HardiPlank or Vinyl?

[widefat]

Cost aside, what would you choose for siding? HardiPlank or Vinyl?
I was leaning toward Hardie, but I have heard enough about it, even when installed correctly, to wonder if it is all it is purported to be.

 

[dmccarty]

I built a temporary shed 8-10 years ago. Used Hardi 4x8 panels for the siding and since it was "temporary" I did not paint the material like I was supposed too. Seems to be holding up just fine for a 8-10 year old "temporary" structure. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Carpenter bees are doing a job on the rafters though....

Cutting the stuff is a PITA. There are special blades or shears to cut the stuff which I would buy if I had a big project.

Later,
Dan

 

[flusher]

Cost aside, what would you choose for siding? HardiPlank or Vinyl?
I was leaning toward Hardie, but I have heard enough about it, even when installed correctly, to wonder if it is all it is purported to be.

Here's my house with Hardiplank (brick red) half way up the sides and Hardipanel (off white) the rest of the way. Photo was taken 10 years after the house was built. Only painting done was on the white trim at about 9 years.



No problems with that siding.

Good luck

 

[dadster4]

Hardi Plank is VERY durable and holds paint better than anything, if you even need to paint it. I worked on a major remodel where Hardi Plank was being installed...I asked the homeowner why he sided his garage first...he said he put the Hardi Plank on the garage 10 years ago and that's why he was putting it on the house after seeing how well it held up.
The only "fault" with Hardi is that it does not cast a shadow due to it's thickness compared to other siding that has more of a profile.

 

[TnAndy]

As a former vinyl siding installer, I can tell you vinyl is crap. My house is brick, but if it were siding, I'd go Hardie board. Your only downside is paint every 10-15 years or so.

 

[mapper]

Hardiplank is the only way to go. Use shears to cut it, sawing creates a lot of unhealthy and abrasive dust. Our house was originally sided with LP lap and sheet siding, it was supposed to be improved and better than the earlier versions. Despite meticulous maintenance and painting it started to fail within ten years or less. Hardi siding was not yet available when we built. We resided our house in a couple of stages, the single story end I did myself and I hired a contractor friend to do the two story end, my better half did not want me on that tall a ladder.
My sister in law had vinyl installed on her house, looked cruddy and cheap up close and rattled when it was windy.
Just make sure to install it correctly and caulk it as soon as it is installed, I would paint it as soon as the weather permits cause I think the primer paint is not very attractive.
Shears are the best way to cut it, I have used both shears and circular saw, shears are much cleaner and easier!
Just remember the first rule of projects - For every diy project you deserve a new tool(s), it is part of the overall cost.

 

[Msamt]

I went the vinyl route laste year. Big cape with dormers and a metal roof. Chose it based zero maintenance or paint requirement ( the only house I ever owned that I DIDN'T ever have to paint). Only been a year, but for me, its a slick way to go.

 

[/pine]

trick question..?
vinyl is the pits...IMO...

 

[CalG]

trick question..?
vinyl is the pits...IMO...

The cement board (Hardi Plank) falls apart in wet situations. Such as shady inside corners, decks and splash off dormer valleys etc.

If you can keep it dry, it looks good. Here in VT, it's 10 years at BEST even with frequent touch up painting. (South walls do great!)

 

[s219]

To me, if cost is not a factor then Hardi is far superior. I had vinyl on my last house, and while it held up perfectly well and was low maintenance (other than power washing) it looked cheap. It was also noisy whenever there was wind (vinyl must be installed loose enough to expand with temperature changes). We have Hardi on our new house -- combination of lap siding and vertical board/batten -- and it looks outstanding and gives the home a totally different "solid" feel.

Cal, are you sure that is Hardi? Because I have left some unpainted Hardi scraps stacked outside for about 12 years now and they haven't changed a bit, much to my surprise. I figured without paint it would eventually deteriorate somehow.

 

[Egon]

Hardy plank.

Vinyl burns.

 

[HillStreet]

I am building a house now, I absolutely, positively will NOT use vinyl siding. I plan to use cedar clapboard siding. Worth the price I think. I figure that you will pay $xx for vinyl, so just add the difference to get a better product. Paint with the right paint, and it is a long time between paint jobs.

 

[MossRoad]

Cost aside, what would you choose for siding? HardiPlank or Vinyl?
I was leaning toward Hardie, but I have heard enough about it, even when installed correctly, to wonder if it is all it is purported to be.

Here's an interesting article comparing the two. Vinyl won for several reasons. NOTE: the article was sponsored by the Vinyl industry, but the opinions were Bob Villa's, who probably gets paid by the Vinyl industry :laughing: Anyhow, some points to ponder.

Vinyl Siding vs. Fiber Cement - Bob Vila

 

[/pine]

I am building a house now, I absolutely, positively will NOT use vinyl siding. I plan to use cedar clapboard siding. Worth the price I think. I figure that you will pay $xx for vinyl, so just add the difference to get a better product. Paint with the right paint, and it is a long time between paint jobs.

If you're springing for quality wood siding...be sure not to skimp on the nails (fasteners)...personally if I was paying for cedar I would use stainless or bronze ring shanks...JMO...

 

[RKJeepXJ]

Brick! I was going to use fiber cement board on my new house. My contractor said he could brick it for the same money. It's 90% brick now.

 

[HillStreet]

No doubt, ss ring shank nails.

 

[AchingBack]

Here is a great alternative. I used it on my house five years ago and it was very easy to work with compared to vinyl or cement board. I highly recommend it. Roseburg Duratemp Siding

Roseburg DuraTemp® siding has a natural textured appearance. Its surface is 100% clear and free of patches and repairs. It’s easy to paint, and can withstand exposure to the elements. Duratemp® is manufactured with a strong plywood veneer inner core that is made of western softwood veneer and a fully water resistant (NAUF) phenolic resin. The surface is a tough hardboard face that won’t split, crack or check — even with rough treatment. The plywood core is easy to handle and install yet stronger than most other siding products. Unlike vinyl and cement siding, DuraTemp ® Siding is made from real wood, an environmentally friendly renewable resource.

See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2KVAYTWPIg

 

[Rustyiron]

Cement is WAY over rated, and seems to do very poorly with water. Just read the installation info. I know "siding guy's" that do hundreds of (new) houses a year, and tell me that they'r warranty is full of "out's", down to how the material is handled before installation. I would expect to see some type of class action lawsuit in the furture, similar to the old "masonite" situation. We just completed a 60+ sq. project and from what I've seen, I agree.
Maybe out west, in a dryer climate it would be fine.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I used osb on my shed 18 yrs ago. Needs replaced, thought about hardi panels, but not sure it's worth the price.

 

[EddieWalker]

In my part of the country, Hardie has the same value for an appraisal as brick does. Vinyl is considered a lower end siding and lower the value of the home. I've never seen vinyl siding on a new home. It is fairly common on older, wood sided homes. The most common reason to install vinyl is to hide all the wood rot on the house. Same thing with aluminum and other metal types of siding. Buyer beware when you buy a house with vinyl siding.

My house is all Hardie and when I built my parents house, it's all Hardie lap siding except for the two gable ends that are rock from ground to peak. It's a fantastic product.