Fiber cement siding

[tomplum]

I've done some searching on the web about differences in fiber cement siding. A couple lawsuits back 5 years or so back, but nothing came to really show a comparison. By me we have Hardie, Certainteed and Nichiha available. We had the last house done with Hardie, but now I see the different brands that come with different prices. Anyone have any PE to offer on this?

 

[747driver]

I sided my 12x20 storage shed with Hardie Plank siding. We live in a National Forest so I wanted something that would be somewhat fire resistance and rot free. Its a great product but you have to follow the manufactures installation instructions. It was already factory primed on the front. I always prime any edges after making cuts. Leave a small gap at butt joints. I used the special caulk thats for fiber siding. I only nailed along the top which then gets covered by the next piece. If you have to nail close to a seam then pre drill before nailing, prevents spitting. Yes, it makes dust, but a blade made for fiber siding somewhat reduces the dust. Always wear a respirator when sawing !

 

[Budweiser John]

I sided my entire house with Cerenteed Fiber Cement siding. Going on 11 years now and still looks great.
I did make one instillation error by installing the first course against a deck surface on one side of the house. Fiber cement does not like to be wet. I’ve since replaced that course with Azeck. And did so by resawing a Azeck 1X6 with a bandsaw to the same thickness as the cement board. There is a slight difference in surface texture but is neglable when painted. Azeck doesn’t care how wet the environment is.
B. John

 

[Stimw]

I sided my 2600 sq ft house with Hardie Plank a couple years ago BY MYSELF!!!
Some days 102*, I just turned 70.
My house has metal studs (what a joke!) so I had to install all planks with Hardie Backer Screws.
I used Solo Siders to install and they worked great. I checked EVERY course with a 4' level and they came out perfect.
I sealed every cut with latex paint and put 30 lb felt strips behind every joint.
I cut the whole job with a 4 1/2 grinder and cheap diamond wheel plus a diamond wheel on my old table saw when I needed to rip.
I bought a whole pallet of siding, put it on my trailer and moved it around house plus about 80 more planks.
I had very little waste.

 

[jfh28]

I sided my 2600 sq ft house with Hardie Plank a couple years ago BY MYSELF!!!

I'm curious....why the double narrow row above the windows?.........Jack

 

[CalG]

I'm helping a friend with the siding on his 12 year old house sided with Hardi Plank

The stuff just rotted off due to snow and splash. (Think deck)

I would never use the stuff in New England. I bet it is fine in the less humid areas.

 

[Stimw]

I'm curious....why the double narrow row above the windows?.........Jack

The stupid way that the house was built had T1-11 on the bottom and then T1-11 overlapped from the top.
I had to put a 1" X 4" strip across the top of the bottom panel and lap the next course over it.
I could probably paint that strip white to make it less strange looking. ???

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Hardi Plank has a bad reputation here in western WA due to moisture absorbtion

Ron

 

[Lelandwelds]

It is more fire resistant than the alternatives. Fire I worry about. Excessive rain has never been a problem.

 

[CalG]

It is more fire resistant than the alternatives. Fire I worry about. Excessive rain has never been a problem.

What is good in one region, fails in another.

Isn't it nice to have a choice! My own home has vertical board and batten siding. All native sawn.

I like it, and it has weathered to a "deep darkness" that overcomes any need to "repaint" ;-)

 

[tomplum]

Yeah, we're pretty wet here. The other house though held up well with the Hardie. I wouldn't have an issue here either I'd think. It's more of one brand verses another. Some have more to offer as far as styles too I'm sure.

 

[ch47dpilot]

I'm helping a friend with the siding on his 12 year old house sided with Hardi Plank

The stuff just rotted off due to snow and splash. (Think deck)

I would never use the stuff in New England. I bet it is fine in the less humid areas.

Live in SE Alabama, 100% humidity and quick rain showers most days in summer. Was thinking about using Hardi Plank on new house but now I have doubts by what people have said about not holding up to moister. Other than vinyl and real cedar what other options would someone suggest for siding. We want the ability to paint whatever we use.

 

[mapper]

We replaced failng LP sheet (T111 style) on the weather side of our house with Hardi plank lap siding about ten years ago. It has held up very well, with no moisture problems.
Several years ago we had the remainder of the house done as well. Our contractor used electric sheet metal shears to cut it, there was no dust at all using that technique. The do cut a little slower than a circular saw however.

 

[fried1765]

Live in SE Alabama, 100% humidity and quick rain showers most days in summer. Was thinking about using Hardi Plank on new house but now I have doubts by what people have said about not holding up to moister. Other than vinyl and real cedar what other options would someone suggest for siding. We want the ability to paint whatever we use.

One of my sons is a roofing/siding contractor in Eastern Massachusetts.
He installs lots of Hardi Plank, on all types of wood frame buildings.
There are a few simple things to do to avoid moisture absorption.
It is a great product,..... when properly installed!

 

[coralhead]

I used the certainteed product on my house about five years ago. I was fortunate enough to find a stained from the factory that my wife liked and just had to seal the ends after cutting. It took me several months on the project since I had to tear off the old board and batten that was there and get the house prepped. I used overlapping trim around the windows and corners. 30# felt at the butt joints and could not be happier with the final product. I also used "Gecko Clamps" to aid in installing since this was a one manned operation.

Southern Indiana area.

When installed correctly this product will do fine.

 

[newbury]

I'm near Washington DC. I replaced T-11 (paint every so often) with preprimed Hardi sheets about 10 or 12 years ago on a 12x16 shed. I had 1 layer of roofing felt already stapled over the shed frame. I predrilled all holes and screwed it down, I think with short deck screws. Cut with circular saw and PPE.

I left one scrap piece out on the ground, on purpose, and it took many years to deteriorate. Shed still looks fine.

 

[s219]

I would not worry about Hardie and moisture -- it takes paint very well and is extremely stable. Leagues better than wood in all regards. We have Hardie lap siding and vertical siding (with PVC for battens nailed over the top) all over our house and it's one of a handful of things about the house that I have total confidence in.

I used scraps to put under a fire pit on the ground and if it has moisture problems I sure haven't noticed it. I am thinking that if a material has been in ground contact and wet for several years and not shown problems, then it should last forever when nailed to a vertical wall and protected by paint.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm a big fan of Hardie lap siding and can't think of another product that comes close to what it does. As mentioned, if installed improperly, moisture can become an issue. It's pretty much bug and fire proof, it holds paint better then anything else out there, but if it's left in standing water for an extended period of time, that will break it down. Areas on the lower part of the wall that get a lot of splash from the rain will mold, and the most common mistake that I get hired to fix is when it's installed along the top of shingles. There needs to be a one inch gap between the bottom of the Hardie from touching anything. Quality paints also makes a difference. When something like Sherwin Williams or Valspar is used, you will never have any issues. I do not recommend any other brand of paint!!!!

 

[Jchonline]

Over the years we have had wood, vinyl, brick veneer and fiber cement. We had a fiber cement home in Houston for 14 years no issues with moisture. Hundreds if not thousands of homes in Houston have it. Maybe that was due to installation issues in the WA and Vermont area?

We have fiber cement on our house in Colorado, and it is going on our garage in the mountains. I would not use anything else. Just my opinion.

 

[ovrszd]

Live in SE Alabama, 100% humidity and quick rain showers most days in summer. Was thinking about using Hardi Plank on new house but now I have doubts by what people have said about not holding up to moister. Other than vinyl and real cedar what other options would someone suggest for siding. We want the ability to paint whatever we use.

We're starting a build. My carpenter used to recommend cement, doesn't now. Too much upkeep.

He's suggesting pre-finished "Smart Siding". Google it.

I struggle witha product that is vulnerable to moisture. Friend of mine is 2 years in his house sided with Smart Siding. He built a walk-in shower lined with the same product. It gets wet at least once a day. It was wet when I sw it. Time will tell.

My current house uses Vinyl siding. Best quality available 20 years ago. No fade. No warping. No mold/mildew. One small hole from lawn mower rock.

I'm leaning toward a top quality Polymer/Vinyl siding. Should outlast me with zero concern of moisture.