Hardy Soffit Material - Anyone Used It?

MHMConstruction

I'm bidding a siding job and the HO's want new soffit too. They got a brochure at the Home Show that has Hardy soffit material.

I'm gonna bid the job - 84 lumber carries the stuff, or can get it the next day.

Anyone messed with this??? Any pointers or 'headache-avoiders' would be appreciated!

MHM

Chris Johnson

I have it in a subdivision I was the super for, I'm not overly impressed since there is no way to really conceal the fasteners.

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Chris

kylemfk

not a big fan. I distribute lots of hardiplank, i would recommend azek, koma or a primed pine before the hardi soffit. It doesn't rip nice, fasteners make a mess. I can tell you for every 100 Hardi jobs i sell maybe one includes hardi soffit.

marshallchad

The wrong situation is on soffits less than 8" or over 24". We have hung thousands of square feet of hardi soffit. Some with hardi panel and a vent screen. A lot of the eaves we have used the vented hardi. It much cleaner, if you make sure to hang all of your soffit first before you side, that way the fasteners on the wall side of the panel are hidden. If you square up the nail and do not drive it too deep (6d ring shank), the head will clean up nicely. A two part epoxy (home depot or lowes) works well to concealed the fastener. Caulking doesn't smooth out as well and will gloss if it is not primed properly. Many won't prime, because it is already a preprimed product. Over all it is a clean, quick way to install soffits. For the cuts put them up against the wall and a nice touch is a 1x2 piece of cedar on the bottom edge. It helps hold the panel better anyway.

Soffits over 24" can be done, but you have more seams and doesn't look as clean.

ApgarNJ

I've used it before a few times and liked it. Used the power shears to cut it. if the edges get caulked cleanly, then you never see them. I tried their 5/4 trim before and hated it. I stick with miratech or azek for trim. hardie siding and hardie soffits are good though.

MHMConstruction

Yep I was wondering about the fasteners - what do you use, staples?

Plus, the overhang is big on some parts of the house (3') - maybe not a good idea.....

MHM

thesidingpro

I use staples when installing the hardie soffit.

I hate the stuff. Like someone said in this thread for every 100 hardie jobs I do maybe 2-3 use hardie soffit.

Don't even get me started on the 5/4 trim boards. I also hate them.

MHMConstruction

sounds like a bad product

love the siding, though

Grumpy

I haven't used the Hardy. I have used the certainteed. I don't use their vented product. I do use their 4x8 sheets and cut it to size. I usually install a 2" continuous vented strip.

Caulk and touch up paint on the fasteners. Installs using the same techniques as you would with cedar. We did cedar before fibercement was common in our area. Do more fibercement than cedar now.

I don't use fibercement trim boards at all. I prefer Miratec as my trim boards. Fibercement trim boards will flake a son of a... when you nail them , and also are very very prone to break while working with.

If you do a 3' overhang you are going to have to install rafter sleepers from the fascia board to the wall, on each rafter, and fasten your soffit material every 1' or so.

WNYcarpenter

We use an 18 ga. finish nailer mostly (they hold pretty well), but we always apply wood trim against the house and along the facia we pre-drill and set maze siding nails here and there. Like hanging a drywall ceiling, the finish nailer tacks it up quickly and then you go back and secure it.

losthenfound

We use a hidden eave vent and solid F&S. PVC - AZEK - KOMA - are nightmare thermal movers. We do not to use solid PVC unless at the ground, roof, etc.

PS You have to be a finisher also so counter sink - putty - paint