Call for Advise
So what does everyone think about cement board siding? We've got replacing to do and we're considering this alternative. Tim talked to the owner of the local lumber company and he has it on his house and loves it. He's also the one that recommended our windows and we've been so happy with them.
So what have you all heard about the product? Anyone out there have any experience with the stuff?
6 comments:
I don't have any direct experience with it. Doesn't it have to be painted, just like wood? If so, I say go with wood. :)
But I always say that when it's not my house and I don't have to pay for it or deal with it. ;)
I put it on my house and love it. But my house isn't a beautiful, historic farmhouse. :)
It does have to be painted, and that's why it's so great. However, unlike wood, the paint is supposed to last much longer. And when the time does come to repaint it won't be due to flaking/peeling. I'd say that from a distance, you can't tell the difference. I'm not sure if that would be the case if it were right next to real wood....the cement board might look too "perfect" next to real clapboards.
Couple of tips:
- Make sure it's attached to solid structure. It's bendy, so it will look "wavy" if the sheathing isn't solid and strong.
- An air nailer is a necessity. Otherwise, you have to predrill everything.
- Cutting it with a saw is a waste of time. Get some snapper shears.
I built a shed with Hardi-plank once. It was easy to work with. Power saws don’t work to well so the shears are a better way to cut it. I used electric shears. They have three cutting blades. The bottom one passes through the top two, sort of like tin snips.
It needs more nails than siding, so it the studs are 16-inches OC, you may need to add some. The instructions will tell you what’s needed. As for the look, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t wood. The stuff I used had a fake wood grain texture, which was fine, except that real wood siding does not have a wood grain texture. I think it would be better if they left it smooth – like wood siding. It takes paint very well. The stuff I used was pre-primed. It was also affordable. I bought it on-sale and I recall that it was cheaper a sq ft than the 4X8 sheets of shop siding or that T1-11 crap.
Don’t just take someone else’s word for it at the lumber yard. Call around a do a price comparison to real wood siding.
I did some serious shopping for fiber cement (Hardiplank & Certainteed) a few years ago with a friend that was replacing hail damaged cedar shakes on his house. Actually, my dad (a structural enginner) recommended it to him. Everyone has pretty much covered the pluses & minuses. Only thing I would add is to ask a contractor for the names & addresses of past clients....and then go check out their houses. Its been around most areas long enought that you should be able to see a selection. I liked the look of planks a lot, but wasn't overly thrilled with the shakes....however, they were a vast imporvement over vinyl (that was the rage here a few years back).
Stop over here and have a closeup look at ours. I like it. Our carpenter got the scallops on the bay windows and that's a nice look, too. Then again, I think I'm getting less picky in my old age. (Just get the &*!@ house covered!) We were told 20 years on the pre-painted. We'll find out, I guess.
~K
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