HardiPlank - Pros and Cons?

[OkeeDon]

Yes, Hardie products fall into that category. I'm familiar with, and have used, Cemplank, which is similar. However, I found it a bit more brittle. Also, the more common forms of Hardiplank and Hardipanel are available at Lowes and Home Depot, which makes it convenient and usually a bit less expensive. I can order other Hardie products at a local full service lumber yard, but they are at about a 25% premium. Only one supplier handles Cemplank in my area, and the prices are higher than the box stores but a bit lower than the full-service Hardie prices.

No suppliers in our area handle any other brands, and I didn't find any other brands in a quick Google search. I'd love to know about others so I could do some comparison...

 

[rlk]

HardiPlank is a great product.

Many people talk about it being difficult to cut. With these shears from Porter-Cable cutting is not a problem.
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2857
I think I paid about $200 at Home Depot 2 years ago.

With the shears there is no dust to worry about.

I made a simple jig out of 2 x 12 material to ensure I got a square cut on each end.

You could probably rent a set also, but for $200 I thought I might as well purchase a set.

Bob

 

[EastTexFrank]

That shows you how dumb I am. I never even thought of looking for something like those shears. I used a diamond blade in the circular saw and it sure was dusty.

 

[slowrev]

I have used hardypanels, worked well, just heavy. I just cut it with a fine toothed carbide blade in a circular saw. It was dusty but cut fine. It seems to be the next best thing to real masonary covering your home/shop. Lasts forever, much better than t-11.
I had one oops and busted a hole in mine a few years ago, just patched it up with Drylok Fastplug masonary cement and painted the spot, looked great.
Ben

 

[Tdog]

Well, when I built my barn in 1993 I did not know about HardiPlank & I used T-111. I guess I will have to weigh in on the other side of the argument from most of the posts in this thread. I used 5/8" t-111 & I think it is holding up well. See attachment. I liked it enough that I used it again when my workshop was built, last month. You can't get a much more humid climate than I live in - - we average ~~ 60" rain a year.

I do not argue that it may not [will not] last as long as HardiPlank, but . . . neither will I.

So far, no regrets here.

 

[texbaylea]

Makita makes a cut-off saw especially for this stuff. The blade is shrouded and can be hooked to a vacuum. Has anyone used this saw? I am planning some home renovations and will be using Hardie products.

Vernon

 

[OkeeDon]

Attached is a picture of the Snapper Steelhead shear that I use. I have two of them, because we used a lot of Hardipanel in the outdoor kitchen cabinets (grill islands) I used to construct. When I bought them, they were a new tool, and I paid over $400 each, but there is at least one source on Snapper's web page that has them for $208.

 

[RalphVa]

The builder, who put it on our new carriage house and replaced the siding on our breakfast room that sticks out behind the rest of the house with it, had a special cutter and blades for his saws.

You have to use concrete bits for attaching anything to it with screws, and concrete screws.

We had ours painted. Still looks great after nearly 3 years.

Ralph

 

[Ronbo]

I have been doing my house in hardi for the past 1 1/2 years. I am using the lapboard siding. It looks great. Not everyone will carry the harditrim. Look around. I have t 1-11 siding and am putting down felt and then the hardi. I use a porter cable framing gun with the rubber foot on. It spaces it just right for the hardi. You do not have to use special nails, you just don't want to overdrive them. Keep it dry until installed. I have a hardi blade, but it is now warped. I will not pay the $50 the want for them now. I just use a $5 carbide blade and it works fine. It does wear it out faster, but it is $5. Wear a mask as it is a silica. I would not ever do t 1-11, It looks cheap. We did my in-laws rental house with hardi 4x8 sheets. It is easier and faster to do the lapboard. It also looks better.

Ron

 

[Kub0ta]

We use hardiplank in the apartment industry. Best stuff to use. Its more expensive than T-111 but last longer and overall a better product. The only problems we see are, somewhat difficult installation(easier with airguns and 2+ people).