HardiPlank or Vinyl?

[comancheflight]

I have cedar siding. It's over 30 years old. I originally nailed it on and was stained. About 5 years ago I went over it with screws to tighten it down and paint. I used consumer reports for the paint choice. Basically, at least then, they said the higher the cost the higher the quality...still looks great.
The down side to cedar is the wood bees that bore holes to lay eggs. Then the woodpeckers going after the larvae. .a vicious cycle once they get started. And yes they will bore through the paint. In the spring I go after them and pretty much have them stopped now..I think.. bottom line is, for this style of house, I have been pleased with cedar...this is around 3K square foot. Would hate to buy that much now days.
Obviously I didn't read the original post, doh

 

[turnkey4099]

As a former vinyl siding installer, I can tell you vinyl is crap. My house is brick, but if it were siding, I'd go Hardie board. Your only downside is paint every 10-15 years or so.

Agree, I don't see many vinyl jobs that look good after 10-15 years. When I did my house I only looked at aluminum (too dentable) and steel. I used steel but it was a small house so the cost wasn't that bad.

That was back in early 80s. Had on royal windstorm in this area Wed. Treeds down all over, etc. I lost a 6' piece of aluminum eaves trim, easily replaced. That is the only damage to the siding job since new and it still needs nothing but a wash job now and then.

Harry K
Harry K

 

[widefat]

Good stuff in this thread - makes me consider other options as well. thanks!

 

[C4Ranch]

Ranch house is all hardi. Even got an insurance discount because it's rated same as a stone house for fire resistance...

 

[CalG]

To me, if cost is not a factor then Hardi is far superior. I had vinyl on my last house, and while it held up perfectly well and was low maintenance (other than power washing) it looked cheap. It was also noisy whenever there was wind (vinyl must be installed loose enough to expand with temperature changes). We have Hardi on our new house -- combination of lap siding and vertical board/batten -- and it looks outstanding and gives the home a totally different "solid" feel.

Cal, are you sure that is Hardi? Because I have left some unpainted Hardi scraps stacked outside for about 12 years now and they haven't changed a bit, much to my surprise. I figured without paint it would eventually deteriorate somehow.

Positive

I just replaced over $1000 of hardi plank on a fellows house (What are friends for;-)
Went with the same product for the color match. The previous material just turned to mush where ever splash was present. That was up 2-3 feet on all the deck area, and on north facing dormers.

Where there was no splash, the material was fine. A small stack of the material placed on skids outdoors on an asphalt drive and left covered with a tarp over winter was completely worthless in the spring.

I wouldn't use the stuff myself. Nor should any structure be faced in plastic. Why build if only for a few years?

 

[s219]

Positive

I just replaced over $1000 of hardi plank on a fellows house (What are friends for;-)
Went with the same product for the color match. The previous material just turned to mush where ever splash was present. That was up 2-3 feet on all the deck area, and on north facing dormers.

That doesn't sound like the same Hardi I know -- I never saw cement board turn to mush. That does sound like Masonite siding though. Masonite siding will turn to mush. Some people who use Masonite will actually do their lower starter rows with Hardi where there is a moisture concern.

The only time I have heard of moisture issues with Hardi is when it gets exposed to moisture with repeated freeze/thaw or improper nailing, but then it tends to crack/split, not turn into mush. Based on the materials, I really don't think it could turn to mush.

I'll go pull a Hardi scrap I have had outdoors for a LONG time and look close at it.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been wondering about that too. I've never seen or heard of Hardi having any moisture issues. I have some scraps laying right on the dirt that gets pretty wet when it rains here and after several years, still used it when I was siding my barn. I just brush off the mud and dirt with a wire brush, then paint right over it. Nobody can ever tell the difference between what was laying in mud and dirt for years and what I bought brand new.

 

[newbury]

The cement board (Hardi Plank) falls apart in wet situations. Such as shady inside corners, decks and splash off dormer valleys etc.

If you can keep it dry, it looks good. Here in VT, it's 10 years at BEST even with frequent touch up painting. (South walls do great!)

I've had Hardiboard laying outside in the grass for years and been able to pick it up. I redid my shed in Hardipanel about 8 years ago, no mushiness.

To me, if cost is not a factor then Hardi is far superior. I had vinyl on my last house, and while it held up perfectly well and was low maintenance (other than power washing) it looked cheap. It was also noisy whenever there was wind (vinyl must be installed loose enough to expand with temperature changes). We have Hardi on our new house -- combination of lap siding and vertical board/batten -- and it looks outstanding and gives the home a totally different "solid" feel.

Cal, are you sure that is Hardi? Because I have left some unpainted Hardi scraps stacked outside for about 12 years now and they haven't changed a bit, much to my surprise. I figured without paint it would eventually deteriorate somehow.

Agree

Here's an interesting article comparing the two. Vinyl won for several reasons. NOTE: the article was sponsored by the Vinyl industry, but the opinions were Bob Villa's, who probably gets paid by the Vinyl industry :laughing: Anyhow, some points to ponder.

Vinyl Siding vs. Fiber Cement - Bob Vila

That article is basically BS for vinyl -
Vinyl provides more insulation when you buy it preinsulated - DUH
You have to paint Hardie unless you buy it prepainted - DUH

I've been wondering about that too. I've never seen or heard of Hardi having any moisture issues. I have some scraps laying right on the dirt that gets pretty wet when it rains here and after several years, still used it when I was siding my barn. I just brush off the mud and dirt with a wire brush, then paint right over it. Nobody can ever tell the difference between what was laying in mud and dirt for years and what I bought brand new.

My experience exactly, it's just thin cement, doesn't burn worth a darn either.

 

[CalG]

That doesn't sound like the same Hardi I know -- I never saw cement board turn to mush. That does sound like Masonite siding though. Masonite siding will turn to mush. Some people who use Masonite will actually do their lower starter rows with Hardi where there is a moisture concern.

The only time I have heard of moisture issues with Hardi is when it gets exposed to moisture with repeated freeze/thaw or improper nailing, but then it tends to crack/split, not turn into mush. Based on the materials, I really don't think it could turn to mush.

I'll go pull a Hardi scrap I have had outdoors for a LONG time and look close at it.

You live in VA, Bring your sample to VT and we can compare apples to apples. Same for the fellow in Texas.
I feel it's the action of freeze thaw cycles, but HEY, That's what we have here.

 

[Tomtint]

We have built and sold a number of houses over the past 18 years. Most of them have been cedar claps and shingles. With the rough side out on cedar clap, it holds paint well. But today's pre primed pine trim boards are just garbage. 7 year max lifespan. We did my sisters house in Hardee and Pvc trim about 12 years ago. Painted as required and it still disintegrated at the cuts. If was replaced by Hardy under warranty but now does not match, so the whole house needs a repainted ( about 15K ) The home we are in now, I did in Cedar Impressions Vinyl with Azic trim everywhere. Home is 6 years old now and looks like it did on day 1.