exterior of a home to expand and contract with temperature changes. To ensure a successful siding installation, you must allow for this movement during installation.
While CertainTeed WeatherBoards Fiber Cement siding does not experience the same rate of expansion and contraction as many other building products (such as wood), over time you may notice movement of the siding, specifically at the butt end/joints.
This issue is mainly an aesthetic issue and should not create a condition that would cause long-term product failure. If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of the butt end/joint locations and wish to address them, CertainTeed recommends that you apply H-covers at the joint locations.[5a][5b]
We discuss the FC siding gap caulking option in detail later in this article.
Where siding is loose and where inspection shows that butt joint flashing was omitted, it may be possible to slip flat butt joint flashing product into place.
Proper flashing details behind butt joints, at the wall bottom, and at roof-wall abutment, including a kick-out flashing to prevent roof runoff from surging down building walls are important for a successful, durable HardiePlank siding installation [15]
If the installer omitted Zee flashing at the abutment of siding bottom edges to horizontal trim boards (the water table trim) or over windows and doors, retrofitting now will require sufficient loosening and possibly removal siding in those locations to slip the z-flashing in place.
At SIDING, FIBER CEMENT GAPS we give the clearance gaps required for these locations.
Watch out: the HZ5® HardiePlank lap siding installation instructions include important details for joint treatment, including warnings against caulking at butt joints. CertainTeed fiber cement siding installation guides contain similar admonitions:
Watch out: the HZ5® HardiePlank lap siding installation instructions include important details for joint treatment, including warnings against caulking at butt joints. CertainTeed fiber cement siding installation guides contain similar admonitions.
Certainteed Corp. provides important advice for building owners troubled by gaps that appear in fiber cement exterior siding after the product has been installed and in service for some time.
The company points out that while these products expand and contract less in response to temperature changes than [some] other siding materials, thermal movement is normal, should have been allowed for at installation, and might produce noticeable gaps at butt joints. Numbers below refer to the page numbers in the product installation guide.[5]
This issue is mainly an aesthetic issue and should not create a condition that would cause long-term product failure.
If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of the butt end/joint locations and wish to address them, CertainTeed recommends that you apply H-covers at the joint locations.
NOTE: Refer to your sealant manufacturer’s specifications to determine if they allow the caulking of fiber cement siding butt joints/ edges, what their minimum and maximum gap requirements are, and/or how this practice may affect the warranty for the caulking. To ensure that caulks and sealants stay in place, we recommend using materials that remain flexible.
The labels of these materials will be clearly marked with a phrase similar to “permanently flexible.” For best results, use a high quality, exterior-grade caulk or sealant that meets ASTM C834 (latex caulk) or ASTM C920 (urethane caulk). The caulk or sealant should be color matched or paintable.
It should be compatible with both fiber cement siding and the materials used for the trim. Check the gloss and texture of the caulk to make sure it is compatible with the paint. - p. 55
Before you begin to caulk, remove any dust or debris. Caulk wherever siding meets the trim vertically at the corners and around windows and doors.
Do not caulk where the siding is installed into J-channel or a pocket/ accessory. Follow the caulk manufacturer’s application instructions. - p. 56
To see a table of the specified gaps for Certainteed's fiber cement building products as well as where caulk should or should not be used,
see SIDING, FIBER CEMENT GAP & CAULK SPECS
Caulk & sealant recommendations, products, descriptions are
at CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR and
at CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
OPINION: on textured siding products for which a coat of paint won't cover any caulk overspread, (or as the manufacturer may recommend), don't caulk these gaps.
You risk causing more trouble than it's worth, though I can imagine that meticulous work at each joint along with a new paint job may be cosmetically acceptable. You may also be voiding a product warranty.
Watch out: Certainteed Corp. does not recommend caulking at butt joints in lap siding and provides important advice for building owners troubled by gaps that appear in fiber cement exterior siding after the product has been installed and in service for some time.
HardiePlank Fiber Cement Siding Butt Joint Treatments: in 2008 James Hardie withdrew its recommendation for caulking butt joints in HardiePlank lap siding. The company's technical bulletin 9, added that
The use of a joint flashing behind field butt joints is the required joint treatment method for HardiePlank lap siding with ColorPlus technology and the preferred method for primed HardiePlank lap siding.
The use of caulk at field butt joints is a maintenance item for the homeowner, aesthetically compromises the finish look and is recommended against by some caulk manufacturers. All HardiePlank lap siding must be installed in accordance with our installation details as outlined in the relevant installation instructions.
Watch out: any repair that is not specifically recommended by a product manufacturer may affect the product's warranty coverage. On the other hand, warranty coverage reports have an unfortunate history and often a poor payout rate anyway, so in our OPINION, you may not be risking so much.
SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BOARD REPAIRS shows that ultimately the fiber cement siding manufacturer throws in the towel on the don't-caulk-the-butt-joints position for the case of people who are determined to try that approach, and offers some advice about applying caulk in these lap siding gap locations.
Caulking: Repairs such as caulking or flashing-over and re-painting butt joints in siding, may protect the building from water intrusion and further deterioration but may leave cosmetic issues; Caulk applied in siding butt joint gaps should be top quality, rated for the application and materials, applied to a clean dry joint, in weather conditions permitted by the manufacturer; the company recommends a "... high quality, paintable latex caulk ... that complies with ASTM C834, ASTM C920 or better..." [14]
Details about repair approaches to unattractive lap siding butt joint gaps are also discussed
at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT BOARD REPAIRS
To improve the appearance of these open gaps at butt joints in lap siding installations where their fiber cement lap siding was used, CertainTeed recommends installing H-covers at the joint locations.
We tried a sample H-flashing product (too short for actual use) and found it was difficult to install and risked cosmetic damage to the siding. (Photo at left).
We point out that retrofitting these products, while a nice idea, may be tricky (jamming the "H" up under nailed lapped siding above) and will still be "visible", even perhaps leading to color differences as the two materials (flashing and siding) age.
OPINION: on textured siding products for which a coat of paint won't cover any caulk overspread, (or as the manufacturer may recommend), don't caulk these gaps.
You will see vertical lines where each H-cover is installed, but then in our OPINION there were vertical lines already visible at the butt joint.
And we agree with CertainTeed that this approach is likely to be more attractive than blobbing or smearing caulk into butt joint openings - a procedure that changes the texture of the siding and its coating performance or re-painting performance and appearance in a way that can be far more ugly, leaving roundish smears at every butt joint so treated.
Watch out: even the H-cover solution to siding board butt joint gaps is not without possible trouble.
What are the chances that the plastic or aluminum of the H-cover will weather and change color at the same rate and in the same hue as the paint or coating on the siding boards?
I'll bet zero. So over time these covers may become more noticeable.
Our photo is a close-up of one of the bad fiber-cement siding installation job we describe at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT GAPS. Take a close look at our picture - that blue paper you see in the gap is housewrap.
There is no back flashing installed in this siding job, which means that blowing rain enters the wall at every butt joint gap. We are depending entirely on the housewrap to keep water (and later insects and rot) out of the building walls. Do you figure that the same fellows who installed this siding took great care to install the housewrap correctly and without leak points? Doubtful.
Several fiber cement manufacturers recommend the use of sliding H-flashing at fiber cement butt joints as a siding butt-joint gap repair. If the building siding is otherwise in good condition this option may be appealing.

Separately in "Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices for Effective Job Site Management" [5b] the company recommends
Use high-quality, exterior grade, color matched or paintable caulk or sealant that complies with either ASTM C834 (latex) or ASTM C920 (urethane) and is compatible with both fiber cement siding and the materials used for trim. Be sure to caulk wherever the siding meets the trim, non-self-flashing penetrations, and around all windows and doors.[5a][5b]
CertainTeed's advice on caulking siding butt joints and edges continues:
NOTE: Refer to your sealant manufacturer’s specifications to determine if they allow the caulking of fiber cement siding butt joints / edges, what their minimum and maximum gap requirements are, and/or how this practice may affect the warranty for the caulking. To ensure that caulks and sealants stay in place, we recommend using materials that remain flexible.
The labels of these materials will be clearly marked with a phrase similar to “permanently flexible.” For best results, use a high quality, exterior-grade caulk or sealant that meets ASTM C834 (latex caulk) or ASTM C920 (urethane caulk). The caulk or sealant should be color matched or paintable.[5a][5b]
Separately in "Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices for Effective Job Site Management" [5b] the company recommends 100% acrylic latex primer or paint to seal cut ends of all siding boards.
Watch out: as with our warning about H-covers for butt joint gaps, a caulking or sealant product will most likely weather and change color at a different rate and to a different hue from those of the paint or coating on the siding boards. CertainTeed continues:
It [the caulk] should be compatible with both fiber cement siding and the materials used for the trim. Check the gloss and texture of the caulk to make sure it is compatible with the paint. - p. 55
Before you begin to caulk, remove any dust or debris. Caulk wherever siding meets the trim vertically at the corners and around windows and doors. Do not caulk where the siding is installed into J-channel or a pocket/ accessory. Follow the caulk manufacturer’s application instructions. - p. 56 [5a][5b]
Should we remove & replace the siding? installing it correctly this time.
The contractor at the job we investigated considered this approach, though there would be some lost material due to damage during removal. There the siding had so many installation errors, missing flashing, crooked, trim rot around windows and doors, building leaks, that a patch job was in our opinion and that of the owner and contractor, likely to lead to a lifetime of aggravation for the building owners.
Since the old counterfeit fiber cement siding was going to be removed anyway, the contractor chose to remove it with care, minimizing the damage, to give the owner the option of re-installing the original siding without gaps.
(The owner later elected to toss the old siding and purchase new Hardieplank fiber cement siding - a step that was not without its own difficulties as we explain
at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT MOISTURE LEVELS )
This is a very costly approach but makes sense in some installations such as the fiasco of a fiber-cement siding installation job shown
Details about when, why, & how to remove fiber cement siding from a building are provided
at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT REMOVAL
Manufacturers point out that keeping water out of siding and avoiding too-close exposure to ground surfaces, patios, decks (where rain splash-up adds wear) and shrubs too close to the building are all sources of moisture trouble down the road.
Details about avoiding water damage to building siding are at:
...
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
I became a home owner and not-so-handy handyman late in life and appreciate the website -- it shows me at least what NOT to do!
I am attaching photos of a HardiePlank install on a house I lived in briefly when it was a new build in 2008 or so. The owner had a home inspector do an inspection before occupancy and nothing was mentioned about the siding in his report at that time. Long story but I returned in 2025 trying to help the owner fix things up and found a lot of possible problems.
The house is in Renton, WA, builder Connor Homes (their "Laurelhurst" development) , SUPPOSEDLY at the time one the more reputable builders in the region.
Photos are attached. Feel free to use any -- I have "scrubbed" them of any personal information.
I see a number of the issues you document on your website -- butt joint gaps were caulked at some point, some uneven butt joints, some areas of bulging out at the base (boards will wiggle when pushed or pulled), some odd angular cracks near the tops, etc.
I can't determine if joint flashing was used per Hardie's guidelines.
Z-flashing was apparently used on only one window located beside the front door.
Being cynical, I think it was just for show. The rest were only sealed around with caulk. Photos titled "window" show one example.
A lot of the caulk was beginning to crack, and some paint near the failing caulk was bubbling up / peeling. In the photos I have scraped back some of the paint and caulk to reveal the planks.
In the short term I have just re-sealed the window areas with a caulking that matches Hardie's specifications.
If the caulking / sealing is kept up with, do you think it's necessary to try to install Z and/or joint flashing, or do a complete re-siding job? - GH by private email 24 July 2025
Recommendations by (mod)
Thank you so much for your generous offer of HardiePlank photos - we'll certainly hang on to these and look to see where they'll best fit as added illustrations of these problems.
From a quick scan I see both typical gaps and some other workmanship questions, especially around windows.
It looks as if there was over-cutting during prep of the plank extending over the window.
You'd think they'd have caulked it but perhaps the installer figured the flashing was adequate.
Do you have an idea about the cause of that broken corner at the top of a plank in your first photo?
Watch out: as we can see in some of your photos, simply caulking the butt joint gaps in this HardiePlank fiber cement siding won't make a reliable repair. Depending on the temperature and humidity conditions when you installed the caulk and perhaps also affected by caulk shrinkage, we see that the caulk is not sealing the butt joint.
How do you install joint covers on existing siding? The nail is supposed to go underneath the overlapping board. On 2017-07-20 by Anonymous
by (mod) -
Anon:
If you are asking about butt-joint covers to close gaps at shrunken fiber cement siding, those just slid up into place. You don't have to remove siding nor add nails.
Where to I find metal gap covers for butt joints on cement fiber siding? On 2017-02-27 by lonnie
by (mod) -
Local building suppliers who sell fiber cement siding, or direct from siding manufacturers.
Home Depot Stores, Lowes Building Supply Stores
Also specific suppliers, such as Simplicty Tool (simplicitytool.com) provides a 140-series Joint Cover for hardboard and cement siding. Here's that product description:
140 Series Joint Covers are intended for use with hardboard and cement siding. The Joint Covers protect the butt joint where two siding planks meet and provide an expansion joint to help prevent siding buckling.
A wraparound lower lip hooks the siding and requires one nail to hold it in place. 0.015” aluminum covers are primed on the outside for easy painting and coated on the inside with an epoxy backer to inhibit corrosion.
They are manufactured with either a smooth or wood grained texture and are available in lengths and return
lip widths to fit all major brands of hardboard and cement fiber siding, including most profiled 12” and 16” shapes. Face width is 13/16”.
These joint covers are also available in pre-finished colors.
Available by piece or cartons of 100.
Still at a loss as to which is the "best fix". My South facing Certainteed wall shows such large gaps and warping when the sun is beating on it in the summer.
Don't even think the H gap pieces are wide enough for some, and don't address the downward migration of some of the boards creating nearly and inch difference of the bottom line.
Neighbor did the H brackets with a nail at each bottom side. Looks nice for now. I guess I will try that, but his is a ranch, mine a 3 story, might look hoosier to do just the South side, but the other 2 sided areas aren't as damaged. On 2016-06-04 by PMUSG4690
by (mod) -
Unfortunately I don't think there is a perfect, win-win, low-cost fix for this problem.
I have been quoted for a blown cellulose wall insulation upgrade to a 100 year old house clad with cement board shingles which requires the installer to use a 1 inch hole saw to access and fill the un-insulated air-gaps between the studs in them.
The installer advises that this may produce some cracks in some cement board shingles which he will not be responsible to repair. Such cracks will not likely be on the order of the "butt joint gaps" discussed above.
My house is in the Pacific Northwest and I don't have any serious gaps due to thermal conditions now. What, if anything, am I to do about such cracks however? Should I groove them with a dremel tool and apply some kind of caulking or what? On 2016-03-22 by Bob Schutte
by (mod) -
Watch out: Every crack in fiber cement shingles such as you describe is likely to be a leak into the interior wall unless it's backed by flashing (which won't be the case in an insulation retrofit unless that extra step is specified in the job.
Those leaks, in turn, can cause mold contamination insect damage or rot.
So every such crack should be repaired. A common repair is to install retrofit flashing behind each cracked single. Just be sure the sliding extends up beneath the next shingle course above the cracked one.
Watch out: The problem I see is that over the entire area of the house you're likely to not see all the cracks until the leaks make themselves evident.
First and foremost so all of you know- the only product that is JH in these picture is the one "INSTALLING H COVERS" the rest are certainteed! - Anon: On 2015-10-16
by (mod) -
Thanks for your remarks anon;
at SIDING, FIBER CEMENT IDENTIFICATION -
are details about distinguishing among brands of fiber cement siding.
We have studied Hardieplank extensively as well as other brands of fiber cement siding.
At SIDING, FIBER CEMENT MOISTURE LEVELS - you can see Hardieplank at a study jobsite including original factory wrapping.Bottom line: gap issues occur frequently with both brands of fiber cement siding, as you can read above in tehse comments by reader GH
...
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