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We are installing thousands of square feet of Hardiplank in the Northwest. I’m happy with the product, but have to admit I wonder if we’ll discover an achilles heel with it at some point.
I’m curious why so many of you are enthusiastic about the product, especially given that it really doesn’t have a long track record of use. Is it that “50 year” warranty they hang out in front of us?
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Replies
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it does have a long track record... in Australia...
also... around here... the siding salesmen came thru in the 30's and 40's and installed a lot of cement siding (with asbestos in it)..
.it was thinner than the new fibercement.. and a well thrown rock or baseball could break it.. but ..
it likes paint... and it still looks like the day they installed it 70 years ago...
the modern plank is a better looking, more aesthetically pleasing product... so ....
*What Mike said, Ithink it will make the grade . James Hardie just opened a new plant about 35 miles from me ,They must have some faith in the product.
*FWIW...the wife and I hung ours and for grins we decided to throw a couple of scraps in our burn-barrel...it was the only thing left that wasn't ashes.
*What are you using for corner boards and trim?
*If you have aluminum clad windows I'd stay away from hardiplank trim. It causes oxidation on the cladding. The houses I've done have been trimmed out in 2X or 5/4" cedar.
*Hey guys, don't know if any of you are aware of this but Cemplank has a -1. *LIFETIME WARRANTY*2. Is *LESS EXPENSIVE*3. In my opinion, for what its worth, has a *BETTER GRAIN TEXTURE* than J.H. Products. This is what sold me on switching. Check it out!
*Mike, you are correct. The product does have a long history. Over 20 years in the U.S.. The company was founded in Australia around 1905. After extensive market analysis, James Hardie Building Products established a U. S. division. We now have 6 plants and over a billion square feet of production. We also have the most extensive product line within the industry. If you or anyone else on this site has any further questions regarding the company, the product or its performance please feel free to contact us directly at http://www.jameshardie.com or toll free at 1-800-942-7343.
*James Hardie has a complete line of accessories including trim, soffit, and fascia. These products are available throughout the country; thereby, allowing you to have and enjoy a "Hardie Home". Your home can be wrapped in James Hardie Fiber Cement exterior products, providing you with the look, feel, and warmth of wood along with the durability of fiber cement.
*As to evaluations on textures, they are very subjective so I cant insist that Hardie's texture is far surperior to Cemplank's. But did you know that Cemplank repeats its texture every 6 1/2 square ft to Hardie repeating their texture every 36 sguare ft. This is a significant design advantage for Hardie over Cemplank.As to Cemplank's "lifetime warranty", did you know that once the house is sold the warranty reverts back to a 50 yr. warranty. And did you know Cemplank only warrants against "manufacturing defects" whereas Hardie warrants specefically against cracking, rotting and delaminating. As a caution, read carefully the fine print not only for siding but for any warranty especially those that market the so called lifetime feature.
*I am not aware of problems with Hardiplank and aluminum clad windows. Their is a natural reaction between cement and "raw" aluminum; however, if you were to use a treated, painted or galvanized aluminum there should not be an issue. Galvanized aluminum flashing and aluminum windows are used every day across the country with our products.
*Galvanized aluminum ??Terry
*Jonathan- Easy big shooter. Don't want to sound like a prick but it's my soap box I'm standing on:1. You should do some more research!2. "...6-1/2sq.ft.' " on 7-1/2" X 12' boards wouldn't the pattern be partially repeated??(Yes,depending on manufacturing technique)3. "...only warrants against 'manufacturing defects'." Quote from Cemplank warranty-'...Cemplank/Cempanel will be free from defects in materials and workmanship AND SHALL RETAIN ITS STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES...' - I could crap in a box, stick a warranty on it and all you'll have is a warranted box of crap!4. How many F'n raw aluminum windows have you ever seen?????5. "It's guys like you that make the bus run late" ......to the tavern I go!.....
*Can't speak for the long run, but I put Hardieplank on my own house, after a year no checks, splits or errors. And it lowered my home insurance too.
*Jonathan- I don't work for Cemplank, never will and, never hope to. I was just posting a bit of info W.T.
*I think they are both good products, and why not trust them? It's cement, and a 50 year warranty!I'm going to find a pattern that resembles the ABTCO garbage on my house, rotting right off the walls, been there a whole 15 years. Cut and paste...Fireproof too.
*The stuff has been used here for years, it doesnt rot,warp etc so in that respect is a good product, but aesthetically is damn awful. the current favourite here is houses clad in polystyrene sheet and cement plastered.......YUK!
*Galvalume?http://www.goldinindustries.com/
*My "suspicions" of fiber-cement siding (Hardiplank, Cemplank, etc...) stem from the lack of a track record. Yes, I know it's been around for many decades in Australia, but is the US product the same as the Aussie product? As I understand it there is a particular wood fiber that has been used (radiate pine) but is now becoming scarce and other wood is being used or at least investigated for use in fiber-cement products. My confidence in fiber-cement stems primarily from my willingness to "believe" the company lines about how this product is superior to other wood-based products because in fact the percentage of wood fiber is so low (something like 6%)... all that cement and you'd think the stuff won't rot. I'm not kidding myself though. I don't "know" for certain this stuff is going to perform. Regarding the corner board/trim question, we have been sticking with cedar, 5/4 typically. Prefer to go with clear cedar if the budget allows but will use the knotty stuff if dollars are tight. Many here in the NW are using SPF trim(spruce/pine/fir or "whitewood" as it is called by some) and we used this on a few projects also. We have had no problems but have heard of paint problems (due to dimensional stability) on buildings in service for several years. So we've switched back to the tried and true product. Sure would like to find an alternative to cedar though. The price keeps climbing and the quality keeps falling. I understand Hardier now makes a 4/4/ or 5/4 trim product but they are not distributing it in the NW.Anyone having long-term success with SPF or other trim besides cedar?
*mike.....try the search functions....hmmmmm..lessee... ypu.. here's one HomeBldr "Another hardieplank question..." 2/2/01 4:40pm
*Mike S. (and others!), Are there real specifics to your trust in fiber-cement or is it just a "belief" you have in the material? Thanks for the link BTW. I haven't seen too many comments on BT regarding SPF. Seems the prevailing trust is in cedar, with a few votes for PrimeTrim here and there...
*How about the Certainteed version? Salesman said it's got a "much more varied grain pattern" and is "pressed", so looks more real. Anybody know? and how much cheaper IS Cemplank than Hardie?thanks
*the Certainteed is the""Durapress""Certainteed followed their old strategy.. buy a comapnay with a proven product andchange the label to Certainteed...The Certainteed Wolverine fibercement is the old Ashland -Davis Durapress..which was Abtco..they all come out of the same plant.. off the same molds.. with the same recipe..we've used it under all three names...for the 6.5 inch i've paid .34 /lf..just quoted the same again....
*what kind of specifics?? You've been told we've been using it down under for yonks.....I use it ( am doing one at the moment see Works in Progress ) and I have to warrant my work for 6 years. Jonathon...when are you going to start supplying these jokers with Villaboard Versilux etc..... come on!!! Get with it!!
*AP- Depending where purchased of course and looking at comparible products: 7-1/2"X12' lap products @ 20 cents a piece; 8-1/4"X12' lap products @ 60 cents a piece; 7/16"X11-1/2"X12' trim @ 93 cents a piece; 7/16"X7-1/2"X12' trim @ 60 cents a piece. Hardie soffit runs 1/4" thick, Cemplanks at 5/16" and @ 4 dollars less (4'X8'). Take a look at the products and compare them yourself.
*woodtick.. i don't understand those numbers..((7/16"X7-1/2"X12' trim @ 60 cents a piece)).. that is $.05 / LFis that right ?i've paid as low as $0.31 / LF for 6.5 " x 12'..are your numbers correct ?
*yes, I'd like to know too.Where and who is selling at 20 cents a piece?Got my trailor hooked up and ready to go.
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We are installing thousands of square feet of Hardiplank in the Northwest. I'm happy with the product, but have to admit I wonder if we'll discover an achilles heel with it at some point.
I'm curious why so many of you are enthusiastic about the product, especially given that it really doesn't have a long track record of use. Is it that "50 year" warranty they hang out in front of us?