Stucco & Exterior Walls in Studio City
Fiber cement lap siding gives Studio City houses a noncombustible wall without wet plaster. Fernhill Builders covers the product, fastening and clearances.
A house that is tired of patched plaster can change its skin altogether. Fiber cement lap siding is noncombustible, holds a baked-on or painted finish and goes up in planks, so it suits a wall that has outlived its stucco. For a Studio City exterior, Fernhill Builders specifies the board, the fasteners and the clearances so the new siding gives the wall its full rating.
What the board resists
Fiber cement does not burn, and it will not rot the way wood siding can. It also holds paint through sun exposure better than bare wood does. Termites have nothing to eat in the board itself, though the framing behind it still needs checking. Each plank is cut with dust-controlled tools, and cut edges are sealed. The product's installation listing sets the fastener type, spacing and the gap kept above soil and hard surfaces, and the scope follows it. Offcuts are kept for matching.
Installing it right
Siding is only as good as the wall behind it. Existing stucco is stripped back to the sheathing, damaged sections are replaced and a weather barrier is lapped over the whole surface, with flashing at every opening. Boards go on from the bottom, nailed through the specified zone, with joints staggered and trim set to leave room for drainage. The finish is primed on all cut ends, and the paint color is chosen from samples held against the house. Corners receive trim boards that cover the joint.
Stucco & Exterior in Studio City: common questions
Fiber cement lap siding over a lapped barrier is a noncombustible wall, and cement plaster in 3 coats over lath is the other route. The choice depends on the look the owner wants and on what lies behind the existing wall.
Strip when the stucco is cracked all over, the paper behind it has failed or you want a different look. Patch when the wall is sound and only one corner has trouble. A test opening on the worst section shows which way the wall is leaning.
Boards stop short of the ground by the distance the product listing sets, with a metal flashing at the foot. The strip below is kept free of soil and mulch. Where the listing allows a closure at the foot, it is made of noncombustible material.
Stucco & Exterior in other cities
More work we do in Studio City
Plan your project in Studio City
Tell us about the house and the stucco & exterior work. We reply about a walk-through and a written scope.