Use and Care Manual

INSTRUCTIONS AND SIDING WARRANTY
na.arauco.com
renewables for a better life
Premium and Primed
SIDING PRODUCTS
Storage and
Installation Instructions
Storage
ARAUCOPLY Siding product should be
stored until used under a roof, in a dry area
protected from the sun, rain, wind or snow.
The product should not be placed directly
on the ground unless inside and should be
supported with at least 3 supports.
Stud Spacing & Fasteners
The recommended span rating for direct
application to studs or over non structural
sheathing is contained in the grade stamp
on the back of the panel.
Plywood siding panels with a 16”OC
or 24”OC span rating can be installed
over studs spaced 24”OC when applied
over nailable sheathing as defined in the
nationally approved National Evaluation
Report NER-133. Fasteners for attaching
siding should be nonstaining box, siding or
casing nails. For panels 1⁄2” thick or less,
use 6D nails and 8D for thicker panels.
Nail siding 6”OC along all edges (including
in and outside lapped edges) and 12”OC
at intermediate supports (in the field) and
along panel tops and bottoms.
Weather Resistant Barriers
Panel siding is designed to be installed
without the use of weather resistant
barriers like building paper, either direct
to framing or over approved sheathing
provided that all joints occur over framing
and are protected with a continuous batten,
approved caulking, flashing, vertical or
horizontal shiplaps or otherwise made
waterproof. A weather resistant barrier
like building paper, should be applied when
mandated by applicable model building
codes. Also, horizontally installed grooved
siding must have all vertical butt joints
backed with weather resistant building
paper. Siding installed over foam sheathing
including minimum fastening
requirements must be in accordance with
the relevant provisions of the applicable
model building code.
Panel Joints
All panel edges must be backed with
reinforcing solid lumber framing or
blocking. Panel edges should be spaced
1/8” to allow for expansion and contraction
due to climatic changes. Vertical panel
joints require no caulking if they are
ship lapped, backed by building paper
or covered by battens. Horizontal panel
joints should be ship lapped, overlapped
or flashed. Butt joints should be caulked
at intersections with inside and outside
corner trim, window and door trim and
vertical butt joints when installed without
building paper.
Siding Finishing
Recommendations
Edge Sealing
All plywood panels experience faster
moisture penetration through panel ends
and edges. As a result, edges and ends
should be sealed. Edge sealers help
to minimize sudden changes in panel
moisture content due to normal climatic
changes after installation.
Surface Preparation
Panel surfaces should be free from dirt
and loose wood fibers. All finishes should
be applied as soon as possible after panel
installation. Apply finishes during favorable
weather conditions and always follow the
finish manufacturer’s specific application
recommendations for plywood products.
Use only first quality finishes and
apply according to the application rates
recommended by the finish manufacturer.
Rough sawn surfaces may require up to
twice as much finish as smooth or scratch
sawn surfaces. The initial coat should
be applied by brush. Sprayed on finishes
should be either back brushed or back
rolled while wet. Additional coats may be
applied conventionally.
Recommended Finishes
for Premium Siding
Solid Color Stains
Two coats of a high quality oil base or latex
opaque stain help mask color variations
between wood repairs and the surrounding
wood. Face grain is also masked with
opaque stains but allows rough sawn
textures to remain visible. It is also
recommended that the desired finish be
applied to a representative panel sample
which contains typical color variations and
repairs to ensure that the panel’s finished
appearance is acceptable.
Acrylic Latex Paint
If a painted finish is desired, an acrylic
latex paint system composed of at least
one stain resistant primer coat and two
topcoats are recommended for textured
siding. Acrylic latex produces a durable
finish that masks textured surfaces more
than an opaque stain and can obscure grain
and color differences. Again it is imperative
to follow the paint manufacturer’s
recommendations for plywood siding
application.
Recommended Finishes
for Primed Siding
Acrylic Latex Paint
Two topcoats of a high quality exterior
latex paint are recommended to be applied
before 30 days after panel installation. It is
advisable to test the coating compatibility
before the application.