Hardie® Trim Batten Boards

Critical Installation Rules

1. 1

   Lay out and mark every batten position, and keep battens plumb and parallel with snapped chalk lines or a level

2. 2

   Fasten into wood or steel backing, at least 19 mm (3/4 in.) from edges, 25 mm (1 in.) from ends and a maximum 406 mm (16 in.) apart

3. 3

   Use finish nails on ColorPlus® battens. Stainless steel finish nails are recommended. Do not staple

4. 4

   Batten joints must fall at the horizontal joints in the Hardie® Panel

5. 5

   Option 1: a weather cut of at least 22.5° on the lower batten just above the 6 mm (1/4 in.) gap over the Z-flashing, with a matching cut on the upper batten. Never caulk the gap

6. 6

   Option 2: a horizontal band board with Z-flashing over it. The lower batten butts to the band board and the upper batten starts at least 6 mm (1/4 in.) above the flashing. Horizontal battens must use this option

7. 7

   Do not bridge floors with battens or panel. Always create a horizontal joint between floors

8. 8

   Clearances as for Hardie® Trim: 203 mm (8 in.) to grade, 50 mm (2 in.) to decks, paths and roofing

9. 9

   Fasteners must be corrosion resistant. Hot-dipped galvanized is recommended, and stainless steel near the ocean, large bodies of water or in very humid conditions

10. 10

    Drive fasteners perpendicular and snug. Do not over drive, under drive or angle them, and do not use aluminum fasteners, staples to the wall, or clipped head nails

11. 11

    James Hardie's installation videos are filmed for the United States. Where a video and the Canadian HZ5® instructions differ, the Canadian instructions govern

Storage & Handling

• Store flat, dry and covered, in the original packaging on a pallet off the ground. Add a waterproof cover outdoors
• Carry pieces on edge and protect the edges and corners. Do not roll or dump the load off the truck
• Installing product that is wet or saturated can cause shrinkage at the joints. If it gets soaked, lay it flat and let it dry completely first
• Wipe construction dust off ColorPlus® product with a wet soft cloth or soft brush, then rinse with a garden hose
• Touch up nicks, scrapes and nail heads sparingly with the ColorPlus® touch-up applicator. Anything larger than a dime means replacing the piece
• Do not let ColorPlus® touch-up freeze, and apply it only when the air and the product are above 4°C (40°F)
• Problems caused by third-party touch-up paint are not covered by the ColorPlus® finish warranty, and James Hardie does not approve caulk or patching compound for touching up ColorPlus®
• Do not caulk nail heads on ColorPlus® product
• Terminate field cut edges into trim and caulk where possible. Seal every other cut edge with the ColorPlus® edge coater
• Remove the protective laminate sheet as soon as the piece is installed
• ColorPlus® battens ship with a laminate slip sheet. Keep it on while cutting and fastening, fill the nail holes with a touch-up pen, then remove it
• Caulk, paint or prime every field cut edge
• Paint primed product within 180 days of installation. A 100% acrylic topcoat is recommended; back-roll if it is sprayed
• Do not use stain, oil or alkyd based paint, or powder coating. Do not paint product that is wet
• Sealant: elastomeric to ASTM C920 Grade NS Class 25 or higher, or latex to ASTM C834, per NBC 9.27.4
• Cut outdoors. The best method is a circular saw with a HardieBlade® and vacuum dust collection. Never power cut indoors, and never dry sweep the dust
• Fibre cement dust contains respirable crystalline silica. Use dust control and follow your provincial occupational health and safety rules