Installation Guide

17 | Diamond Kote Building Products Application Guide 6.18
RIGIDSHAKE™ | STRAIGHT EDGE
APPLICATION 7", 9" & 12"
• Apply the siding over properly prepared
walls. (see general guidelines pg. 2)
• It is REQUIRED to use nailable structural
sheathing.
• Diamond Kote
®
RigidShake™ products
can be installed blind fastened.
• Start installation with a RigidStack™
Metal Starter Strip or by overlapping a
previous course of lap siding (2-1/16"
minimum) or by over lapping the top of
Starter Board.
(Figure 3)
• It is recommended to use the Metal
Starter Strip when starting with the
Straight Edge RigidShake.
(see Figure 3a)
• WORK installations LEFT TO RIGHT.
• Trim left edge so the that siding section
ts against corner board, with a 3/16"
gap
(see Figure 3b)
• Butt joint seams are not required to land
on studs.
• Starting from left, level and install the
rst course of shakes so that the plastic
spline, fastened into the back of the
siding, ts over the beveled edge of the
siding, or into the metal starter strip.
• Do NOT place fasteners into bottoms of
grooves or shiplaps.
• Fasten the siding by nailing through
the nailing line 3/4" down from the
top of panel, into the sheathing and/or
framing with one of the below options.
• For screws, fasten 12" o.c. use a
minimum #8 corrosion resistant tapered
head wood screw.
(see Figure 3c)
• For nails, fasten 8" o.c. use a minimum
6d (0.09" shank diameter) corrosion
resistant ring shank nail.
(see Figure 3d)
• Continue row, working left to right.
Overlap shiplap butt ends without any
gap.
(see Figure 3e)
• Start subsequent courses in same
manner, but trim each course to create
the eect of staggered joints.
• Best appearance is obtained by trimming
the second course starter piece 16"
shorter than the rst course, and
trimming the third course starter piece
32" shorter than the rst.
• Repeat this same sequence every 3
courses.
• Shim siding at studs, as needed, to avoid
drawing siding against uneven walls.
(see
Figure 3)
• Then, install subsequent courses of
siding so that the plastic spline ts over
the top edge of the previously installed
piece of siding.
(see Figure 3f)
Outside Corner
Figure 3b
GAP 3/16"
AND SEAL
 The bottom edge of RigidStack metal starter
strip should be installed at the foundation along
the sill plate or up to1-1/8” below this to
properly hold the bottom of RigidStack in place.
Placement may vary as required by course lay-
out. (see figure 11B)
Snap a level chalk line 3-3/8” above the bottom of
where the first course of siding will start. Align the
TOP of the metal starter strip on the chalk line.
RigidStack metal starter strip will set the exact
placement for the 1st course of RigidStack.
Fasten the RigidStack metal starter strip every 12-
16” o.c.
For metal starter strip install begin here:
Figure 11B
Install StarterBoard using the recommended Cortex
Concealed Fastening System in the following manner:
Using the Cortex setting tool, set the Cortex fasten-
ers perpendicular to the trim board, spaced a maxi-
mum of 16" o.c. Using a standard 18V cordless im-
pact drill, drive the fastener to the pre-set level be-
low the trim surface. Place the PVC trim plug into the
hole with the trim-surface-side up, and gently tap
until it is flush with the trim board. Finish by painting
the plugs with Diamond Kote touch up paint and a
cotton swab.
5. Fasten the siding by nailing through the nailing
line (about 3/4” from top edge of siding) at
EACH STUD LEAVING NO MORE THAN 16 in. BE-
TWEEN NAILS. Begin nailing at one end of the
siding and work toward the other end to prevent
rippling of the siding. Do not countersink nail
heads.
6. Then install subsequent courses of siding so that
the plastic spline fits over the top edge of the
previously installed piece of siding.
7. The butt joints between adjacent siding pieces
must be located over the middle of a stud.
 Make sure that the spline is firmly seated to the
top of the previous course BEFORE and DURING
nailing to ensure the material lines up at the butt
joints and at course lines at the corners.
3. Now install the first course of siding so that the
plastic spline fastened into the back of the sid-
ing fits over the beveled edge of the starter
board (Figure 11A) or into the metal starter strip
as shown in (Figure 11B).
4. LEAVE A 3/16” GAP WHERE SIDING BUTTS
AGAINST TRIM TO ALLOW FOR EXPANSION. See
Figure 11C.
Figure 11C

Bottom Course Detail
Figure 3a
Shiplap Butt Ends
Figure 3e
1"
Minimum
Overlap
Figure 3f
2-1/8"
Screw Placement 12" o.c. Detail
Figure 3c
3/4"
1-1/4"
1-1/4"
Straight Edge Application
Figure 3
Mark Stud Locations
16" or 24" o.c. Framing
Nailable
Structural
Sheathing
HOUSE WRAP
2 1/16" lap siding
starter or lap siding
16"
Oset
16"
Oset
Trim Board
16"
Oset
Nail Placement 8" o.c. Detail
Figure 3d
3/4"
1-1/4"
1-1/4"
2-1/8”Siding
-or-
MetalStarterStrip
NailableStructural
Sheathing
markstudlocations
9-5/8”exposure
16”offset
16”offset
16”offset
Trimboard
16” or 24” o.c. framing
¾”
1-¼”
1”
¾”
1”
1-¼”
2-1/8”