Warped siding an issue
Q: The exterior siding on our home has become warped and wavy. When we bought the house, we thought the siding was made of wood, but a home inspector told us that it’s actually a wood byproduct like masonite or particle board. The building is only two years old, so we’re concerned that the warping will continue to worsen. Does this sound like a serious problem? — Jack
A: The siding you describe is composition hardboard. It is a compressed wood byproduct, as you learned from the home inspector. This material is no longer the siding of choice because fiber cement panels, such as Hardie Paneling, is a superior, longer-lasting product, not prone to warping. The builder of your home probably wanted to save money by using a less-costly product. Warped siding is now the result.
When composition hardboard siding warps, it is sometimes due to faulty manufacture, but more often because of improper installation. To prevent warping, it is essential that the material be installed in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
To determine the cause of the warping, contact the manufacturer of the material and request an evaluation by a company representative. If you do not know the name of the manufacturer, have one of the boards removed. The label is most likely printed on the reverse side of each board.
If the siding is found to be defective, warranty coverage may apply. If the material is not defective, but was installed incorrectly, you can file a warranty claim against the builder. If the builder is unresponsive to your claim, you may have to consult with a construction defect attorney, or you can file a complaint with the state agency that licenses contractors.
Q: Our home has a detached garage. We’re planning to add an extra bedroom, which will then connect the garage to the house. However, I was told that direct access from a garage to a bedroom is prohibited. Is there any way to work this out? What if we call the room something other than a bedroom when we apply for a building permit? — Carl
A: The building code prohibits direct access from a garage to a bedroom. The purpose of this restriction is to prevent exhaust fumes from a car or smoke from a garage fire from entering a room where someone might be sleeping. Circumventing this safety standard by providing false information on your permit application would not be a good idea.
Another downside to the doorway, aside from the safety aspect, is that the added room could not be counted as a legal bedroom when you eventually sell the home, and that would adversely affect the sales value of the property.
A simple solution would be to build a small closet-sized room between the added bedroom and the garage, with firerated, self-closing doors for firewall compliance. In this way, you could have your attached garage and your added bedroom, with no direct access between the two. Check with your local building department to see if they will accept this approach.