This chimney siding was going bad and rotted in some ares including the trim boards. So we removed the siding. A water barrier had never been installed behind the siding. We installed a heavy barrier and put on new Hardiplank siding. We then sealed all the joints with a high grade caulking sealant. It was ready for the painter to paint when we left it. Homeowner and neighbor commented on how nice it looked now even before the painting.