In another thread I asked if anyone knew anything about the MaxiTile fiber cement products. Couldn’t find anyone who had used it, and it was special order, so, even though I could have saved some pretty good money I scrapped that idea.
OK – next new product NichiPanel fiber cement siding???? Here is the web site. On this one I can save about $250 a house (small house) over Hardie and salesmen (who also sells Hardie) claims this product is better – less breakable, less dust when cutting, and more green. Anyone used it? Another of my regular BS salesmen said they sell it but they didn’t have it in the width I need (6.25″ (5″ exposure). I get an intro bonus of $250 extra off my first house with it… He says the product is compressed under high pressure and contains less silica sand and more flyash making it more green. I think he said that it is much less caustic to work (cut) with than Hardie. Also, I think Hardie is an extruded product. The Nichi siding is the same 5/16″ thick, but the shakes are more like 1/2″ thick – very substantial looking…
Thoughts?? Experience?
As a sideline in the past I have always used Miratec trim boards, but he is pushing something called LP Smart trim which is a Miratec look alike only with a 50 year warranty. Miratec – I think is 30 yr.
Anyone used that? Again it’s is cheaper than the standard Miratec product.
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I would stick with the Miratech, I do not trust LP.
As far as the siding, I would be glad to hear from others on that product also.
"I do not trust LP"
I hear ya - I discussed this with the salesmen. I basically told him that as far as I was concerned with the (a while back) masonite type siding failures I was very suspicious. Further - a few years back I ordered a siding package and the BS substituted a LP trim product for the Miratec I had speced. Looked almost exactly like Miratec - same color - etc. I checked on the warranty and it was some kind of 10 year really vague deal and I couldn't get anyone from LP to respond to my Qs. I ended up calling the salesmen back and told him to get this Cr@p off my site! Of course they took 2 weeks to come get it and their count was 10 or 15 % less than mine - said some of it was damaged on site. I never bought anything from them again...
Anyway - the current salesmen told me that LP had paid out millions on the past failures of masonite type siding failures and that they obviously weren't gonna make the same mistake again... Good salesmen logic... Still - if they have a 50 year warranty on their current trim product??? He said the new stuff is impregnated with some chemical (name?) that was a rot/mold/insect protectant...
I still won't trust them, lessons learned the hard way. Remember it is a reflection on your judgement if 5 years from now the same or similar situation happens. Myself I would sell the mirratech as a premium product and price the job that way!
>> Myself I would sell the mirratech as a premium product and price the job that way! <<
It doesn't quite work that way when you are building homes. The price of the home is the same regardless of what material I use. None the less I want to use a good product but if I just go out and buy the most expensive thing I can find I'm not exactly doing my job...
I understand. Have you gone to Forest Products web site, they have a nice product. Don't know about price though.
Thanks for the ideas. Forest Products exterior trim sounds similar to Azek: They say "Because of its polymer composition, TechTrim is impervious to moisture." My BS sells Azek and a look alike (can't think of the name) it's something like 2.5 times the cost of Miratec.
Really though, my search for materials generally starts with me calling some of the lumber salesmen I know and asking "what do you have for #### application"...
Personally, although I like using tried and true materials, if I buy something that comes with a 50 year warranty, I don't feel irresponsible doing so...
Used this 4 years ago. Left it a piece in a bucket of water for4 mths, no swelling. It does expand and contract with cold and heat.
I like the fact they now have it in preformed corners!
Yea... Azek comes in pre-formed corners too...
more expensive!
I like the looks of the shake product. I also like the web site. Looks like standard cement board installation. That being said, I always wonder about an exterior siding product that must be kept dry before installation.
I've used the Nichiha "brick" siding. It went up fairly quickly, fools most people into thinking it's brick, and effectively solved a problem making an ICF foundation look like something more substantial. It cuts very cleanly and was overall easy to install. The tongue and groove on this siding did tend to get dinged up and sometimes resulted in an imperfection where two sheets came together. For this reason, transporting and handling this stuff has to be done with care. The color in it is painted on though it can be retouched. The hanging hardware is well made and innovative, holding the panels well away from the substrate so that any water that does penetrate can drain or evaporate.
I have no experience with their lap siding though I would imagine that it is similar quality.