Homeowner Forum / Construction / February 2007

Works great in Florida. Termites hate it.
Can be painted too. (or Stained).
Mess to cut, real dusty.

Regarding horizontal lap siding from James Hardie:
Real dusty when cutting, use a carbide tip blade if using an electric saw.
Use a router for fancy cuts or making holes for outlets.  Must be upwind
from the dust to survive a cut, wear a dust mask.  Joints can be little
sloppy, but, all vertical joints have to be caulked.  The all OSB wall is
easiest for this.  The other option calls far almost twice the amount of
studs, and a cut-in storm brace on each corner.  If handling lengthy pieces,
they can break under their own weight.  Difficult to nail properly whether
hand or pneumatic nailer.  Head of nail should be flush with product
surface.  Sucks up paint, even the pre-primed stuff.  You'll need lots of
paint.  Wicks water, keep it off the ground at all times, keep covered with
tarp if storing outside.  Water makes it brittle and crumbly.

Warranty is only valid if the procedures for application are adhered to,
including the structure is applied to, and including caulking NSTM and paint
NSTM.  Final product appearance it great.  Seems to hold well up so far.

I recently saw an application in Tewksbury, MA  where the contractor did
not follow instructions regarding clearances between roofs and walls
above.

All of the siding at the dormers was in contact or within 1/4 inch of
the roof shingles.  In every instance, the hardi plank absorbed water,
froze and delaminated.  Quite a mess.

Other than that, no problems and it looks fine.

Have you considered vinyl?  The stuff they manufacture today is pretty
impressive.  Certainteed has pretty good products.  I've seen them  on
big $$ new homes in Rye and Stratham.

I've used it on 2 homes, and wouldn't use anything else.

Dust -- don't cut, rent or buy shears <http://www.google.com/search?
source=ig&hl=en&q=Fiber+cement+shears&btnG=Google+Search> I didn't use
them but it looks like the way to go.
Saw blade -- they have special 4 tooth hardi blades +-$40
Joints -- now it's recommended to used metal shingles at each joint no
caulking.
Paint -- I didn't experience the soak as the other poster...it was the
easiest material I've ever painted.
Hanging -- use solo siders <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/
B000HVEVX4/104-2019290-7700741>makes it a one person job...send me
$22, and I'll sell you a set that's "broke in" but in perfect working
condition.

It's a great product...make sure you keep the end gaps and you'll get
along fine.

Good luck,

DAC

Used it on a new house in northern Ohio four years ago.  The installer was
careful to seal the edges and caulk joints.  Painting the pre-primed siding
was routine.

Only problem so far is that some paint came off where, apparently the
seal/caulk was missing.  Easily fixed.

It looks much better than vinyl siding.

TKM

I used it on my house 5 years ago and love it.  Follow the manufacturer's
installation instructions.  I used power shears to cut it to eliminate the
dust issue and nailed it with a pnuematic coil nailer.  Went up great and
looks great.  I wouldn't use anything else.

Used it on a previous house in the Houston area... Cutting it with a
normal saw blade will result in the blade becoming cherry red... There
are specialty blades made for cutting it, but they're expensive... For
just a couple of cuts, I used masonry abrasive blades in my circular
saw... They cost about a buck or so each and work acceptably... For a
large project, I would suggest that you consider the electric shear
type cutters... No dust, just a little strip of the cut material left
over... Even better, they're very quiet and won't distrub anyone still
sleeping early in the morning...