For building small sheds - What are good siding materials compared to Hardie Panels?

[newbury]

I'm going to be building several SMALL sheds (6x10 or smaller) for garden tools, fencing, etc. at several different sites. I've used Hardie Panel and liked it, but the cost seems to have greatly escalated, as have all things.
My main consideration is LOW MAINTENANCE, the 10x15 Hardie Panel shed I built ~25 years ago was painted well (edges and 2 coats) when I built it and has required no maintenance (other than blowing leaves out) since.
So I'm looking at LP Smartside, but read it needs to be repainted, one web source says every two to three years, others 5 to 10 years. For me 2 years would be a pain in the butt, 5 years, not so bad, 10 years great. But compared to Hardie Panel which seems once and done any repainting should not be needed.
Smartside would be lighter, but I'm not building ice shanties.
If I could find vinyl siding in 4x8 sheets that might be a contender, but the widest vinyl siding I've found is ~ 9" (Ply Gem - Transformations Double 5 in. x 144 in. White Lap Vinyl Siding at HD), And I figure I'd need horizontal nailing strips every 9". The Hardie Panels were fine with the vertical studs ~ every 2'.
So TBN - is there anything else out there before I sink my $$ into Hardie panels?

 

[BlueKnife]

Ribbed metal roofing/siding. No maintenance for decades.

 

[etpm]

I don't know anything about Hardie panels but I do know about Hardie Plank siding and problems with LP cement siding. I chose Hardie Plank siding for my house 18 years ago because of the excellent reviews and because LP siding problems and recalls. Present day and my siding is in like new condition. Only had to paint once so far. I live in the PNW so rain and moisture can be big problems. So maybe just stick with you have so far. I also had Hardie Board installed in the bathrooms instead of green board. No problems so far. I think Hardie really did a great job with their cement board products. Maybe I should invest in the company. I know, I sound like an ad, but I have no interest of any kind in the company, just a really happy customer.
Eric

 

[jyoutz]

Sheet it with OSB, then tar paper, then colored steel roofing panels or siding panels.

 

[bmaverick]

I'm going to be building several SMALL sheds (6x10 or smaller) for garden tools, fencing, etc. at several different sites. I've used Hardie Panel and liked it, but the cost seems to have greatly escalated, as have all things.
My main consideration is LOW MAINTENANCE, the 10x15 Hardie Panel shed I built ~25 years ago was painted well (edges and 2 coats) when I built it and has required no maintenance (other than blowing leaves out) since.
So I'm looking at LP Smartside, but read it needs to be repainted, one web source says every two to three years, others 5 to 10 years. For me 2 years would be a pain in the butt, 5 years, not so bad, 10 years great. But compared to Hardie Panel which seems once and done any repainting should not be needed.
Smartside would be lighter, but I'm not building ice shanties.
If I could find vinyl siding in 4x8 sheets that might be a contender, but the widest vinyl siding I've found is ~ 9" (Ply Gem - Transformations Double 5 in. x 144 in. White Lap Vinyl Siding at HD), And I figure I'd need horizontal nailing strips every 9". The Hardie Panels were fine with the vertical studs ~ every 2'.
So TBN - is there anything else out there before I sink my $$ into Hardie panels?

If you were going for 8x20 sized sheds, then one of the cost effective ways and still have steel walls is a short sea container.

They do have 8x10, but rare in many areas. These are $1,000 to $1,200. When you build your own, the materials and time cost you much more.

The 8x20 are the most popular. Priced $1,800 to $2,200

These come in all kinds of colors too. Will last well over 50 years.
Plus, the 10 and 20 foot longs can be easily flat trucked to most locations vs a semi with a flat trailer.
So the shipping is way less. Most places offer free shipping in 25 or 50 mile radius too. So shop around.

Compared to a regular shed, it's harder to break into these containers to steal things. Most thief's do not carry a cutting torch with them.

Here is a nice 20 footer,

 

[Richard001]

Doesn't sound like a good deal to me. You will need at least 8 panels. Home Depot list each

Hardie Panel HZ5 48 in. x 120 in. Primed Smooth Fiber Cement Panel Siding​

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Buildin...r-Cement-Siding/James-Hardie/N-5yc1vZc8afZ4qr
4' X 6' panel at $72 each. So 72 X 8 = 576.

Home depot list this 10 X 8 foot steel shed for $549.

Yes you will have to put some foundation under but you would have to do that with the hardie panel also.

Richard

 

[bmaverick]

If he's retired now in MS, the thin sheds will blow away like dust in the 1st hurricane. The reason why I suggested the shipping container.

 

[BlueKnife]

If he's retired now in MS, the thin sheds will blow away like dust in the 1st hurricane. The reason why I suggested the shipping container.

Yeah, those sheds are like a square tin can. They start falling apart if you raise your voice too much around them.

 

[newbury]

If he's retired now in MS, the thin sheds will blow away like dust in the 1st hurricane. The reason why I suggested the shipping container.

I've been retired since ~2010 and life has seriously gotten in the way of moving to Mississippi
And SWMBO had said no metal sheds. I was hoping some other manufacturer had come out with a Hardie type material or large vinyl UV resistant sheet material that I didn't know about.

 

[bmaverick]

I've been retired since ~2010 and life has seriously gotten in the way of moving to Mississippi
And SWMBO had said no metal sheds. I was hoping some other manufacturer had come out with a Hardie type material or large vinyl UV resistant sheet material that I didn't know about.

It leaves you to the most primitive structure then, cinder blocks.

Then using masonry paint . . .

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm a big fan of Hardie, but for cost savings, Smart is a good alternative. The 4x8 sheets do not need anything under them like Hardie does. The edges are cut so they overlap. If you run a bead of caulk when installing the Smart Panels, they will be water proof.

Smart Panels are made from a high quality OSB. It's not like the construction grade that you use when sheeting a house. It's tighter, more uniform, and a holds together better when cutting. The surface is textured to look like wood with something hard, kind of like an eggshell. I don't know what it is, but it holds paint very well. You are not actually painting wood, the paint goes on that outer shell.

I've build sheds for clients using Smart Panels that have only been painted the day I built them, and some are well over a decade old. I also use it for the ceiling of porches when a painted finish is wanted, and it never needs to be painted a second time.

 

[newbury]

Thanks Eddie for the comments.
Do Smart Panels need to be stored out of the weather? Or if painted once (including edges) do you expect they would hold up for a decade?
How would you compare their water resistance to Advantech OSB?

 

[EddieWalker]

When you stay "stored out of the weather" are you talking about storing it outside until you are ready to use it? Or are you asking how long I expect it to hold up once installed on your shed?

Once installed and painted, you will get several decades out of it. But it's a good thing you brought up painting the cut edges. The surface is totally waterproof. That shell that it comes with is the selling point for Smart products. Where you cut it, you need to seal the cut. I like Zinsser 123 primer and a good quality paint like Duramax from Lowes, or Emerald from Sherwin Williams. I also try to make sure my cut's are covered by trim. Then I seal everything with the best caulking I know of. Currently, that's Big Stretch clear by Sashko. It's twice the price of regular painters caulk, but worth it in my opinion. I'm also a big fan of all the Sashko products!!!

Smart siding and sheeting OSB is very similar to Advantech in being a much higher quality OSB then regular building OSB. It's glued together tighter, and it saws cleaner. But you still need to protect the it where you cut it. Advantech has Zip Tape to seal their edges once it's installed as siding. The Zip System can remain exposed to the elements for a very long time, but not forever. Eventually the sun and weather will break it down. It needs to be covered by a siding of some sort that is designed to handle the elements forever.

Smart Lap Siding over Advantech is a good idea, but I prefer Hardie Lap Siding over Smart Lap Siding. For 4x8 sheets, it's going to be hard to find something more economical and nicer looking then Smart Sheeting.

 

[newbury]

Thanks.

When you stay "stored out of the weather" are you talking about storing it outside until you are ready to use it? Or are you asking how long I expect it to hold up once installed on your shed?

By "stored out of the weather" I meant storing LP Smartside so it doesn't get precipitated on or blown around and isn't sitting in water or exposed to the sun. My sheds in Mississippi provide cover but not temperature or humidity protection.
I've left a unpainted, unsealed 1/4 Hardie board panel outside in Northern Virginia through about 5 years of weather as a test, it only degraded slightly. I've left painted sheets of Advantech (2 coatings) in similar conditions, they started to deteriorate quicker.
I'll probably buy some sheets, paint it (sides and edges) and test it out.
/edit by quicker I meant slight degradation in 3-4 years, but still useable if I slapped another coat of paint on.

 

[EddieWalker]

I always used what I buy, when I buy it. I've never had it sit around for any period of time. I would worry about moisture getting into the ends of it over time.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

The reality of the LP Smartside is if you are going to store it, you should paint it before you store it. One of the requirements for installation is to paint within 180 days of install. From using the product several times I would say paint within 180 days of purchase would be a better statement in thier installation instructions.
It is a great product and installation is easy with no special tools. Just make sure you prime every cut made.

 

[dstig1]

Well I'm thinking you got some bad info on the LP. I used it on my house and painted it 10 years ago and it still looks like new. It is a very stable substrate for paint, sort of like Hardie is, though LP is not cement based. I expect at least another 10 years before even thinking about repainting, and even then it probably won't need it. Granted, WI is not Miss...but I can't imagine it would be that much worse wearing in your climate.

 

[lostcause]

I think T1-11 is the hands-down winner around here as the siding of choice for sheds and garages - even some houses. my grandfather's garage was built with it in the late 70's (i think) and it's still there - a little tender on the bottom now from lack of care & being too close to the ground. probably last stained in the early 90's, likely an oil base though.

 

[Tomtint]

I built my 16x24 shed almost 10 years ago now..besides the deck and floor framing being PT, The rest is rough sawn. The exterior is rough sawn board and batten and it was stained red. So far its held up well.

 

[chim]

I used PT sleepers and plywood for the floor. Walls are 2x4 with OSB, house wrap and vinyl siding. Roof is DIY trusses with 2x4 purlins and ribbed metal roof.