Installation Guide

Weatherproofing

Appropriate design details such as overhangs, eaves and flashings are essential to weatherproofing your home.

Construction detailing maximizes the performance of exterior cladding products: detailing roof overhangs; flashing at roof edges; head sill and jamb flashings around doors, windows and openings; weatherproofing external and internal cladding corners and butt joints; all these improve the performance of the product.

It’s also important to include effective vapor barriers, drainage cavities, adequate eave troughs and downspouts. Insulation and ventilation throughout the building are important elements in achieving the designed performance of exterior products.

There is variability in building design and weatherproof detailing, so it is the responsibility of the designer or builder to ensure that Bodyguard products are installed with appropriate water management flashings and systems.

It is vital to eliminate any areas of the exterior cladding or trim that have the potential for water or moisture entrapment; continual water or moisture entrapment will eventually cause the product to rot or fail.

Weatherproofing joints and corners

For best results we recommend the use of miter/scarf joints. However standard butt joints can be used without an expansion gap. We recommend that butt joints be covered with a flashing. Joints should be staggered up the wall (not lined up vertically). Miter joints should face away from the prevailing wind. All mitered corners should have concealed secondary flashings and a face flashing is recommended at all flat vertical joints, mitered or butt.

Do not install directly on top of foam sheathing. In warm humid climates this has been shown to retain moisture between the sheathing and siding.

All nailing should be over studs and total effective penetration into a solid wood base should be at least 1 1/2”. Nailing patterns should comply with best industry practices.

Do not install Bodyguard sidings, trimboards or moldings that have a moisture content of over 15%.

The Warranty will not apply to any product which has not been kept dry or which has not been painted in accordance with the specifications set out in the Technical Manual.