best type of fiber cement siding - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

tvootz · 04-08-2008, 09:56 PM

Looking for opinions on Hardi vs. Certainteed Fiber cement product.

Will be using lap siding application. Need to lap at about 3" to match (sort of) other sides of house. This is an addition.

And will paint siding ( again to match existing).

easy sider · 04-08-2008, 10:04 PM

There are too many things we dont like with cement board but when we have a choice between hardie and Certainteed we would pick Certainteed. The main reason is the difference of the way the product is cured. Certainteed cures its planks the same way every time and hardie wet cures air dry.

Kenny K · 04-09-2008, 03:17 PM

anybody heard of a stucco cement look sididng?

kylemfk · 04-09-2008, 06:22 PM

The stucco panel is available from Hardiplank and Maxi Tile, possibly Certainteed but I'm not sure. It's interesting, my customers dont really like working with it. The hardi sheets come 4x8 4x9 or 4x10.

Kenny K · 04-09-2008, 06:42 PM

thanks. I do have a prospect who has a tudor style house. He wants that removed and stucco applied. He did mention the hardi board. Is there a more reasonably priced product in the cement board lines?

easy sider · 04-10-2008, 04:46 PM

The 4x8 and 4 x 9 cement board sidings need an extra nailer every four foot which makes it a drag for retro work.

Jason W · 04-10-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easy sider

The 4x8 and 4 x 9 cement board sidings need an extra nailer every four foot which makes it a drag for retro work.

Not true.

We are doing one at the moment, it is a pita! But it is not a requirement to have two nailer's on the seam.

Our install has a caulk joint with no batten strip, thats making things tough. We have to take some time to find the right layout. Most sheet products are recommended to have a batten strip over the joint. Next time around I will insist on this detail or not do it at all. The batten will get nailed through to the stud and hold down the edges. You still need to nail the sheets down on the edges even if you use the battens, but it wont be so critical if you chip the sheet once in a while.

easy sider · 04-10-2008, 05:42 PM

www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/install_panel_north.pdf

Figure 4 shows the best way to nail verical panels to the wall. I have seen vertical siding not installed this way pulling away from the wall after a few years. I dont see any way to nail 3/8 of an inch off the edge of the vertical siding where they meet and leave room to caulk without a double nailer.

While its true you can use a batten at the seam (figure 2 )this only looks right if the battens are used every 2 ft oc. in my opinion. There is no way to get nails into the stud off both sides of the siding without a nailer.

Jason W · 04-10-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easy sider

www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/install_panel_north.pdf

Figure 4 shows the best way to nail verical panels to the wall. I have seen vertical siding not installed this way pulling away from the wall after a few years. I dont see any way to nail 3/8 of an inch off the edge of the vertical siding where they meet and leave room to caulk without a double nailer.

While its true you can use a batten at the seam (figure 2 )this only looks right if the battens are used every 2 ft oc. in my opinion. There is no way to get nails into the stud off both sides of the siding without a nailer.

I've seen that (too much lately). Just pointing out it is not "required". I think you're rite about the 2' batten and the looks of it.

I'm useing the pre-painted sheets for this one. Fortunatly, the materials came scratched up and Hardie has cut me a check to have it re-painted. Otherwise, this would be a ball buster and then some! I will NEVER do pre-finished sheets again!

I still love the lap siding though.

thesidingpro · 04-10-2008, 09:13 PM

The sheets are a joke. There has only been a couple small details that I have like using the sheets.

kylemfk · 04-13-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny K

thanks. I do have a prospect who has a tudor style house. He wants that removed and stucco applied. He did mention the hardi board. Is there a more reasonably priced product in the cement board lines?

The Hardi Sheet should not be as expensive as typically hardi clapboard product

TAO · 04-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny K

anybody heard of a stucco cement look sididng?

Hardie Board does have a stucco textured panel, but if you don't want it a batten type installation with trim boards over the joints you must provide flashing at all horizontal joints.

A system that provides a completely water sealed installation without flashing is to do hardie board panels and then apply a stucco finish
such as the one by Architex.

krak · 04-19-2008, 01:11 PM

Nichiha has the best fiber cement sidings. It's not layered. It's one solid piece of fiber cement.

krak

Installer · 04-28-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvootz

Looking for opinions on Hardi vs. Certainteed Fiber cement product.

Will be using lap siding application. Need to lap at about 3" to match (sort of) other sides of house. This is an addition.

And will paint siding ( again to match existing).

I have had nothing but extreme problems with Certainteed. I have installed over 150 units and 90% of them failed. I have installed over 90 units in the Hardi "Color Plus" and 0% of them have failed. I do not believe in the Certainteed "Weatherboard". Certainteed has recently changed the formula in their product to have more Flyash in it. They must have figured out something.
Anybody else have problems? I am located in Northern Illinois.(maybe climate issues) Product was installed April 2005 - March 2006.

easy sider · 04-28-2008, 04:45 PM

Your not alone with failing cement board siding jobs. Our problem jobs are 4-5 years old with the butt edges on planks failing. No problems except color change with Certainteed.

Jason W · 04-28-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easy sider

Your not alone with failing cement board siding jobs. Our problem jobs are 4-5 years old with the butt edges on planks failing. No problems except color change with Certainteed.

No disrespect intended, but I really have had no problems with Hardie lasting the duration. We take the directions as gospel. It's hard to keep track of a large crew at times. It seems to me that this butt end issue could be because it wasn't primed when cut. Personally, I take the time to make sure cuts never enter the field. They always hit the trim and get primed first and caulked after installation.

I can't understand why some seem to have a real problem with this stuff and others never do.

Jake Stevens · 04-28-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvootz

Looking for opinions on Hardi vs. Certainteed Fiber cement product.

Will be using lap siding application. Need to lap at about 3" to match (sort of) other sides of house. This is an addition.

And will paint siding ( again to match existing).

I don't think there is a good fiber cement product made yet. But keep installing it, for guys like me we need the future work. thanks

BigoWhiteboy · 04-28-2008, 08:17 PM

+1 on the Nichiha, it is some awesome looking fiber cement, makes hardie and certainteed look as cheap as vinyl

Jason W · 04-28-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigoWhiteboy

+1 on the Nichiha, it is some awesome looking fiber cement, makes hardie and certainteed look as cheap as vinyl

I can't wait to see this stuff! I hear they have a new plant in GA and offer lap siding now. Hardie has recently pissed me off on my last job and cost me big bucks due to delays. Can't wait to try something else. Even if Nichiha is a little more (and it is) I'm ready to go upscale in FC siding. Have you used it yet?

BigoWhiteboy · 05-02-2008, 10:28 PM

No we have not used it yet, I did request and receive a sample pack with some peices in it. It is great looking stuff. I have been to a jobsite here on the coast that used it, it really looks good.