Replies

1. 
   DanH | Jan 26, 2005 10:23pm | #1

   Fiber-cement, such as HardiPlank. You do have to paint it, but modern paints will last >10 years between paint jobs.

2. 
   DDay | Jan 26, 2005 10:42pm | #2

   We put up hardie and love it.  It looks just like cedar but is much cheaper, and will last forever with minimal maintence.  Check out their website, I think its http://www.jameshardie.com  It's a very nice product, make sure you get the primed and use a good acrylic paint.

1. 
   Randy2 | Jan 26, 2005 11:26pm | #3

   I use acrylic on the interior.  I didn't know it was available for exterior.  Is that better than Sherwin Williams exterior super paint?

1. 
   ikor | Jan 27, 2005 03:46am | #4

   Hardie...primed...no question in my mind this is what you will want. If you have never used it, there is a bit of a learning curve, but it ain't all that difficult. Get a good mask...lots of BAD dust...and go with the factory install recommendations. You can gang cut with a Hardie (FC type)  blade in a circle saw or dedicate a mitre saw blade to the project...it WILL take the starch out of a standard carbide blade.  12" mitre saw will just barely make the cut on an 8 1/2" plank. Shears work as well, but are expensive for a small project...if I had lots of it to do I would definitely invest in a good set, however.

    

   I use #30 felt under it, but opinions on that may vary, and I am certainly no Hardie "expert". JMO.

2. 
   JLazaro317 | Jan 27, 2005 05:47am | #5

   Sherwin Williams Duration is what I put on mine. It may cost a little more, but what does a repaint cost you? If you can put on a better paint and get a couple more years out of the paint job it's money well spent.John

   J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

   Indianapolis, In.

   http://www.lazarobuilders.com

1. 
   MikeSmith | Jan 27, 2005 03:26pm | #6

   i concur with everything above.... primed  then 2 coats of 100% acrylic when the  weather improves... choose a good quality caulk for butt joints and against trim.. and leave a caulk space

   we use Certainteed WeatherBoards instead of HardiMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

3. 
   DDay | Jan 28, 2005 11:46pm | #13

   I used California Piants 100% acrylic house and trim paint.  I live in mass and Cali is what most of the pro's I know use on exterior hardie or cedar.  They always use Ben Moore on the interior but Cali on exterior.

   For the cutting, the next one I do I'm getting some siding shears.  I haven't used them but from what I hear they cut very quickly without any dust.  The last one I used a miter saw with a diamond blade and I would compare it to cutting drywall with a circ saw, a thick cloud of dust.  At your local library, check out Fine Homebuilding - June/July 2001 - #140 pg 104.  That has a good article that talks about the general info of fiber cement.

3. 
   Sailfish | Jan 27, 2005 04:30pm | #7

   I just finished my shed and used the Hardi 8.25" board.

   Worked out well, really wasn't too bad to work with, but as others said it is very dusty. I didn't have too many cuts and used a standard carbide blade it lasted the whole project.

   here's a pic

   {edit}

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   "It is so, because Piffin tells me it is."

    

    

   
   

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   Edited 1/27/2005 10:09 am ET by sailfish

1. 
   eggdog23 | Jan 27, 2005 05:24pm | #8

   Hardie also makes siding that is prefinished in 12 colors. Others may finish it in more colors.  Anyone used that before? I was wondering if that ended up being cheaper once you include painting costs.

   Aaron

2. 
   JohnT8 | Jan 27, 2005 05:35pm | #9

   Dont' think that was the link you wanted.

    jt8

   The two most abundant things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. -- Harlan Ellison

1. 
   Sailfish | Jan 27, 2005 06:08pm | #10

   oops, Thanks!

   here's the correct one

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=51700.53-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   "It is so, because Piffin tells me it is."

    

    

4. 
   Oldfarmhouse | Jan 27, 2005 06:59pm | #11

   How about cedar?

   I got 22 square for about 4500.00 this included two coats of stain and delivery as well.  I ordered right from the manufacture so there is no middle man and no sales tax (out of state).

   Also, with stained cedar there is no surface coat to peel or chip.  There is also no scraping needed to prep for refinisishing.  And since the oil stain is absorbed into the wood reappling stain is easy.  It can just be sprayed on and rubbed in with a stiff brush (no lap marks or uneven coverage).

   Just another idea to consider

    

   -C

1. 
   DDay | Jan 28, 2005 11:54pm | #14

   This past summer I paid about $70/ sq. for the hardie, cedar at that time was about $125/sq.  (material cost only, no labor)

   One thing that is really nice about the hardie siding is it is not beveled like cedar, so when you make a cut then you can flip it and make the opposite (much quicker for domers).  The total waste from the entire house was very small.  Cedar is easier to install but once its up, the cement will last forever.

5. 
   superwork | Jan 27, 2005 09:42pm | #12

   Randy ,

     take there advise , go with the hardi-plank.

   Mike - Foxboro , Mass .