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Building a Home

Finishing Nichiha w/ Alternating Butt Joint Corners???

14 years ago

We're going to use Nichiha Sierra Premium Shakes in either Maple or Caramel. The corners will be "woven" (or as DH informed me - Alternating Butt Joint). I would appreciate seeing pictures from anyone who has done something similar with fiber cement siding, especially Nichiha. Also, some descriptions of how the builders did it.

DH is concerned that staining the cut ends won't turn out right. He started using the word "mitred" which I don't think would be an authentic look.

Carolina Colortones is near where we are building. They use the same process and "stain" (Woodperfect which is actually a paint that gives the transparent look of stain) as Nichiha, but can provide custom color mixtures. Would it make sense to use Carolina Colortones so that the stain applied to the cut ends would be consistent with the stain on the boards and not worry about using a different batch that what Nichiha used? (I know I'm overthinking this; I know I am, but I can't stop myself.)

Thanks for the inputs - Jo Ann

Comments (4)

macv
14 years ago
Their installation instructions say:

Alternative Corner Treatments
Â Sierra Premium Shake and Smooth boards may also be installed with mitered corners. For best results, use a compound miter saw to accurately cut the 45 degree miter cut and slope angle.
Â Sierra Premium Shake and Smooth boards may also be installed in a laced or staggered corner application.
Â Nichiha recommends installing a galvanized, coated aluminum, or vinyl PVC flashing over the building corner prior to beginning a mitered or laced corner application.
Â Use a polyurethane adhesive where mitered or laced boards join.

The only way to determine how to stain the cut edges is to get some shakes and experiment. Perhaps the manufacturer will send you some samples in the color you want or get an architect or builder to ask.
drjoann
Original Author
14 years ago
macv - thanks for the info. We have some samples so we can do what you suggest.

We have several corners which are not right angles and those will have to be mitered. Should we miter all of the corners or stay with the alternating butt joints where it can be done since I think that is more appropriate to the style?
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Hi kulagal, Joan is the real pioneer here. I discovered the Nichiha product on GW when I was looking for an alternative to cedar siding to minimize maintenance. At that time, she posted her gorgeous home and about a two years later, we used the same product, but with a slightly different finish color. We attempted to build our house with an arts and crafts feel, although now that it is nearly done, most of the neighbors refer to it as the Cape Cod house. Go figure. I definitely think that real cedar siding or the Nichiha Premium Sierra Siding (which is the overlapping siding you see above) would be appropriate on an arts and crafts inspired home. We have been extremely happy with the product. Good luck with your decisions and please ask any questions you may have. I love to give back to the forum which shaped and changed our home in so many ways. There are more pictures on our blog which you are more than welcome to peruse for ideas if you want. We are about 2 weeks out (fingers crossed) from completion.
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macv
14 years ago
I would think a mitered corner would leak since the polyurethane sealant is not likely to last very long in that kind of joint without a mechanical connection. I would protect the entire corner with metal or Vycor Plus flashing and install pieces of Tyvek or Vycor in shingle fashion behind each pair of corner shingles.
hollylhuff
5 years ago
Reviving this older thread because i'm wondering, Jo Ann, what you ended up doing for your corners. I'm looking to do Nichiha with either woven or mitered corners but want to know how they will perform over time. It looks like if you pursued this, your nichiha would be about 9 years old now-- how are the corners holding up? Would love to hear your learning/key take aways. Thanks so much, Holly

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