Because It Is A Long Lasting Home Siding Solution

In one of the previous posts we talked about the huge popularity of this type of home siding. Now I wanted to go more in depth about this subject, to explain why is hardie siding so popular and why people choose it among other solutions. Sure, there will be some well known facts written here and you may not find many of these things interesting, but they have to be mentioned. It's a small history of home siding development and improvement.

Since the first man built his first house, he has been trying to improve the efficiency and the looks of his home. In the same way the homeowners are trying their best to maintain the good looks of their siding at the exterior of their home, but quite often their efforts fail to bring the desired results, but Hardie Plank siding got developed and helped a lot.

The T-111 and vinyl siding problems

A lot many homes constructed during the late 70’s till the late 90’s used what we know as T-111 siding on the exteriors. This plywood siding could retain its good looks for the initial year or two but couldn’t last beyond a couple of years.

The typical problem of using T-111 had been that despite being maintained and painted it would begin to disintegrate after the initial few years, being made of plywood. And, once plywood begins to disintegrate, fungus and bugs are not far away.

With the coming of vinyl siding, the said problems were supposed to have been taken care of. Unfortunately, vinyl siding over continuous use was prone to gathering moisture between the layers of sub-siding and vinyl sheets and eventually would become a breeding place for bugs and rot would set in. Another limitation with vinyl siding had been that it would begin to sag or become brittle on being exposed to extreme temperatures.

Regardless of the homeowners’ efforts to extend the life of exterior siding at home, they definitely needed a better-designed siding that could withstand weather elements.

Now, there’s a better choice in the form of Hardie Plank siding.

Hardie Board siding is intended to survive the test of time and offer resistance to fire impact, and all kinds of bugs and wear and tear. These properties are achieved using materials that discourage deterioration.

A combination of different materials is used for making Hardie Plank siding. All the especially created materials work collectively to provide protection to house and it continues to look attractive for many years. Moreover, it’s available in many colors and styles and varieties to choose from.

The siding maintains its looks all thru the year, and year after year without your having to ever paint it. If at all it begins to look dirty, you just need to power wash it to make it look as fresh as new, the way you always wanted it to look.

What kind of Hardie Plank siding is best for your home?

Requirements of each home are different. If you intend replacing your existing siding with Hardie Plank, you should consult the right man in your area to know what would best suit your kind of requirements. You could talk to an experienced contractor in your area that is familiar with the installation of Hardie plank and other sidings.

You may be living in New York, Los Angeles or Houston, just spend a few minutes on the Internet and you are sure to locate the right contractor in your area. Even if you check in your neighborhood, you won’t take long to learn that Hardie Plank siding is the number one choice of homeowners.

Hardiplank Siding derives its name from its inventor, James Hardie, who developed it almost a hundred years ago. Today, it’s undoubtedly among the best sidings available in the market. Basically, it’s a fiber cement board. Hardiplank Siding is among the most preferred siding mainly because of its sturdy nature that makes it highly durable. It is proven to have better properties and thus more useful than other comparable materials like Vinyl, wood, Lp, Wayehauser and Maisonite outdoor construction materials.

Fighting With Extreme weather

The Hardiplank siding has a dense composition. It’s a complex mixture of items like cement, sand and cellulose fiber etc. Use of such materials gives it the required degree of hardness that shields the building from varying and detrimental climatic conditions. The material is especially found suitable for buildings in the US. Hardiplank siding when used in coastal regions can surely protect you from any hurricane that may strike the said regions. Hardiplank siding proves to be equally useful when used in areas with heavy rainfalls, like Pacific Northwest as it doesn’t soak up water. If you happen to be living in a region that faces heavy snowfall or severe sleet, you’ll find Hardiplank siding to stand tall even under such conditions too. In short, you can certainly rely upon Hardiplank siding to shield you from any kind of climatic conditions.

Economic Viability

On comparing the economics of using different siding materials you’ll realize that Hardiplank siding certainly comes to the top. As far as buying price is concerned, Hardiplank siding surely costs a bit more than vinyl. But if you take into account long term advantages like ease of maintenance, durability and fewer number of repainting and its overall quality, Hardiplank siding proves to be the most economical. Wooden siding is definitely more expensive than Hardiplank siding. If you are in the category of people who prefer to have wood mainly because of its looks, you should be pleased to know that Hardiplank siding has very convincing wood like looks. However, unlike wood, this material is not sensitive to fire and doesn’t rot like wood. Moreover, Hardiplank siding is highly resistant to cracks, damages and breakages, making it so different from many other materials.

Easy Maintenance

Let’s take the maintenance part now. It’s very easy and quick to clean this cement siding. All that you need for its cleaning is a power cleaner and in a matter of minutes you get a siding that shines like a new one. As you can appreciate it’s not at all difficult or tiring to clean this siding. Apart from safeguarding you from external environmental conditions, Hardiplank siding keeps you safe from harmful indoor elements like fungus, insects, pests and termites etc. Because of its characteristically dense construction, it remains unaffected by these harmful elements that could weaken the siding. As it remains unaffected by moisture, fungus and insects, it won’t rot. For the same reasons it remains rust proof. So, now you can understand that this siding provides a firm shield against fire, hurricane and insects.

Why Is This Kind Of Home Siding So Popular?

Countless homeowners in South and North America are utilizing the latest manmade home siding that has revolutionized the market for home sliding. Hardie board siding is getting increasingly popular as a logical substitute for usual wood and vinyl siding because of its matchless toughness and strength.

Many people refer to Hardy plank siding as “hardie siding”. It derives that unique name not because of its exceptional capabilities and strength, but due its inventor, a man named James Hardie. James Hardie developed Hardy plank siding in Australia as a substitute for wood and vinyl in home market. However, the patrons of Hardy plank are no more limited to Australia alone, it’s a worldwide phenomenon now.

The man made Hardy plank siding is engineered to reproduce the texture and grain of real wood siding and closely resembles real wood. Many users report that Hardy wood siding can bear extreme weather conditions making it a perfect choice for those living in extremes of climate. This siding is fire and water resistant, never warps or rots, and remains unaffected by termites and other insects that usually harm the more traditional sidings.

Another outstanding feature of this siding is its ability to retain paint much better than wood. As a matter of fact this siding seldom peels or gets chipped on being painted. However many homeowners are so impressed by its attractive natural appearance that they choose to forego its paintings.

Like any other siding, appropriate installation and maintenance contribute most to the life of Hardy plank siding. Homeowner will find installation of Hardy plank siding especially easy. It just needs the basic tools that most homeowners have at home and needs no special preparation work needing any special skills. And, you couldn’t expect easier maintenance. Hardy plank siding can easily be washed using an ordinary garden hose.

Consumers all over the world have realized Australia’s secret, and this kind of siding is sure to stay. It’s available in a number of colors and styles to fit varying requirements of homeowners, and accessible at attractive prices. Coupled with all this is an excellent manufacturer’s warranty. So, if you are looking for new siding, do consider Hardy plank siding for its unmatched durability, strength, and beauty.

Cement Board Siding - A Few Need To Know Facts

Cement board siding is undoubtedly among the best forms of sidings. It’s strong durable and easily manageable. This article explains in detail the wonders of this material.

James Hardie Industries in Australia first developed cement board siding more than hundred years ago. The company learnt its manufacturing process during the course of its continued research to develop a building material capable of withstanding the wear and tear caused in extreme climatic conditions - it is exceptionally strong, and resists fires, insects and rot.

This is a very adaptable material that can be molded to get different styles and shapes. Simulated wood grain is often used for making cement board siding, though it’s also available in other designs like stucco and or smooth exteriors.

Amazing Siding & Windows presents the best of cement fiber siding for homes. They are experts in its installation and offer warranties that you will find difficult to get from any other manufacturer. With this product around, you won’t ever have to worry about the exteriors of your home.

Cement Board Siding: It's Reliable

Unlike vinyl siding, cement board siding definitely requires painting. But, unlike wood, the absorption of paint by cement siding is long lasting. Once it has been painted with a high-quality, protective paint it is not likely to get chipped or peeled off. The best thing is that it continues to look like any beautiful wood but there is no fear of its getting damaged by water. Any kind of external wall of homes can be covered with cement fiber, and in various cases the soffits too.

Fiber cement board siding is the ideal material for homes located in areas that face high winds or are prone to fires due its high resistance. Termites or such harmful bugs don’t find this siding friendly. This siding is least affected my moisture.

The style of this siding is as good as other plywood patterns. Both siding options, smooth or embossed, give the looks of real wood. A very prominent difference that one notices while installing is that the fiber cement board siding weighs just half of composite siding of the same size.

Durability of Cement Board Siding

Fiber cement siding may be installed in many different ways. Many of the ways for its installation are akin to installation of normal wood siding. A very well accepted method of installation involves strapping of siding with nails or wood screws on a wood frame.

Though the installation of wood and fiber cement board siding is alike, ways of cutting these types of siding are very different. Cutting of fiber cement board siding is rather difficult and therefore more time consuming than the other wood siding. One needs power tools for its cutting. Before going ahead with the cutting and nailing of siding, you should read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure your own safety, as well of those around you.

Learn To Cut Hardie Board Fiber Cement Siding

In Seattle, Hardie Plank fiber cement is among the most favored kind of siding for exterior replacement. The biggest problem that you are required to face, if undertaking any DIY project connected with this siding is that at times it’s cutting is very challenging. Apart from getting crumbled during its handling, it generates a whole lot of dust. Unless you are working outdoors, that could be a major drawback. Some of the important things you need to consider while cutting this brand of popular siding are noted here:

What tools are there that can cut James Hardie Plank siding?

Shears – James Hardy plank siding is too well known for generating dust and the best way to eliminate or at least reduce that considerably are thru use of shears. When considering options for cutting this kind of siding, there is no better option than shears. That’s particularly true if you decide to work indoors, else the dust generated by using any other tool will simply choke you, forcing you to move out. The only limitation of employing shears is that the siding could crumble at times when you are not being careful. Otherwise, it’s the ideal way of cutting fiber cement.

Circular Saw – This is not a very ideal suggestion for cutting Hardy plank siding as it necessitates using a special blade, otherwise you will be engulfed with dust in no time. Though the especial blade is helpful to some extent, it’s certainly not the best choice when compared to other options.

No Blade Option – You may even use a utility knife or a sharp razor blade to cut basic siding lines. Just draw a straight line using the knife and snap the Hardie siding along the straight edge. But, you can use this technique only for making straight cuts and not for any angular or circular cuts.

Jigsaws, Angle Grinders and the like – You just can’t do away with these tools when cutting James Hardy Plank siding to fit it around the doors and windows or any place with a bit of curve. Unless you employ these tools, the siding would break or crumble. It needs some patience and frequent changing of blades.

So, don’t get disheartened. While it’s not all that easy to cut Hardy plank siding, it’s not as difficult as it’s often projected to be. As long as you use the right tools and take necessary precautions, it’s easy to cut with minimum wastage.

Here are a couple of videos that show different approaches on how to cut hardie siding planks.

Why Should You Choose Hardie Over Wood And Vinyl

Hardie plank siding makes a much better option than any vinyl or wood siding when considering good options for constructing your home. While it continues to give you the feel and looks of real wood, it remains extremely durable due its weather resistant properties and saves you from all the problems typically encountered while using the vinyl or old-fashioned wood sidings. Using this siding adds value to your property, giving a better return on your investment as a whole.

The three most important reasons that make Hardie plank a better option when deciding on the siding for your home are:

Reason #1: Hardie plank siding won’t rot, warp or crack

Depending on their geographical locations, some houses are exposed to very high level of humidity, rough weather and frequent temperature variations. All these natural factors cause more wear and tear of sidings. We are too well aware of the warping and rotting of wood and thinning of vinyl and its developing cracks over a period of time. Both these materials are known to absorb moisture that causes decay and thus adversely affects the structural strength of homes.

The material that go in the making of Hardie plank is impact resistant and doesn’t rot, crack or warp like vinyl and wood. It’s a strong material designed to withstand weather elements. That means it’s a longer lasting material that the conventional materials used for the purpose. Unlike most other kinds of siding materials it hardly needs any maintenance or repairs.

Apart from being extremely durable, Hardie plank can better retain paints, compared to other traditional materials, thus further reducing the labor and expense for its maintenance.

Reason #2: Hardie plank is fire-resistant

Vinyl siding on getting exposed to fire melts very quickly and emits toxic fumes that are injurious and hazardous to the occupants of the house and we know how fast a wooden home gets razed to ground incase of a fire.

Hardie plank siding is characteristically very fire-resistant. You may be aware that having Hardie plank siding at home not only offers additional safety to the family in case of any fire, even insurance companies offer you preferential treatments on that account.

Reason #3: Termites do not affect Hardie plank siding

One major reason that causes degradation of houses is the damage caused by termites.
Getting rid of termites for good is a very complex process, and repairing the damages caused by termites an expensive affair. Fiber cement, the material used for making this siding, remains unaffected by natural hazards of termite infestations, providing additional protection and thus durability to homes.

Every homeowner surely accords priority to protection of his or her investment. Compared to vinyl and wood siding, Hardie plank siding offers better value for your money while lasting longer and providing added safety. The other notable feature that makes it the ideal choice for siding for homeowners, apart from its value and safety, is the minimal maintenance it needs, thus further reducing your overall expense and labor needed for that purpose.

Hardie Siding - Painting Options And Advices

In his quest for developing a strong material that could face extreme climatic conditions, James Hardy successfully developed a siding that we know today as HardiPlank siding.

HardiPlank siding may be used the same way as any other normal siding. Compared to wooden or vinyl sidings, it has a much longer life. Further, its maintenance is very convenient and quick. Being highly resistant to insects, pests, termites, cracks and fire, it lasts longer than most traditional sidings.

You can have Hardie plank siding in numerous colors, sizes, shapes and textures. You can get remarkably versatile finishes with these to get the desired effect in your space. When installing Hardiplank siding, you can take advantage of colored Hardie board supplies that match your chosen color scheme. Moreover, you can further personalize your installation by using board materials with pre-selected colors by means of the ColorPlus technology.

Though there are many options for painting, the warranty specifications of Hardiplank siding prescribes some guidelines for that. These should be followed in totality for having a long lasting siding and keeping the warranty valid. Some of the most important points to be kept in mind are given here:

* Carefully go through the warranty clause, else you may lose its benefits.

* It’s imperative that you utilize high class prime for siding. The manufacturers specify certain products specifically for this purpose. The product known as PrimePlus gives the best results if you apply it before applying coat of paint, thus working as a primer.

* You should use only acrylic paint for this purpose. Since acrylic paints are meant for painting surfaces like cement, fiber and stone, they will give good results when used for painting Hardiplank siding also.

* Hardiplank siding should be primed and painted inside of six months of its installation.

* Hardiplank siding that has not been primed should be painted inside of three months of its installation.

* Whether it’s primed or unprimed, siding should never be painted with oil paints. Such paints make it look very bad. As these paints don’t adhere well with the siding material, you’ll find cracks once the paint gets dried. Further they make the surface uneven and chalk out too soon.

* Before painting the process of caulking should be finished carefully.

* Make sure that the primer is evenly spread out on the siding including its sides and edges.

* While preparing the siding for painting, it should be thoroughly washed before hand. This gives a long lasting paint of good quality that is maintained.

* A glossy or satin finish is ideally suited for painting of Hardiplank siding. That’s because such a finish doesn’t deteriorate for long. On the other hand, the siding develops a dull lifeless looks if painted with matte or flat finish.

So, that’s how you could possibly make the best option for painting your Hardiplank siding. If you bear in mind the above listed points, you’ll find the process of painting to be fun and exciting that gives highly satisfactory results.