Understanding Smart Siding
Smart siding is a natural kind of siding that is manufactured by Louisiana Pacific Corporation. This is made from wood fibers or strands. The company that produces this product claims that it is stronger than all the other natural alternatives and is also environmentally friendly. It also says that the siding is an enhancement of nature. During the production stage, zinc borate is added to the wood fibers or strands as a means of preventing decay. Resins are also used so that the smart siding can be used for a long time as this it to resist elements for very many years.
There are very may constructors who prefer to use smart sidings over fiber cement and wood. The main reason for this is the fact that it does not require any special tools or expertise to handle. This means that installation can be done simply at home without any complications or spending money on a professional contractor. In addition to this, fiber cement is also associated with a number of health hazards because of the presence of airborne silica. The company that manufactures the siding also claims that it is better than using wood siding thanks to its resistance to termite corrosion, cupping, wood warping and fungi.
Production of smart siding also helps to take care of the environment as fewer trees are cut. This is because longer pieces of wood are used. The entire process also does not need scraps of wood with voids or knots as only wood strands and fibers are used. Additionally Louisiana only makes use of fast growing small trees for the production process. Zinc borate applied in the process also happens to be a natural occurring compound.
Despite the fact that it works like any other siding, smart sidings have a slightly different approach when it comes to painting. Follow the steps below to do this effectively;
Mask of any part of the sidings that don’t need to be painted or require a different color of paint. A tarp should be places over ay doors or windows so that it is secured in the right place.
Use paint thinner to thin the exterior parts. Fill up the paint reservoir and set it up onto the sprayer so that it is ready for use.
Allow an 8 inch distance from the siding to the sprayer preferably at a corner area. Point the sprayer directly to the smart sidings so as to avoid lap marks due to uneven edging. Mist from the sprayer should be directed to a single plank. You can use a ladder to reach high places.
When you are done spraying, it is time to use a paint roller. The roller should be used in the opposite direction of spray painting. This helps to smoothen it out and penetrate deeply into the sidings. Repeat this until the process is completed. Allow around 2 hours for the paint to dry.
Apply the second layer of paint on the entire surface. A light layer should be used to cover any areas that might have been left out during the first application.