Hardie Board Siding?

[ponytug]

Lots of SF buildings still have the old cement asbestos siding which is all but indestructible barring impact.

I assumed the asbestos free product would be similar?

25 years ago a local new home subdivision filed a class action suit cement fiber roof tiles turned to mush…

The asbestos sheathing was and is very tough, but now an insurance issue for many homeowners.

Hardie board uses cellulose fibers. I believe some of the competing products in Europe use glass fibers, but as I understand it, the dust from cutting the glass fiber version is very nearly as hazardous as the asbestos sheets. It is the short asbestos fibers, especially brown asbestos (amosite), but also cut fibers of the desirable form, chyrostile, that cause the most lung damage as they can get further into the lungs. Glass fibers are comparatively coarser, easier to filter out, and less prone to getting deep into the lungs, but professionals are far more aware of the dangers of silicosis than they used to be.

In fairness to fiber cement sheathing, even metal cladding doesn't do well with water continuously standing against it. Masonary wicks it in. There are folks who know how to do highly water resistant stucco coatings, but I don't know how many are in the Tahoe area. It isn't a simple, one and done.

All the best,

Peter

 

[2manyrocks]

Hardie's website has a video demonstration that their plank doesn't swell or split like wood after being submersed in water for 7 days.

Also note that their installation instructions are pretty detailed about recommended membrane and flashing underneath the siding. Just because the Hardi plank itself is durable doesn't mean the wall underneath it can withstand long term moisture penetration.

In some instances, an air gap also looks to be recommended, but I didn't get that far into the directions.

 

[EddieWalker]

7 days isn't the same as seven years. I don't know how long it takes for Hardie to fail from moisture. I just know it happens when installed too close to roof shingles. Add some leaves to the mix and wait a few years, and when you clean off the leaves, some of the dissolved Hardie siding will be gone too.

If you install it so it's not touching the shingles, or sitting in dirt at the foundation, it will outlive all of us.

 

[ultrarunner]

The asbestos sheathing was and is very tough, but now an insurance issue for many homeowners.

Hardie board uses cellulose fibers. I believe some of the competing products in Europe use glass fibers, but as I understand it, the dust from cutting the glass fiber version is very nearly as hazardous as the asbestos sheets. It is the short asbestos fibers, especially brown asbestos (amosite), but also cut fibers of the desirable form, chyrostile, that cause the most lung damage as they can get further into the lungs. Glass fibers are comparatively coarser, easier to filter out, and less prone to getting deep into the lungs, but professionals are far more aware of the dangers of silicosis than they used to be.

In fairness to fiber cement sheathing, even metal cladding doesn't do well with water continuously standing against it. Masonary wicks it in. There are folks who know how to do highly water resistant stucco coatings, but I don't know how many are in the Tahoe area. It isn't a simple, one and done.

All the best,

Peter

Stucco is popular for SF Bay Area Mediterranean style homes and Craftsman Bungalows.

I have worked on some and a hammer blow bounces off on a 100 year old home…

Newer Stucco pre sheathing and one hammer blow sinks right in…

Not a lot of stucco in the Sierra…

 

[ponytug]

Stucco is popular for SF Bay Area Mediterranean style homes and Craftsman Bungalows.

...

Not a lot of stucco in the Sierra…

For good reason!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Stucco is popular for SF Bay Area Mediterranean style homes and Craftsman Bungalows.

I have worked on some and a hammer blow bounces off on a 100 year old home…

Newer Stucco pre sheathing and one hammer blow sinks right in…

Not a lot of stucco in the Sierra…

Stucco is fine. It's the wood under it that is the problem. I have replaced a lot of rotten walls under stucco, particularly on the north side of the house where condensation is most common.

 

[paulsharvey]

Stucco is fine. It's the wood under it that is the problem. I have replaced a lot of rotten walls under stucco, particularly on the north side of the house where condensation is most common.

There is a difference between Portland cement stucco and synthetic stucco. With Portland cement stucco, the paint used is really key, as the stucco itself is Not waterproof. Synthetic stucco is water proof, and often includes the color in it.

Also, with real stucco, you can't just paint a couple days later, there is a cure time. Ive always heard 28 days, but Google suggests 60 days, and testing the moisture and PH first

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

look at LP Smartside instead of Hardy. Hardy has issues with the silica dust when you have to cut it. The Smartside is cost comparable, and in my experience easier to work with.

I would definitely strip the old siding. And install at least new vapor barrier, and reflash all the penetrations. Older houses used asphalt felts. I’m in east central Idaho, and typically in buildings older than thirty years old the felt has off gassed and no longer a decent vapor barrier. A lot of heating costs are heating the air which leaks in.

I would also look at adding foam insulation. I’m planning to reside my 1970s era home. I will be installing at least three inches of foam insulation and moving windows outwards.

 

[ultrarunner]

Cabin used maybe 3 weeks a year now… been in the family since 1964…

Mom was the one every year to spend a week painting, cleaning etc…

The goal right now is to make it presentable as several pandemic years no one visited.

 

[ponytug]

Cabin used maybe 3 weeks a year now… been in the family since 1964…

Mom was the one every year to spend a week painting, cleaning etc…

The goal right now is to make it presentable as several pandemic years no one visited.

There's always pressure wash, let it dry, prime, and repaint. It will look better, albeit not great without sanding, and that's probably lead paint... That will help preserve the wood, and most definitely kick the can down the road for awhile, at which point the family plans might be clearer.

All the best,

Peter