Malco FCG2 1-1/4 Inch Overlap 5/16-Inch Thickness Fiber Cement Siding Gauge, 2-Pack

• Malco FCMS 5-Inch to 8-Inch Exposure Facing Gauge and Overlap Gauge Set
• Hitachi 18008 HardiBlade 7-1/4-Inch 4-Tooth PCD Fiber Cement Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch and Diamond Knockout Arbor
• Hitachi 725397 4-Inch 6 TPI Jig Saw Blades For Fiber Cement Siding - 3 Pack
• Hitachi 18108 10-Inch 6 Tooth Fiber Cement Cutting Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor
• Hitachi 18109 12-Inch 8 Tooth FTG Diamond Hardi-Saw Blade with 1-Inch Arbor

I did a 30 x 30 home practically by myself. I hung the 8.25" boards and didn't have any trouble with sag. These hangers are the only way to go when working alone. Even when I had some help, we still used these gauges to ensure we stayed the course.

Another Cement Board note: If you're planning to install CB. I used the to complete a 1000 s/f ranch and found them absolutely necessary to hang cement board by yourself. They work exactly as stated. plan on using a nail gun as hand nailing is nearly impossible. A friend made a set of jigs for me to use on smaller pieces (ie: 3' between windows) as these don't work in tight spaces.

I have not yet tried the Malco gauges on a 12' piece of siding, but they appear to work well on the 4' lengths I have been installing. I am installing some 8 1/4" hardi-lap by myself and was looking for something that would hold the product in place while I secured it to the house. They appear as though they might bend if not handled in a fairly cautious manner. Only con I can see at this point is that caution should be exercised so you don't bend the tool. Read other reviews and thought it would be worth a shot for the price. If they work well on the 12' pieces I will be extremely happy. UPDATE.product works well on 12' lengths also. As others have said, only install enough fasteners to hold the product in place then remove the gauges prior to completely securing the siding.

These tools absolutely made my residing project go much better. After understanding how they work you will find they are a very clever design. After using them on a 335 plank (8 1/2" width) project I can't imagine how much more difficult it would have been using my homemade spacing gauge.If you are putting up siding, you need these.Read the instructions. Right out of the box they are not very intuitive.

There is a little weirdness though. When you press down to nail the board, the exposure seems to get the closest to 4". It seems to work best on 12 foot boards. For $20.00, it was definitely worth it. The exposure is not exactly 4". On shorter runs, I used only one gauge to hold up one end while I nailed the other end. It averages around 3 3/4" to 3 7/8".