The Labor Needed to Install a Fiber Cement Panel

Panel Siding

• The smallest cement panels are the siding strips that look exactly like vinyl siding. These are generally a few inches tall and come as long sections that are installed on top of each other, so that each upper piece overlaps the lower piece to shed water. These can be installed by a single individual or a pair, if you prefer having a helper -- although, with a single person, you will need a hook or hoop rig for the opposite end of the panel to hold it in place while you work from the other end and drive the nails in to mount it.

Large-Scale Panels

• Large-scale panels require a team of men working together. The panels can sometimes weigh hundreds of pounds, depending on the size, and while there are lifts and other machines you can use to help hoist the panels in place, the process still requires numerous pairs of hands to maneuver the pieces into place and hold them, while someone else mounts the pieces. While a good choice for homes that want a single-panel look and feel, they are very difficult to work with.

Carpentry Basics

• Regardless of the size of panels you are working with, there are some basic rules to installing siding. You have to have a basic working knowledge of carpentry tools, ranging from air compressors and nailers, to circular saws, metal shears, caulking guns and hammers. Physical strength is needed to hold the panels in place while they are cut, then once again to hold them in place while they are mounted on the wall.

Scaffolding

• While some projects can be completed with a ladder, the safest option is to use scaffolding. Not only do you have to have the working knowledge to put together scaffolding safely, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, but you also need the physical strength to lift the metal pieces of the scaffolding into place. This is a task best reserved for at least two people, to avoid pulling a muscle or otherwise injuring yourself.