Franca Services Home Improvement Contractor MA

Dealing with Wall Penetrations During James Hardie Siding Installs

In our extensive experience as an authorized James Hardie installer, we have encountered a number of situations that call for clever solutions. For example, this Westwood MA customer had several outside plumbing connections and electrical switches, which can present a challenge to the inexperienced contractor. However, our knowledgeable and ingenious staff at Franca Services are masters when it comes to creating the same look of premade blocks to surround these areas and keep water penetration from becoming a problem.

As you can see in the “before” photos, this client’s exterior penetrations were bare, which certainly could create such a problem in the future. After consulting with the client, we discovered that his initial Hardiplank installer neglected several important aspects during the job, including not installing a water table. To get this home in the condition it deserved, we created a block using James Hardie Smooth Lap Siding Trim with a 4-inch exposure in a color matching the rest of the structure’s trim. To ensure the highest level of water protection, we used the appropriate flashing and caulking methods, as dictated by the product’s strict installation requirements.

The putting in place of the water table finished the project, and the customer was very pleased with the results. As you can see in the “after” photos, the product looks remarkable and complements the fiber cement siding. Not only was our method of solving this client’s problem inexpensive, but it left a clean profile around the wall penetrations, while the water table serves the purpose of protecting the siding from the often harsh New England elements.