Metal flat soakers on cement fibreboard cladding?

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thoreau

28 posts

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#288532 6-Jul-2021 21:30

Hi all,

Maybe someone can help. Our house is clad in Linea and the joints between the planks (on the short side of the planks) are starting to develop a few gaps in some places. James Hardie (as expected) are not very helpful and we have had conflicting opinions from builders. The house is due for painting and some suggest some sort of retrofitted soakers on top the joints (though I am a bit unclear what product that would be) and others have said just use high quality sealant before painting but I am sceptical of sealants being a long term solution

Does anyone have any experience with this issue or maybe even used these sort of soakers?

Many thanks

timmmay

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#2740117 6-Jul-2021 21:44

I had the same problem with cedar weatherboards. Filler never worked long term. Flat soakers have worked GREAT. Metal primer, optionally fill the edges with no more gaps exterior if required and prime that, paint the lot. We're about a year on and they look great still.

I'm on my phone now but message me and I'll find the thread I started about it for you tomorrow.

thoreau

28 posts

Geek

#2740182 6-Jul-2021 21:52

Thank you, I will. The only concern is that we were told that with fibre cement boards these soakers may not be recommended but tbh it is all a bit unclear and we are getting contradicting advise, but though I agree with you on sealants not being a long-term solution.

Ruphus

465 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2740191 6-Jul-2021 22:18

How old is the house?

It looks like the design of Linea has changed over the years and the older version of the board was joined with a tongue and groove join off stud with some sealant. The newer design requires a concealed back soaker and some sealant in the join.

mattwnz

20164 posts

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#2740263 7-Jul-2021 00:31

thoreau:

Hi all,

Maybe someone can help. Our house is clad in Linea and the joints between the planks (on the short side of the planks) are starting to develop a few gaps in some places. James Hardie (as expected) are not very helpful and we have had conflicting opinions from builders. The house is due for painting and some suggest some sort of retrofitted soakers on top the joints (though I am a bit unclear what product that would be) and others have said just use high quality sealant before painting but I am sceptical of sealants being a long term solution

Does anyone have any experience with this issue or maybe even used these sort of soakers?

Many thanks

I think mid board joint soakers don't look good visually.

timmmay

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#2740270 7-Jul-2021 06:08

There's this thread which may be useful. I don't know which kind would work with linea, best work that out before you buy any.

I somewhat agree that soakers in the middle of a weatherboard aren't the best looking thing ever, but painted up properly I find them inoffensive. I find them far less offensive than the cracks and gaps that would be there otherwise.

thoreau

28 posts

Geek

#2740271 7-Jul-2021 06:17

Ruphus: How old is the house?

It looks like the design of Linea has changed over the years and the older version of the board was joined with a tongue and groove join off stud with some sealant. The newer design requires a concealed back soaker and some sealant in the join.

Thank you for your input. The house is 8 years old and the joints are tongue and groove but the original sealant that was required has failed - hence the cracks/gaps on the very sunny side of the house. There are no back soakers/flashings unfortunately

timmmay

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#2740272 7-Jul-2021 06:21

Sealant does fail, particularly in the sun. I now give it 48 hours to dry (or more - otherwise the paint cracks), prime it with oil based paint then paint it. If you want to go that way you can remove the old sealant and something like "no more gaps exterior" will last a number of years. Soakers are a longer term solution, but may not look quite as good.

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Bung

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#2740273 7-Jul-2021 06:25

Ruphus: How old is the house?

It looks like the design of Linea has changed over the years and the older version of the board was joined with a tongue and groove join off stud with some sealant. The newer design requires a concealed back soaker and some sealant in the join.

End joints using sealant and rear soaker instead of the previous t&g joint and sealant appear in the July 2020 version of the
Linea specifications. So a very recent change.

In the description of the tongue & groove joint the point is made that the joint line is visible and should not be filled with hard filler. The joint should have flexible sealant in it and more than likely the Linea will be cavity fixed.

thoreau

28 posts

Geek

#2740275 7-Jul-2021 06:42

timmmay:

Sealant does fail, particularly in the sun. I now give it 48 hours to dry (or more - otherwise the paint cracks), prime it with oil based paint then paint it. If you want to go that way you can remove the old sealant and something like "no more gaps exterior" will last a number of years. Soakers are a longer term solution, but may not look quite as good.

Yes if we find the right product I think soakers are the way to go since we prefer a long-term solution over aesthetics, though James Hardie on the phone suggested that soakers are not recommended for Linea which is why this is a bit confusing to us. Do you know which product you used for your weatherboard?

timmmay

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#2740279 7-Jul-2021 07:02

thoreau:

Yes if we find the right product I think soakers are the way to go since we prefer a long-term solution over aesthetics, though James Hardie on the phone suggested that soakers are not recommended for Linea which is why this is a bit confusing to us. Do you know which product you used for your weatherboard?

Something from Placemakers, from memory it was a basic galv soaker. You do need to make sure the soaker material won't react with the wood, which might be able to do by painting the wood first. Copper / stainless soakers are available but can be a lot more expensive.

Bung

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#2740320 7-Jul-2021 08:42

thoreau:
Yes if we find the right product I think soakers are the way to go since we prefer a long-term solution over aesthetics, though James Hardie on the phone suggested that soakers are not recommended for Linea which is why this is a bit confusing to us. Do you know which product you used for your weatherboard?

How much of a gap is there? Could you put up a picture? It does seem like you only have an appearance problem. The joint shouldn't actually leak and even if there was a small amount the cavity is intended to deal with that. JH may be saying you don't need a flashing with a t&g joint and the flashing for the latest Linea looks like it has to be fitted as the boards are butted together.