HardiPlank - Pros and Cons?

AndyM · Dec 5, 2004

In this thread--
Hoisting an I-beam …
TBN member Fungus made the following comment--
<font color="blue"> "Everything is coming together pretty nicely, but I’m torn about what siding to use. At first I was going to use HardiPlank but I’m swinging more towards T-11 now. After reading about all the issues with HardiPlank it seems easier to use the T-11 and have to paint it more often." </font>

Since the comment was in an unrelated thread, I'm starting a new thread about HardiPlank...
What are some of the cons for using HariPlank siding? Why would it be more of an advantage to use T1-11 siding? What issues have people run into using HardiPlank?

MrsAndyM gave the go ahead to build the new garage in the spring. The original plan was using OSB covered with vinyl siding. Since the price of OSB has gone out of sight, I started thinking about T1-11 or HardiPlank siding. I haven't had much luck using T1-11 in the past, so how about HardiPlank?

btolle · Dec 5, 2004

I don't know of any cons about Hardi Plank other than it is messy to cut.

T-111 won't last more than 5-10 years in a humid climate like we have in East Texas. You can't seal it well enough to keep water from getting in the ends and then it swells and starts coming apart.

BTW, they also make Hardi Panel in 4 X 8 sheets and several finishes including one that looks like T-111.

For about $2 a sheet you can get it pre-primed, well worth it.

Having used both products there is no way I would ever use T-111 again.

Bill Tolle

DocHeb · Dec 5, 2004

I used HardiPlank in the textured finished, bevel, horizontal lap siding. We blind nailed with stainless steel nails - it looks great. Just follow the instructions to the letter regarding pre-installation care of materials, nail placement, sheathing support, gap allowances, etc. Did I mention that it looks great? When we installed it three years ago there wasn't trim in the same material, but now I believe there is 5/4" trim boards in the same material.

stephan · Dec 6, 2004

I don't know about the construction with Hardiplank but our house is covered with it. It was constructed in '92 by an owner build (read:Amateur) and is holding up well. The previous owner put only the slightest hint of paint on it so about 5 years ago we had it done again with two coats and it is holding up well. Couple of minor cracks that I filled with silicon gutter sealant and painted over, I put those down to the aforementioned builder.

Our climate here is Summer average about 32 degrees Celsius topping at over 40. Winter can get down to -5 with average in the single figures. No snow but because we live on the edge of an escarpment we get serious wind (not just after beans either). House is still up without damage. The walls and roof are insulated so it is cool in summer and warm in winter.

I've also drilled holes in it when required and the only advice I can give you there is not to scrimp on the holesaw's it's just not worth it.

wroughtn_harv · Dec 6, 2004

Hardiplank--board does have some hiccups, not problems, just inconveniences.

It's heavy. And it can be very heavy.

It's fragile when handling. Dealing with hardi-plank means you almost always have to have a helper. Trim boards have to be handled with great care or they will break.

You need a special blade for your saw if you're doing very much of it. It is concrete based and will dull up a conventional lumber blade in a heartbeat.

You need a nail gun and special nails. Hardi-plank is like sheetrock in that you don't want to break the outer skin when nailing up or you sabotage the integrity of the product. The nails have bigger heads and you really need a nailgun with an adjustable nailing head. You can regulate the impact with an air adjustment at the compressor. But that only works if there's one nail gun being used. And you will have to go back and hand hammer some nails flush.

I love Hardi-products. They're a pain in the butt sometimes to install but the final product is easy to love. If I was building something for myself or it was a project I knew my name would be tied to and the choices were wood based or Hardi I'd go with Hardi.

MarkV · Dec 6, 2004

Harv covered my experience with Hardi products very well. It is heavy, fragile until installed, harder to cut and requires some care when nailing. When you are done though you are done for the life of the building and paint will hold up much longer than on other sidings. I agree Harv, if I were building for myself Hardiplank would be my choice of siding.

MarkV

bczoom · Dec 6, 2004

I also have Hardypanel on my buildings.

The most recent building was done last year and I don't recall fighting much with either cutting or nailing it. I nailed by hand but did use the recommended nails.

The one con I've recently found is the lack of a H-channel to go between the sheets. If I recall correctly, they just recommend running a bead of caulk between the sheets.

I would use it over T-111 all the time. Won't burn or rot. No "footballs" to look at, Easy to paint. Holds up better and longer.

But... it doesn't care much for hooks on the tractor bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

EastTexFrank · Dec 6, 2004

I've used HardiPanel and HardiPlank a lot around the house for soffits and to enclose decks and love the stuff. Almost everything has been covered by others except, and I've found this out twice, the height of the overlap on HardiPlank comes in two different sizes. I can't remember for sure now but I think one is 2" and the other is 1-1/2" and the textured part of the board is correspondingly different. If you get a mixed batch it can make a big difference in alignment when enclosing a deck or sheathing a building. I was so mad when I had to rip off and junk 6 boards because they didn't line up at the corner of the deck. Ofcourse I didn't notice on the first one, it had to take 6 - I'm not very observant at times. It doesn't take many boards of differing overlap,stacked on top of one another, for that 1/2" difference to become really significant. Both the supplier and the Hardi rep both scratched their heads and you know what came next, "I've never seen that before?????" As I said, it's happened to me twice so just be careful when you purchase and install. Apart from that it's great stuff.

JazzDad · Dec 6, 2004

I put my vote in the "pro" column, having a well house, barn, house and future chicken coop all sided in Hardie materials. Be sure to wear lung protection when sawing it- you don't want to breathe that nasty silica.