Replies

1. 
   BamaTom | Nov 17, 2006 09:22pm | #1

   I have seen one small house here locally done up in 8 1/4-inch beaded edge FC siding.  It looks pretty good to my eye.

     The beaded edge adds an extra shadowline at the laps of the siding.  The only thing that I noticed on a scrap piece of the siding is that the bead is not very pronounced.

     It is sort of shallow, not very sharply defined, with the rounded surface of the bead sort of chopped off at the bottom edge of the strip of siding instead of wrapping around the edge.

   But, the beaded siding is out of the ordinary enough to catch your eye, so maybe that is what you want.

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 18, 2006 12:41am | #2

   Thanks for your input Bama Tom.  Yes, I'm thinking more definition and shadow.  It's hard to tell what something will look like by tiny photos on brochures and websites.  Around here, the smooth or cedar lap is most common.  I was hoping for something that might look a bit more "real" - either the beaded or the colonial/dutchlap. 

   Thanks!

2. 
   bruce22 | Nov 18, 2006 03:27am | #3

   You should look at real sample of the siding. I was thinking of using the smooth Hardi plank for the first time until I saw a sample at my local yard. It looked lousy, with an uneven surface. Did not look like wood clapboard. I guess that's why the wood grain is popular.

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 18, 2006 05:15am | #4

   I doubt I could get a real sample in my area by the date I'm supposed to decide-Tuesday!!!  The reason I'm having to decide last minute is that my husband decided not to use the stockpile of FC siding we'd received several years ago from a friend who cleaned up after builders.  He thinks that using pre-primed would work better/last longer than the who-knows-what mis-matched stuff we have.  It's weathered very well sitting out at our land, but he's already promised it to a guy who's helping us frame the house.

   But even a sample won't show what a whole house is going to look like.  I was so disappointed at the lack of photos available on the manufacturers websites.

   Would you suggest going with the wood grain beaded or the wood grain dutchlap/colonial for the best look?  I really wish I could use real pine lap siding, but we feel that since we are building out in the country, we should use fire safe material. 

   We have to deal with drought, grass and wild fires here in Northeast Texas.

   Thanks for your help,

   MacGregor

1. 
   user-209584 | Nov 18, 2006 07:06am | #5

   I've seen the beaded edge siding put up & it looks pretty good. I worked at a business in a 'town square'  where every building was done in one of the HB sidings. Saved me from making the mistake of choosing the smooth for my own home. It looked plain. Kind of cheap & without character. The buildings done in the woodgrain patterns looked so much more attractive. Too bad you aren't in Central Florida or I  could tell you where to see all the types of HB installed. Bobbi

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 18, 2006 08:09am | #6

   Thanks for your help, Bobbi.  I appreciate it.  That would be nice, to see all the sidings in person!

1. 
   user-209584 | Nov 19, 2006 12:25am | #9

   ******   Thanks for your help, Bobbi.  I appreciate it.  That would be nice, to see all the sidings in person! ********

   You're welcome. I know seeing all the buildings done & painted differently saved me from making a big mistake. If I ever get back up there ( it's about 70 miles from my house) I'll take some pictures of the all the different sidings.  I think they used everything Hardi Board makes. Bobbi

2. 
   edwardh1 | Nov 19, 2006 01:55am | #10

   I continue to be amazed why FC is not used more than it is. Hardie here does almost no advertising.
   Some builders use it, others say "its an untested new product" even tho used in Austrailia fore 20 years or so

3. 
   Hackinatit | Nov 18, 2006 02:42pm | #7

   I like it...

   View Image

   Troy Sprout

   "Work is the curse of the drinking  classes."
   Oscar Wilde
   

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 18, 2006 05:45pm | #8

   Thanks Troy!  Great photo!  Is that smooth or wood grain? 

   MacGregor

1. 
   Hackinatit | Nov 19, 2006 03:20am | #11

   Smooth... and EASY to prime!Troy Sprout

   "Work is the curse of the drinking  classes."Oscar Wilde

4. 
   shellbuilder | Nov 19, 2006 05:40am | #12

   I used the woodgrain on my own home. I like to face nail Hardie and there is a problem with the bead and where the facenail would be, a little above the groove and the nail shoots above the lower piece and nail in the groove and you may fracture the bead. Drop your exposure an extra 1/2" if you are face nailing this product. Good Luck

    

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 20, 2006 04:54pm | #13

   Hubby said he won't be face nailing, but thank you for that advice.

    

   Thank you to everyone for the help, I really appreciate it. 

    I'll see if I can figure out how to post a photo when we get the house dried in. 

    

   MacGregor

1. 
   shellbuilder | Nov 20, 2006 05:09pm | #14

   You will probably need to if you use the 8" and reveal at 7" 

1. 
   MacGregor | Nov 21, 2006 07:38pm | #15

   The framing is 16 inches OC and has OSB for the exterior sheathing.  He thinks blind nailing will be fine. 

   Thanks for the advice,

   MacGregor

1. 
   edwardh1 | Nov 22, 2006 03:27pm | #16

   The Hardie site says the main diff between blind nailing and face is that the face nailed ones stands up to 150 MPH winds
   the blind only 125
   so for most people blind is OK

2. 
   MacGregor | Nov 22, 2006 07:39pm | #17

   Thanks, Edward, I think we'll be safe. 

    We sometimes have 100 MPH straightline winds in a thunderstorm, but our house is pretty secluded and surrounded by oaks and pines.  The installation instructions (to me- at a glance)  looked like either way was acceptable.

    

   MacGregor