Replies

1. 
   Rob_Fredsall | Feb 03, 1999 07:36am | #7

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   We installed Hardi last summer on an addition as well as on the main house where the pine claps had been stripped. It was prepainted and needed a topcoat to even the color. Touch-up only for joints and face nails stood out like a sore thumb. We cut with circular saws using a negative hook remodeling blade. We used one a day and they resharpened nicely. Dustmasks were a must even outside. The siding laid flat on the addition with ply sheathing, but we had some "clapping" when we applied it over the t+g sheathing which forced us to face nail quite a bit. As for trim, we used 5/4 cedar for lack of a better solution. We considered Trex decking but all the edges are rounded so it would have to be ripped square. I think 5/4 Hardi- Plank for corners and trim would be well received by builders.

2. 
   Guest_ | Feb 03, 1999 04:11pm | #8

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   Can Hardi-Plank be installed over old wood siding or do you need to rip this out and put it on the sheathing.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 04, 1999 07:07am | #9

   *WWW.JAMESHARDIE.COMI understand they will have corner pieces this spring. I think it is already in some of the country.

3. 
   Eric_Knowlton | Feb 13, 1999 07:03pm | #10

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   Bill- Gotta watch L.P. My brother just sold his house with L.P. siding (5 years old) (L.P. OSB siding) and he was made aware at the appraisal that there was an ongoing lawsuit against L.P. for defects in manufacturing. It cost him extra in the appraisal as well as de-valued his home in the market place. I would want some sort of quality assurance that they've solved their manufacturing problems.

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   Guest_ | Feb 14, 1999 09:10pm | #11

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   Just got done going over the vinyl siding comments, i have been thinking of going to a alternate both on my house and in my business.
   Have heard rumblings of this Hardi -Plank thru the grapevine.
   Who makes it and do they have a Web page?

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 06:12am | #1

   *It's made by James Hardie Building Products. I don't know if they have a www. It's not on the adds I've seen. I just finished another job with it last week. It goes on great, looks great, paints well and paint holds up great if you use a quality acrylic latex paint. No call backs. It has a thin veneer of cement on the face side with a core made of silica, fibers and maybe some other goodies. It comes with a 50 yr limited warranty and a company that's been around for about a 100 yrs.I tried the nibblers for cutting the stuff, but returned them and bought a couple more carbides for my old scm saw. and skill saw along with some good dust masks. Be sure to prime the cuts, use the preprimed siding and get a coat of finish paint on before it goes up if you can. It's a great alternative to the vinyl look, cheaper and better than cedar, and beats all the other composition sidings hands down.

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   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 06:34am | #2

   *Yes, they have a fine web site - not equisitely clear but the tech data is all there and some OK photos. Check the FHB page for the directory - its there.Last I checked - there were three mfg of fibre cement siding - one ceased manufacturing I read in JLC, but someone else (Louisiana Pacific?) announced they were going into it.I'd like to hear how people do inside and outside corners - can't stand those Tamlyn plastic pieces.

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   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 08:43am | #3

   *Bill, I don't have a solution for those inside and outside corners, but have been wondering if some form of synthetic decking material might be adapted. The corners would be flashed just as we do with wood.Steve

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   Harry_Vermehren | Feb 02, 1999 10:40am | #4

   *Bill, we've been using Hardie for over two years now. We use 2x2 whitewood or cedar for inside corners and a combination of 5/4x3 & 5/4x4 for the outside corners. We butt our siding into the corners but I've seen lots of builders put them over the siding. I call that a "cobweb" corner. Our first house was sided with the smooth finish colonial beaded style, and it was a real mess getting the rolled bead to line up consistently due to the variatins in the height of the pieces. It's a great product for our area, Seattle, and has been very well recieved by our clients.

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   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 05:11pm | #5

   *Interesting. The article in JLC said Hardie was working on a fibre cement "board" product that could be used for fascia and corner boards but nothing about it at their web site.Am I correct in think that mildew problems are less with the fibre cement than say wood? Does experience confirm this?

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 02, 1999 10:57pm | #6

   *As owner/builder/DIY'er I replaced cedar plank siding last summer with hardiplank. Cedar was a mess from woodpecker damage. This winter there have been no incidents involving woody or other feathered friends. Two benefits I have never seen Hardie advertise are the heating efficiency improvement and the quiet.Although I cannot quantify heating efficiency, I have noticed that during those cold windy days here in the southern tier of NYS I use far less firewood and Oil burner runs less frequently. Granted, the old cedar had penetrations through to the tar paper that are now covered by a second layer, but I believe the tightness of the hardiplank is a major benefit.Also, the house is significantly more quiet. The howling winds are almost unnoticable. I have to listen carefully for sound of snow, ice, and passing traffic now that were clearly notiable before. I suspect the density of the siding helps that condition.I would highly recommend it!

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   Guest_ | Feb 14, 1999 09:10pm | #12

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   Louisiana Pacific makes lots of different kinds of siding. So far, it seems that neither hardboard nor osb (engineered woods?) siding is a good choice. But if LP starts making fibre-cement siding - I don't think I would automatically rule it out because of their problems with other materilas.