Building Materials Anti Theft Camera – Used at Construction Sites

Are Stolen Materials Being Installed On Your Home?

By Greg Kapitan:
For some time since 1999 have been telling Houston area homeowners to be on the look out should they receive a very low bid on siding or roofing jobs. Why? Because, I realized that in in some cases siding and/or roofing contractors in the Houston Texas market who, in order to save on the cost of building materials, were using recycled and/or stolen building materials such as siding planks, roofing shingles and tar paper.

The Houston Chronicle reports about construction theft with their story that is very informative for both business and homeowners alike. As reported online and in the press, the local Houston Police Department are actually making arrests of several of those involved.  Homeless people were hired and paid with cash or drugs to hijack materials from job sites and later companies would  “fence the stolen material“, from Wikipedia – A fence knowingly buys stolen property for resale, these are the middleman, working between thieves and the eventual buyers of the stolen building materials, who are aware that the building materials are indeed stolen. With these stolen (hijacked) materials, it is likely that the warranty will not be honored by the manufacturer. Theft of building materials such as siding or roofing products is something that has been going on for some time.

This idea of hijacking product is nothing new to the construction world, as roofing and siding contractors and sub-contractors are familiar with or may have been involved in construction theft for many years. The violators had just been getting away with it for a long time, it was overdue and about time they got caught red-handed and stopped in their tracks!

Who is Stealing the Building Materials?

A good portion of this problem stems from subcontractors (crews that many of the larger, well-known companies around town, hire to perform the labor portion of the siding and or roofing jobs) who may be working for a company on a siding or roofing project, then having building materials left over at the end of the project, they take the unused product from the job. The crew was then sliding the product into their trailer or truck and driving off with it. These are new siding planks, trim, roles of tar paper, roofing shingles, boxes of pneumatic nails and accessories that are still in their packages and have never been used that were delivered and intended for use on the project.

Roofing materials just sitting on a jobsite just waiting for someone to take them after the crews take ther tools home

What Are The Crews Doing With This Material?

After hijacking the product, the crews would then either sell the unused materials back to the reseller yard (fence) or low bid their own side jobs and use these left over materials. There are several smaller reseller (fencing) yards around Houston who were willing to buy the unused siding or roofing materials from the crews as a discounted price. This arrangement would allow the crew to simply pull up to the the reseller yard, slide the siding planks or unload the roofing shingles from back of their trailers right into the helping hands of the reseller lumber yards then getting paid cash for the building materials.

As you can imagine, this is a win-win for both the crew, who brings this material in and gets paid, as well as the lumber yard, who gets product not only delivered directly to their door but pays a discounted price for materials that were charged to a siding or roofing company job completed by the crew.

What Are The Reseller Yards (fencing) Paying The Crews?

When the subcontractor crews delivered in the unused material to the resellers (fencing) yard, then the reseller yard would count up the quantity of the product (whether it is siding planks or roofing shingles). For example, let’s say that a crew brought in siding planks like James Hardie Siding and or the LP SmartSide Siding, these usually retail for approximately $10 a plank. The reseller yard gives the crew (that acquired them for free) $5 for each plank, then the yard resells it back to the public who purchases the material at a discounted price of $7.50 each. The same deal with roofing shingles such as the GAF Timberline Shingles, a crew might, for example, bring in 10 bundles of unused shingles that retail for $30 per bundle, the reseller yard would then pay the crew $15 per bundle at $10 per bundle for a total of $150, which I would call, “free money” to the crew and darn right underhanded!

The reseller yard, once again, turns around and sells this unused material to the public for $22.50 per bundle, a discounted price instead of the regular retail price of $30 per bundle that is typically charged. Again, another win-win for both as far as money savings goes for the crew and yard. However; this is an illegal fence practice of construction theft that both the crew and reseller yards are participating in and are literally banking on.

A brief overview:
> Siding Company pays $10 per siding plank (from a retail supplier lumber yard) and hires a crew to install the material
> The dishonest crew takes the extra siding from job they worked on without permission, at no cost to them
> The crew gets paid from a reseller yard at $5 per plank
> The reseller yard re-sells the stolen siding planks at a discounted price to the public for $7.50 ea.

Note: 90% of these transactions are completed as a cash transactions

HPD Police Car

What is the Condition of the Re-sold Material and is There any Warranty?

Is short, most of the resold material is in fair to good condition however; the material may not be in as good of condition as it were just delivered by a legitimate supplier like ABC Supply and or West End Roofing Supply. When building materials such as siding and roofing have been resold, shifted around and compromised, there is NO Warranty and it Void on these compromised products. This is another aspect that most Houston area homeowners are not aware of. Let me explain why, when the siding or roofing material is delivered directly from retail lumber yards it is in great condition, banded together and has not been shuffled around as well as verifiable tickets and/or receipts for the product purchased from the original supplier, this is not secondhand product.

When being moved around, the integrity of the products can be compromised.  Like Hardie siding can end up with chipped ends and roofing shingles can be easily torn thus compromising the quality of the products. This happens when the crews load the extra material in and out of their trailers and it is often shuffled around with the trash. The moving around and hauling can cause the chipped ends and slightly torn roofing shingles that are then resold, possibly damaged, to the public at a discounted price.

How it Can Play Out on Your Job..

Now I will provide you with a scenario of how this can play out on siding or roofing jobs in the state of Texas. When the crew shows up on job like a siding job, the materials are all bundled together by the retail lumber yard who attaches a packing or delivery ticket. The siding company had the supplier deliver 10 squares of siding to the home for installation. The crew then meets with the supervisor of the siding company and goes over the job. Once the supervisor has left the job, the crew gets to work. The crew starts installing the siding material on the home and in the midst of the project, may slip a few planks onto their trailer upside down placing the trash on top to disguise it as trash, or they may, at the end of the job remove the leftover material without the knowledge of the siding contractor, placing it on top of the trash and covering it with a tarp as if it were trash.

Untrusting crew guy taking money

How Crews are Getting Paid, Part of the Problem!

You see, many siding companies pay their siding crews based the amount of siding installed on a job rather than paying them on the total amount ordered. So, if a crew gets paid $225 per square and 10 squares were delivered they get paid $225 for 10 squares totaling $2,250. However; most siding companies want to cut as much cost as possible to maximize profit, so they pay the crews based on the actual amount installed vs the amount dropped and then ask the crew leave any extra material for pickup by the supplier to receive a credit.

If there are 2 squares of siding material left over out of the 10 that was delivered, the siding company will only pay the crew for 8 squares of siding which would save the company 2 squares at $225 totaling a $450 in addition to the credit they will get from the lumber yard on the returned product.

When companies choose to pay their crews based on how much they install, the crew may choose to claim that all of the siding delivered was installed in order to get paid better. I have found that this method leaves room for dishonesty on the part of the crew. I have heard of them slipping a few planks into their trailed before they start the job, which can provide the crew with the opportunity to claim that the job needed more siding to complete when they run out of siding before the end of the job (totally even more squares). The crew simply tells the siding company they need more material (within believable reason) thus the crew ends up making more money on the job and as well as having extra material they can sell at a discount to the re-seller yard, so I have found this not to be good practice.

I have found a better method is to pay the crews based on the total amount of material dropped not just by the total amount of material installed. The crews are less wasteful and more honest going this route.

Education of Homeowners is the Key About a Low Bid (estimate)

Having been in the home improvement business for nearly 30 years and being aware of this happening over and over again, it is my intention to educate homeowners into having some insight on why their bid may be so low from some contractors vs others and can be a red flag.  If this is the case, it very well could be because the material was acquired at a lower price from a reseller yard provided by a crew that hijacked it from someone else’s home project.

How To Know New Materials Are Being Used on Your Home?

What can a homeowner do to ensure that ONLY NEW, Fully-Warrantied Material will be installed on their home? I am surprised at the number of Home Exterior Companies in TX are using used or leftover material from jobs, recycling and reusing them on homeowner’s homes in order to save money.  be sure to select a company who uses supplies from reputable suppliers who will deliver your siding or roofing product directly to your home like we at Texas Home Exteriors does and we’ll install ONLY NEW, full warrantied materials on your home.

The materials for your project will be delivered straight to your door directly from ABC Supply or West End Roofing. We only use reputable suppliers who are some of the Largest and deliver new products such as: Simonton, replacement windows, NT Window, GAF Roofing, LP SmartSide, HardiePlank and KayCan Vinyl Siding Product Suppliers in Texas and America!

ABC Supply Delivering New Siding and Roofing Material

I hope that you have found this post must helpful in making an informed and educated decision. Please follow my, Kapitan The Siding Man Blog which is full of great content to help provide you with information and insight into many home improvement decisions.

Greg Kapitan, “Kapitan The Siding Man”

Free Estimate with New Material

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Texas Home Exteriors Best of Houzz 2015

HOUSTON TEXAS, USA, January 19, 2015 – TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC of HOUSTON TEXAS has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The “Siding, Roofing and Window Contractor” was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that com- prise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz Award is given in two categories:

Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

Texas Home Exteriors is honored to receive this award and recognition from our customers and the Houzz community for two years running.

“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthu- siasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow TEXAS HOME EXTERIORS INC. on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/greg-kapitan/texas-home-exteriors

About Texas Home Exteriors Inc.

​Texas Home Exteriors and our owner Greg Kapitan “Kapitan The Siding Man” comes to you with over 30 years combined experience in the construction trade. Our expertise in the areas of Home Improvement and Energy-Efficiency has been demonstrated on numerous completed jobs and happy customers over the years throughout the greater Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Livingston metro areas of Texas. Texas Home Exteriors specializes in HardiPlank Siding, LP SmartSide Siding, Vinyl Replacement Windows, Pergolas, Patio Covers and Roofing Options including Metal Roofs. Our products and services are the most Energy Efficient and innovative in the business. Our sales reps are experienced and have integrity, our crews are experienced professionals who have all been hand-picked by Greg Kapitan himself, to ensure superior workmanship and customer satisfaction. We will give FREE Estimates and offer Texas EZ Pay 100% Financing at 1% monthly payments.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

If you would like this kind of service, please fill out the form below for a free estimate  from Texas Home Exteriors

It was around 1999 in Houston TX when Houstonians started hearing about a siding product called Fiber Cement/Hardie Siding on the am home improvement radio station 750 Ktrh.  As many will attest, Vinyl Siding was king and the most requested siding product in the Texas market (and across the USA).

Current Results says Houston Texas  average yearly precipitation we receive nearly 4′ (48″) of precipitation every year and due to this and a great many of the homes here built using wood or masonite siding, homeowners ended up with siding often failing. This failure was due to the lack of painting and upkeep required for these types of siding products. Many Houston homeowners were looking at replacing the rotting wood or masonite siding on their homes and at the time, vinyl siding was the option most commonly selected.  This was until some of the local radio home improvement guys started getting paid to pitch a new siding product called, “Fiber Cement Siding“.  At this time, not much was known about the fiber cement product other than it was a cement-based siding product and would need paint application.

Move Over Vinyl . . . Fiber Cement/Hardie Siding Takes The Lead

The advertising campaigns and pitching paid off as this new siding product was pitched and heard more and more on the radio with boasts of what a better a product it was compared to vinyl siding. Homeowners in the metro Houston area started taking notice, local contractors were starting to pitch this new Fiber Cement Siding product and homeowners started jumping on the HardiPlank made by James Hardie Building Products band wagon as the greatest new product on the market. My company, Texas Home Exteriors was selling and installing Hardie Siding as well.

Fiber Cement HardiePlank Siding

Contractors in this part of the country are known for taking the path of  least resistance, so when homeowners started asking for this new siding product, the home exteriors companies and siding contractors alike started pitching (selling) the fiber cement siding product to homeowners throughout southeast Texas like crazy.

Fiber Cement Hardie Jumps From 5% Market Share to 90%

Within the period of about 5-6 years, I personally watched as the Fiber Cement Siding market went from being a mere 5% in 1999 to a jump of nearly 90% by 2005. To survive in the Houston TX siding market as a siding contractor, any company installing siding would or should have been offering the Fiber Cement product by this time.

The City of Houston TX – Texas Home Exteriors

Needless to say, many contractors did NOT like pitching a product to homeowners that needed painting and upkeep especially following an easy upkeep product like vinyl.

However, if you were to survive in the Houston Texas metro market buying into fiber cement, you would need to participate if you wanted to stay in the business of siding installation!

When Repainting Becomes a Reality

In this day and age many homeowners do not want the continued maintenance of repainting their home or changing out their roof every 10-15 years for that matter, like we have found is needed here in the south. Let’s face it, we are all busy and who wants to have to deal with this, the time, the money, the liability?

Homeowners in the Houston metro area (as well as across the country), now with the realization that the siding they just had installed and painted a few years ago needs to be repainted again and again and/or repaired.

This meant, getting bids, hiring a contractor, dealing with the HOA, getting colors approved (again), the mess, cost and dealing with the contractor telling you…”that is old paint on your brick” or . . . “it is peeling again because of the old paint was not removed or installed properly”. Yep, we have heard one or more of these scenarios and no fun!

The Issue of VOCs and Paint

Volatile organic compound VOCs are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest. Harmful VOCs typically are not acutely toxic, but have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and their effects is difficult for workers installing products on your Houston Texas home exterior. There’s also the issue of silica dust cause when the fiber cement is cut and its harmful effect on the workers. 

Peeling Paint Long After The Siding Crews Are Gone

This is an issue that many do not think about until the crews are long gone and the reality of peeling paint has settled in. This is the time when homeowners consider if they are just going to simply paint over that old paint again, or what to do next . . .

Paint Peeling Off Of Fiber Cement Hardie Siding

Paint Peeling Off Of Fiber Cement hardie Siding

Finding yourself with questions like, “really, to only to have it peel off again?”; “How do I get every square inch of that old paint off of my home?” amongst many other concerns racing through the thought process.  If you don’t believe me that the paint might peel from your new fiber cement than take a look at these photos because it does and possibly could.  The images above show the reality of how paint can peel off from fiber cement siding just a few years after installation and painting of the siding product.

The results of this can vary depending on which paint was applied as well as how the surface was treated or prepped. Fiber cement siding is made up of a combination of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fiber and select additives which holds paint exceptionally well. The siding is available either unprimed or as pre-primed panels.

Improperly treated, cement-based products can become mildew magnets. A high quality exterior acrylic masonry primer, such as Sherwin-Williams Loxon Masonry Primer, will fortify the siding’s mildew and efflorescence resistance as well as caulk at the butt joints and applying the finish coat or coats. However many contractors to do not take the time to do what is needed to prevent the paint from peeling.

Foundation Problems – Notorious In Houston TX

Another issue with fiber cement siding is that it does not flex and move with the home. Anyone in Houston TX will tell you that sooner or later, either you or someone that you know, will deal with foundation problems.

Here you can clearly see how this fiber cement trim and siding has cracked and separated. I personally took this photo at a west Houston Texas home.

With a moving home and siding product that is too rigged, a homeowner is asking for trouble. This can lead to problems like cracks that allow for water to leak into and behind the siding and trim causing, mold, mildew and eventually, rot.

The photo on the right clearly shows the results of a home that has apparently had some movement.  There is no wonder that rigid siding and trim, like fiber cement, carries only a 15 year trim and 30 year siding warranty. With no movement flexibility in the fiber cement siding, your home can end up with cracks like the ones in the image on the right.

Not All Fiber Cement Hardie Jobs Have Issues

When a homeowner is considering siding products, it is important to be aware of some of the POSSIBLE problems associated with the products they are considering. Do your research and learn about the possible problems associated with siding products whether you are considering fiber cement siding or any other siding product.

What About Vinyl Siding Option for Houston Texas?

Vinyl Siding has it’s own set of problems, however; these are minimal and vinyl siding has been on the market for a good many years. This product is easy to install, low-maintenance, a great price and great option for Houston Texas homeowners.

Vinyl Siding Sales Up 15% 2014 1st Quarter in Houston Texas

Most of the siding supply houses in Houston TX are reporting that Vinyl Siding sales are up 10 to 15% over 2013 espechley KayCan a manufacturer of Vinyl Siding. As homeowners become more educated and are researching products on the internet, they know more about the products and reported problems and are able to make more informed and smarter choices. It seems many homeowners are finding that the old saying is true . . . “Vinyl is Final”

KAYCAN OCEAN PARK ULTRA VINYL “LAP SIDING”
What Does Vinyl Siding Offer Over Fiber Cement Hardie Siding?

Texas Home Exteriors Lifetime Energy Efficient Vinyl Siding

• Lower Cost To Install
• Never Paint Again
• Energy Efficient
• Energy Star Rated
• Extra Insulation
• Quieter Home
• Lifetime Warranty
• By Far, The Best Return On Your Dollar!

Additional Benefits Include:
1. Heavy thickness for exceptional impact resistance.
2. Beautiful appearance – rough cedar wood-grain.
3. Double-thick nail hem windload resistance of up
to 213 mph.
4. Self-aligning locking system for quick, easy installation = straighter walls.
5. Double-sized insulated panels means up to 45% less noise and significantly reduced air
infiltration for a quieter, more energy efficient home.
6. Larger panel profile adds rigidity and dramatic shadow line.
7. Duratron UV technology for superior weatherability and color retention.
8. KayCan Ocean Park ULTRA siding’s premium color is consistent all the way through.

KAYCAN MONTEBELLO VINYL “LOG SIDING”

Texas Home Exteriors KayCan Lifetime Log SidingRustic Charm ​KayCan Montebella Vinyl Log Siding will give you the rustic look and distinctive warmth of log siding with added durability and resistance.

Rustic Charm ​KayCan Montebello Vinyl Log Siding will give you the rustic look and distinctive warmth of log siding with added durability and resistance.
• Montebello log siding wall system has all
the distinctive warmth, rustic style and beauty of
log siding with the strength and durability of vinyl.
​ • ​Montebello’s low gloss natural
wood grain appearance has been built to last as the
siding won’t dent, crack or split.
• Montebello resists mold, rot and mildew and
incorporates ​Perform Guard patented foam additive
for insect and termite resistance.

Montebello is the low maintenance alternative to real wood  requiring no painting, no staining and no wood preservatives means more time to enjoy your home and the things that you enjoy doing the most. 

Texas Home Exteriors Montebella Vinyl Lifetime Log Siding

1. Heavy gauge siding adds comfort to your home.​
2. Precisely contoured foam underlayment adds
rigidity and superior impact resistance.​
3. LineLoc panel locking system locks panels
together for greater rigidity on the wall.​
4. Ultra-Vinyl UV vinyl technology guarantees
superior weatherability and color retention.

​I hope you found this information helpful as you consider home exterior siding choices. Both Fiber Cement and Vinyl Siding are great home exterior products. The choice is yours to make, I am happy to provide information and facts about products and to answer any additional questions you might have, share your thoughts an questions in the comments below and I will respond timely and remember that, “Vinyl is Final”!

Greg Kapitan
Kapitan The Siding Man

Free Siding Estimate

James Hardie fiber cement Siding is resistant to fires from a side wall entrance perspective.

Best Siding For Fire Resistance

James Hardie Siding (HardiePlank siding) made from fiber cement is a great option for the Houston Texas metro area for a fire resistance siding to use on the outside of your home. Concrete Center shows that Fiber cement is fire resistant due to the fact that it is a siding product that is concrete based and has incredible resistance to igniting. The fiber cement siding manufactured by James Hardie is recommended across the country for any are prone to fire and homeowners that want extreme fire resistance to the side walls of their home.

Berkeley College Siding Study

The University of California Berkeley College Berkeley Fire Center has done an incredible study on fires and the resistance of a siding product to fire delay or stop fire completely from entering a siding wall of any structure. As we, Texas Home Exteriors, are out in the field bidding siding jobs for TX homeowners, we are often asked the question: “what siding option do you recommend as the best fire resistant siding?”

I find myself instantly answering with the same response for some time now that is, “James Hardie, HardiePlank Siding” is the best for Fire Resistance.   Fiber cement siding, like Hardie, has great resistance to fire due to the cement like properties of the siding products.

Southeast Texas Metro Area

As many Houstonians know, here it southeast Texas it can get stifling hot in the summer months and can even linger around for what seems like months with no end. We also experience times of drought to the point that our Texas lakes water levels drop due to what the US Geological Survey calls water cycle evaporation. This affects the local usage for drinking and irrigation. Sometimes this can present a problem for many homes close to any wooded area of Texas lakes because they are often built entirely of siding, containing very little brick putting the homes at higher risk of fire damage.  The siding on what I call “Texas lake homes” often consist of wood and many of these were built on a budget as second homes away from the city.

Texas A & M and the City of Houston

The City Of Houston Texas Fire Department HFD as well as all others across our country supports and recommends the use of fiber cement siding to hinder fire invasion into a home’s exterior. Texas A & M Forest Service is a statewide leadership and professional assistance for the state’s forest, tree, and related natural resources trees and flammability issue. The Texas Interagency Coordination Center live fire activity feed is there so that anyone that have an internet connection can see where active fires are in Texas.

Loblolly Pine Trees are common in East Texas which presents the possibility of rapidly moving fire dangers and the height of these trees make it nearly impossible to extinguish the flames.  Here is the Link to review the fire rating of James Hardie wall assemblies.   No building material guarantees a fireproof home, but there are some preventative measures Texas homeowners can take to better prepare for the possibility of fires, like installing a non-combustible home exterior siding product like James Hardie Siding (Hardie Plank) that are more resistant to fire.

Trees and Flammability Issues

Here in southeast Texas we have the tall and beautiful  what Wikipedia calls LobLolly Pinus Taeda trees that grow up to 93-110 feet or more in height. Fire danger is a great threat to Texas homeowners in our area thus some insurance companies will allow further discounts for homes with fire resistant siding like HardiPlank siding installed in place of existing wood siding. Check with your local Texas insurance company and explain to them that you plan to replace your wood siding and inform them of which Hardie fire resistant siding you intend on installing. I have heard in the past how local TX homeowners have received reductions on their insurance as a direct result of installing fiber cement siding from James Hardie in Houston.

Hardie Siding Will Not Burn

You can clearly see in the image above, the fire resistance of fiber cement siding by James Hardie Siding (HardiePlank, Hardy Board). Hardie Siding provides a resistant barrier on the exterior of your home from a side wall entrance perspective.

HardiePlank siding will not burn or catch fire, as you can be seen in the photo, a lit torch aimed at the fiber cement siding manufactured by James Hardie Products.

The Hardie Siding will NOT easily burn and clearly protects the flammable wood studs behind your Houston TX home. This provides a great peace of mind for any homeowner in the Houston southeast metro area of Texas or anywhere in the country that may be at risk of experiencing a wildfire.

James Hardie warranties their siding for a full 30 years. This provides many years of increased fire safety for any homeowner whose home is close to surrounding large trees and would like this extra protection for their home and loved ones.

I hope that you have found this post informative and will pass it along or share it with those you believe may benefit from this fire resistant siding information. If you have a home or are building a home and are not considering brick, consider fiber cement fire resistant Hardie Siding and if you are in the Houston metro area, call me personally at Texas Home Exteriors 281-919-6999. Be sure to follow the Kapitan The Siding Man blog to see future posts about home exteriors and more.

Greg Kapitan
“Kapitan The Siding Man”

Free Hardie Siding Estimate

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) of Texas Home Exteriors

With my many years of construction background of building homes, I along with many other home builders and remodelers, know the value of building a strong home. Here in the southeast Houston Texas metro area we have a good amount of wind and with our being so close to the coast, we are also vulnerable to hurricanes.

Wind Racking Force on Homes

There are two forces a homeowner should be concerned with, or should I say, anyone that lives in wind-prone areas of the USA. One is “uplift force” and the other is “racking force” from shear wind blowing directly at any home or structure.

US Department of Agriculture

The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is the national research laboratory of the United States Forest Service, which is part of USDA) US Department of Agriculture). They do extensive research on timber and building studies. They have published a study where plywood or (osb) was added to the outside walls of the studs of any structure. The FPL (Forest Products Laboratory) study noted an at least 300% gain in stiffness in stopping any racking force from excessive wind.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a science based federal agency within the Department of Commerce with regulatory, operational, and information service responsibilities with a presence in every state of the country and territories. They also have done a study on ground level based shear wind or wind shear and noted the forces and pressure.  When NOAA was asked, What is wind shear?, they answered, “a change in horizontal wind speed and/or direction with height. Also known as microburst. They are short-lived, ground-based, small-scale event and associated with thunderstorms”. Yep, that would be Texas weather!

Racking Force due to Wind Shear

We will be talking about Racking Force to a home due to Shear Wind in this siding post because it is a concern many homeowners should be aware of. Right around the year 1999 here in Houston Texas many homeowners were being pitched and marketed to move away from vinyl siding and installing, in its place, fiber cement siding.

The installation of this fiber cement (Hardie) siding product often meant removing the old wood siding, stripping the OSB or  plywood sheathing down to the studs and installing the installation of the new fiber cement product. In the photo below, you can clearly see how builders across the country will often build diagonal “let-in” bracing (per the green arrows in the photo) into a home to help combat the racking force caused by shear wind.

Single Wall Construction – Non Wind Areas

Single wall construction is when the siding is applied directly to the studs without any sheathing like OSB or plywood first. Single wall construction with fiber cement siding is perfectly fine for non- wind/non-coastal areas of the country as displayed in the photo below. However; for high wind areas, more than diagonal “let-in” bracing is needed as per Texas Department of Insurance TDI TDI Wind department hence, double wall construction with OSB or plywood sheathing is required to be installed before siding for added strength.

Let In bracing “diagonal bracing” a home helps combat the racking force caused by shear winds in Houston TX

Double Wall Construction – Wind Prone Areas

The best practice of using the diagonal bracing will help stop any home from racking (tilting) when strong winds are blowing. Builders will often install OSB or plywood over these outside walls by nailing them to the exposed studs as can be seen on the left side of the diagram below labeled “Wind Areas/ Houston Double Wall Construction”. Once the OSB or plywood is installed, the builders install siding over that plywood layer. By having this base layer, consisting of some sort of  LP Oriented Strand Board (OSB) or plywood sheathing attached to the the studs of any outside wall, gives the home increased strength and shear wind resistance to combat racking force. This method is called “double wall construction“.

Fiber Cement Hardie Not for Single Wall Construction

Coming from my many years of experience from using and knowledge of fiber cement, I have found it to have very little material structural strength and it can break easily. The product offers little structural support (if any) to the outside of a home and can in fact be a liability. Don’t believe me, but try taking a hammer and moderately hitting the Fiber Cement siding, and see for yourself how easily it breaks and crumbles to the ground. I was in shock back in 1999 in Houston Texas as I observed (even participated in) siding contractors removing lap wood siding and T-111 vertical siding ultimately affecting the structural value which had been an asset to the home. This was then replaced with the installation of fiber cement which without installing any OSB or plywood, offered nearly no structural value.

Movement of the home can cause cracking of the fiber cement siding.

The image on the right is of a home I received a call on that was a “call back” from an installation by another siding contractor who had removed the old wood siding and did not install any OSB or plywood under the newly installed Fiber Cement.

The result was that the home moved causing cracking of the fiber cement allowing water intrusion and causing other problems.

This Houston TX homeowner will continue to have movement problems until all of the fiber cement siding is removed and some sort of structural grade of sheathing is installed like OSB or plywood.

Keep in mind that this homeowner paid over 14k for a siding job that was done incorrectly. In Texas, homeowners often experience movement in their homes, this is yet another reason to install OSB or plywood sheathing before any fiber cement siding is installed, hence, the method of installing double wall construction will add more stability to Houston TX homes.

The best way to build strength into the exterior of the walls is with double wall construction.

How to Install Double Wall Construction

The diagram below shows how to correctly install the layers (sheathing like OSB or plywood – double wall construction) prior to installing the fiber cement siding. This will help increase any home’s structural value for both shear, racking force wind and any settling movement providing increased strength to the exterior walls of the home.

Keep in mind that this is a much better re-siding approach for homeowners when removing old structural grade siding and installing fiber cement siding in its place.

LP SmartSide Siding Best for Single Wall Construction

This is the best way to build strength into any outside wall for homes in coastal areas that are going to be sided with fiber cement siding. LP SmartSide is wood base and has a lot of what wood works calls structural value to it that fiber cement siding does not have any structural value.

Keep in mind that if you do choose to side your home with single wall construction, a propelled airborne object could quite easily come right through fiber cement siding, the insulation and sheetrock and enter your home!

When building or if you are re-siding your home and it has no OSB or plywood under the siding, single wall construction, I recommend using the LP SmartSide Siding due to its proven brute strength. This siding will be an Asset to the integrity of your home’s exterior walls and will help keep those that you love safer inside your home. You do NOT need to install OSB or plywood sheathing before installing the LP SmartSide product and racking force from shear wind becomes much less of an issue due to the increased strength of the exterior walls. LP SmartSide Siding actually takes the place of OSB or plywood and provides much structural value and looks great too.

The must-see video below explains clearly what this means for your home. Fiber cement siding, is a great siding option, however; please insist that your siding contractor install double wall construction with OSB or plywood first for the what Wikipedia calls structural integrity of the building.

The moral of the story is this:
Fiber Cement Siding Installed on Single Wall Construction = a Liability.
LP SmartSide Siding Installed on Single Wall Construction = an Asset.

~Greg Kapitan (Kapitan the Siding Man)

Featured Video: Demonstration of LP SmartSide vs Fiber Cement Durability

Free Estimate Hardie or SmartSide

I get asked this question often working Texas Home Exteriors, “Greg, what is better, Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding or LP SmartSide Siding for my Houston TX home?” As we move into 2014,  I have already found myself being asked this question more and more. I respond with information based on my research, experience installing the two building products as well as discussion with other professionals.

The information in this article, I am offering based on many years of experience in the Houston Texas southeast Texas metro area and as the owner of Texas Home Exteriors. In this post, I will cite information from some of the most powerful resources I know of on the internet presenting their accumulative input including Google Books (James Hardie), Wikipedia (James Hardie) and Wikipedia LP (Louisiana Pacific SmartSide) These are sites and resources that you can and SHOULD check as well to learn more and research what people just like you and me are saying around the country and world.

So having said that, below I present the good, bad and the ugly so you, as a Houston Southeast Texas homeowner, can make an informed and intelligent decision. I encourage you to click on the links as well and doing some of your own research. After reading this Hardie vs. SmartSide Siding article, please take a moment to voice your opinion or share additional information below the estimate form.

Here are our findings

Both Fiber Cement (Hardie)  and LP SmartSide Siding are outstanding and quality building products. They both exhibit excellent qualities in their performance and longevity as excellent siding product choices for your home’s exterior. Keep in mind that each has great qualities as well as some not-so-great qualities I will point out based on my many years of experience in home exteriors here in the Houston southeast Texas area in using both products, (fiber cement – LP SmartSide Siding) and research I have done on the products and their overall performance.

Supporting evidence GOOGLE search 

When being asked about one siding product vs another, one might share their opinion from their experience, of course this is OK; however, I will also provide examples of what others are saying from around the country.

Fiber_Cement_Siding_Defects – Inspectapedia …. read more

Problems with Fiber Cement Siding installations – Structuretech1 Forums….. read more

Fiber Cement Problems – Inspectors Journals Forums….. read more

Smart Side Siding JLC Online Forums…. read more

LP SmartSide Siding vs Fiber Cement – Hot Spot Outdoors Forum….(read more)

Fiber Cement/HardiePlank- 15 Trim 30 Yr Siding Warranty

Click – 30 YR Warranty

As you can see from exploring the links above, there have been some issues reported from around the country. Fiber cement has become more and more popular since the late 1990s in re-siding as well as in new construction throughout North America.

The reported issues range from cracking and flaking paint to installation problems as well as other issues with the fiber cement siding product. The siding most often used siding product in America is fiber cement. Many of the problems with this product have stemmed from the improper installation of the fiber cement product however; there are also some issues to be aware of that actually stem from fiber cement product failure itself.

 LP SmartSide Siding – 50 Year Trim 50 Year Siding Warranty

Click – 50 YR Warranty

LP SmartSide has also been around since 1997, I have done extensive research via the internet and have not found nearly as many, or for that matter, any issues reported with this product at all, no reported problems, even LP SmartSide reports there have been no claims on product failure of the the LP SmartSide Engineered Wood Siding Products in the past 14 years it has been being installed on homes.

In all fairness, I will share that there was an issue I came across in regards to Louisiana Pacific (LP) and their OLD Product, called “Inner Seal” which has since been discontinued, this was a pre-1997 SmartSide product that failed, recalled and any claims paid responsively and quickly, very impressive on the part of Louisiana Pacific. In my opinion, this product should not have been used on homes in areas of the country that receive a lot of precipitation, thus the failures. (Note, that the “Inner-Seal” siding did very well in other areas of the country that are more arid and the product continues to stand up well in those climates to this day).

Louisiana Pacific SmartSide Wikipedia info

LP SmartSide:  (LP) “Two years after the first suit, LP had settled all related disputes. LP re-engineered the product, now marketed as LP®SmartSide® and since 1997 has sold approximately 3 billion square feet of SmartSide siding with no warranty claims for fungal decay.” This was reported on Wikipedia in 2014 of this product that has been around since 1997.

Fiber Cement (Hardie) Wikipedia info

Fiber Cement: per Wikipedia, “Fiber cement siding (or “fibre cement cladding” in the UK and Australasia) is a building material used to cover the exterior of a building in both commercial and domestic applications. Fiber cement is a composite material Fiber cement is a composite made of sand, cement and cellulose fibers. Read more about Fiber Cement by clicking on the link at the top of this article which will take you to Wiki and Build Direct FAQs.

The Silica Dust Issue – New York Times 

Both the Fiber Cement (hardie plank) and LP SmartSide siding products will produce dust plumes when cutting the product. LP SmartSide siding is wood based and makes less dust as opposed to the Fiber Cement that contains Silica. Having said that, the Silica is a much finer dust and gets airborne and tends to make billowing clouds of fine dust that can be dangerous for workers to install if respirators are not used. Here is a recent article from the New York Times about silica dust exposure that you should be aware of on this issue.

Crumble a Plank Anyone?

Click Image- Read The Rest Of The Story

You have to see this to believe what is happening. After Hardie Siding (fiber cement) has been up for a while, homeowners have been reporting on how that their lawnmowers wheels had bumped the lower run of the siding and broken off edges with some mild unintended impacts.

If you click on that link, you will clearly see what homeowners across the country are reporting as well as the phone calls that we are receiving on the issue here at our Texas Home Exteriors office.

You will also see how SmartSide Siding is much more resistant to the same impact of objects such as lawnmowers, baseballs and the everyday accidental impacts that most homeowners experience.

Benefits Fiber Cement/HardiePlank Siding Products

Fiber Cement has the upper hand by far in the category of Fire Resistance so if you are looking for a siding product that specifically is more Resistant to fires Fiber Cement is the better choice. Fiber cement is one of the most resistant materials there is for your exterior.  If installed properly, it is insect-proof, because it offers no food source to insects.  It is fire-resistant, moisture-resistant, and is not prone to warping or cracking, thanks to the cellulose fibers which boost its dimensional stability.  And manufacturers offer a variety of pre-painted colors to choose from.

Disadvantages of Fiber Cement Siding Products

Fiber Cement is much heavier than other siding types and requires two or more workers to install a single plank increasing labor costs. Fiber cement siding can also be difficult to work with, as workers cut the material it creates silica dust plumes that can be harmful if breathed in.

Benefits of LP SmartSide Siding – What the crews are saying about installation

• Length – With Longer planks” 16’ foot vs 12’ allowing workers to cover more with one plank and less joints to finish.
• Lighter – The product is 39% lighter on average, the material does not break when being carried or moved. 
• Damage – Hammer marks don’t show up easily to to it’s impact resistance.
• Cutting – No special saw blades or equipment is needed (no need for $100 special blades, regular wood saw blades work just fine)
• Nailing – No nail gun pressure issues or need to lower presser due to overdriven nails. 
• Dust- Much less dust than the fiber cement product, silica plume issues gone.
• Strength – Installation of this product helps keeps walls strait”, stronger siding provides support keeping walls straighter.
• Installers like working with the product more due to the reasons above.

Disadvantages of LP SmartSide Siding

SmartSide siding is constructed of wood base fibers, leaving it vulnerable to fire from combustion and or through the melting of the resin add-ons when exposed to high heat. If fire resistance is a concern I would consider the James Hardie (hardiplank) siding over the LP SmartSide siding. You should take a moment to read this article about James Hardie Siding and it’s superior resistance to fire.

Louisiana Pacific and NASDAQ Stock Jump

Just as resent as May 18th of 2015 the stock for Louisiana Pacific (LP) LPX has seen an 52 week all time high is stock increase due to consumer interest and sales increase in the LP SmartSide Siding Product. This has been exciting news for some time as contractors are liking having a choice to present to homeowners besides fiber cement.

Conclusion

Greg Kapitan (the siding man) Texas Home Exteriors

Well there you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Both the Hardiplank and LP SmartSide Siding products will serve your home will and keep your love ones protected from the weather for many years to come.

While there are differences and benefits to both siding products, we have noticed a shift in homeowners moving towards the LP Smart Siding due to the many benefits over Fiber Cement (Hardie).

What you have read above is from an article I wrote. You can find more information on our website Texas Home Exteriors – Houston TX about home siding options and you can also learn more about silica dust and it’s affects.

I hope that you have found this informative article most helpful in making a siding choice for your home exterior. Should you have any questions my email addres is, [email protected] or if you would like a Free Estimate from Texas Home Exteriors call, 281.919.6999 anytime.

Most sincerely,

Greg Kapitan (the siding man)

Free SmartSide or HardiPlank Estimate:

Southeast Houston TX homeowners often remove their old siding and install James Hardie Siding. This is a great decision for the longevity that fiber cement offers. Although often overlooked by most siding contractors, is what can be done before the new HardiPlank Siding is installed to improve the energy efficiency of the home. By adding a reflective energy efficient vapor barrier such as Dupont Tyvek ThermaWrap, this will help in utility bills with it’s added increased R and reflective values. Below I explain and provide some suggestions.

Your Texas home exterior walls can account for 40-70% of the solar heat gain and/or loss of your home. This varies depending on many factors such as the amount of sun exposure to walls, shade and the type of building materials your home was built with. Often I notice a job sign of a contractor doing a siding job and I see no roles of the Tyvek product delivered to the jobsite. When the siding is removed and there is no extra insulation existing with any level of R-Value such as Home Wrap being installed on the home, this is the perfect opportunity to install the Tyvek product while the siding is off and being replaced.

The Perfect Time to Install

Something to think about, when you have your old siding removed, this is the best time to improve the energy efficiency of your Texas home, don’t you say? I would think that the immediate answer would be yes! When you have your old siding removed, this is absolutely the perfect time to install Dupont Tyvek ThermaWrap. What this product will do for your Texas home is to push the unwanted HEAT Back Out of your home in the Texas Summertime and push the HEAT back INTO your home (prevent it from escaping) in the Texas wintertime. This in turn will save you money year round and reduce your Texas utility bills every month by having your Heat/AC unit run less now that your home is more energy efficient because the Tyvek ThermaWrap is stopping much of the heat gain/loss!

Energy Efficiency Performance under Your Hardie Siding 

Tyvek ThermaWrap is a low emissivity (Low-E), metallized weather barrier that will actually increase the effective and total R-value of any wall systems, to help improve energy efficiency in our Texas homes. DuPont Tyvek ThermaWrap is made with a metallized, low-emission (low-e) surface that reflects solar radiation away from our Houston Texas metro area homes. Cold weather in Texas, this will help stop radiant heat transfer and loss from within the home. In the summer weather, Tyvek ThermaWrap do the opposite by reflecting warm air back out and away from our Texas homes, to help improve air-conditioning (A/C) efficiency. In all of our Texas seasons, that can help make our homes much more comfortable, more energy efficient, and less costly to operate. No more Hot and Cold rooms and the home has more of an even temperature.

R-2 Plus Helping Block Air Infiltration and Exfiltration

ThermaWrap has the ability to help increase the effective R-Value of a wall, Tyvek ThermaWrap is also an excellent vapor permeable air and water barrier, like all Tyvek materials. The low-e surface changes the dynamics of radiant heat flow across the entire wall system.

Nearly two-thirds of the total heat lost or gained is through our Texas homes occurs through radiant heat flow. Tyvek ThermaWrap addresses this by helping to dramatically improve the effective R-value (resistance Value) of the wall system. This is highly effective at reducing heat gain when the weather turns hot here in Southeast Texas for over 6 months. Tyvek ThermaWrap is ideal for our Southeast Texas weather.

Reduce Texas Energy Bills – How It Works

Radiant Heat

Radiant Heat flow occurs when heat is transferred from a warmer object to a cooler one by electromagnetic waves and natural heat flow. These waves do not need to pass through air and they do not require any contact between the two materials. They simply cross empty space in exactly the same way as the heat of the sun, which
can be felt on cold days. Tyvek ThermaWrap incorporates a low-e, metallic surface that changes the radiant heat flow dynamics of the entire wall system. In winter, it reflects and or pushes radiant heat back into the wall system. Texas summer time,
ThermaWrap reflects the outside solar radiation away from the wall system, to reduce unwanted heat gain into our Texas homes in southeast TX. The total overall effect is an overall total increase in the effective R-value to the entire wall system.

When installed, Tyvek ThermaWrap adds an effective R-value (thermal resistance) equal to R-2 (R- Value). In Texas homes this can help reduce energy usage and costs for heating and cooling systems, year-round. This is a huge plus for southeast Texas Homeowners in the Houston, Spring The Woodlands metro area.

Free Tyvek Estimate Form

In all my years in home improvement, I have witnessed what works as well as what does not perform well.  I cannot begin to tell you how many HardiePlank Siding jobs I have come across with face nails and just after a few years are showing cracks in the surface due to the improper nailing procedure that was used. James Hardie is the manufacture and here is the instructions for Hardie Siding Installation for reference.

Fig 9 HardiePlank siding cracked from improper nailing

In our extreme Southeast Texas summer heat and humidity, there will be some expansion and contraction in the James Hardie siding product.

If the HardiePlank Siding is face nailed at the vertical edges (the ends of the plank), this is what could happen (Figure 9 at the right).

When HardiePlank is face nailed, it should always be nailed in the main run areas away from vertical edges so cracking does not occur.

Face Nailing

If face nailing should be needed, it should be kept at a minimal use and away from each end of the plank if possible.  If face nailing should ever be required, for instance, let’s say if a plank is not lying flat, it should be nailed at least ¾” away from either edge (see Figure 10).

Fig 10 Proper Face Nailing Technique

90% of the blind nailing should occur at the top of the lower panel of the siding that is being installed (see Figure 11).

By nailing this way, the nails will also be covered and hidden by the next panel that is installed above it which is more visually appealing.

Fig 11Blind nailing procedure diagram

This will ensure that there is no chance of breakage due to expansion and contraction after the HardiePlank crews are long gone.

There is also the issue that james Hardie the manufacture of the siding product will void the warranty should the siding be nailed improperly. That is why it is so important to install the product to what the manufacturer recommends.

Suggested Galvanized Fasteners

Fasteners must be corrosion resistant, galvanized, or stainless steel. Electro-galvanized are acceptable but may exhibit premature corrosion.
Hardie recommends the use of quality, hot dipped galvanized nails.

Stainless Steel fasteners

Hardie Siding Installation Job

Stainless steel fasteners are recommended when installing James Hardie products near the ocean, large bodies of water, or in very humid climates. The beauty of properly installing HardiePlank siding will result in no cracking from the installation.

This in turn will provide a HardiePlank exterior siding job that will last for many years to come. This is the kind of siding job that you can expect from Texas Home Exteriors serving the greater southeast Houston east Texas metro area.

We have 1% Texas EZ Pay 100% Financing with no money down no prepayment penalties  and instant approval! Keep your money in the bank and use ours for your Hardie Siding Project.

“For A Home That’s Superior, Call Texas Home Exteriors today!”

Call or Text for FREE Estimate with NO Pressure 281.919.6999

Free HardiePlank Siding Estimate