
Yes, Hardie
Keir Hardie
James Keir Hardie was a Scottish trade unionist and politician. He was a founder of the Labour Party, and served as its first parliamentary leader from 1906 to 1908.
Can Hardie board get Wet?
Hardie boards do not get wet when they’re installed on the wall. But the boards absorb water when they are put uncovered, flat on a surface. It takes a considerable amount of water to make Hardie boards wet. Can Hardie board get wet? What happens if the Hardie board gets wet?
Is Hardie siding waterproof?
Especially along cut edges where water can soak into the fiber cement. You see, Hardie is great at resisting moisture when intact, but once the inside of the material is exposed to water, it soaks up and holds moisture better than almost any siding on the market.
Can you put fiber cement over Hardie siding?
As you can plainly see above the answer is yes. But this is most commonly due to Hardie board installation problems and not the siding itself. When installing fiber cement you have to respect the manufacturers recommended clearances. There should be a space between the bottom the the Hardie and the cement.
Can you install James Hardie siding in the rain?
It’s no problem for a contractor to install James Hardie products in light rain. And if a board does get wet, but is not sitting in moisture for an extended period of time, you can simply let it dry out before installing. RELATED: Does James Hardie siding fade?

What happens if Hardie board gets wet?
James Hardie siding and trim products must be kept dry at all times prior to installation. If products become saturated before they are installed, the following problems may occur: OPEN JOINTS DUE TO SHRINKAGE If installed wet, joints between planks may open up requiring repair or replacement.
Is Hardie siding waterproof?
The HardiePlank siding is made with a human-made mix of strong materials and wood fiber for years of worry-free, maintenance-free service. Fiber cement siding is waterproof, fire-resistant, and insectproof.
Can fiber cement siding get wet?
Homeowners will want to know what the best siding material choice is for their home's exterior, especially in a wet, coastal climate. While there are choices of building materials that work on home exteriors in the coastal regions, fiber cement is one of the best because fiber cement siding is waterproof.
Does Hardie board hold moisture?
Hardie Board siding withstands the elements with ease. It keeps looking amazing and performing its job of protecting your home in spite of its direct contact with the elements 24/7. It withstands rain, hail, high winds, storms, snow, ice, harsh humidity, and temperature changes.
What are the cons of Hardie board?
The Disadvantages Of Hardie Board Siding Hardie board is close, but the one drawback of Hardie board siding is upfront costs. This material is heavier than vinyl, which means installation requires more labor and specialized installation. The material itself is also more costly than most vinyl options.
Does Hardie board need to be waterproofed?
Hardiebacker (James Hardie): the use of a waterproof membrane, vapor barrier or vapor. retarding membrane is optional unless the local building code requires it.
What causes Hardie board to crack?
Common Causes For Hardie Board Cracking Or Splitting Nails driven below the panel surface and directional nailing can cause cracking and splitting of fiber cement. Nailing too high or close at an edge. This can create a small crack which leads from the nail to the edge of the siding board.
How often should you paint hardiplank siding?
Want to know more about James Hardie Siding? The life of an average paint job in the Mid-West is typically 5 to 7 years. On fiber cement, the average is 6 to 8 years. However, when following a text book approach, we have found that we can usually double that life span on an average of 12 to 14 years!
Does Hardie board mildew?
Dirt and filth from bird droppings, dust, and pollen can accumulate on your exterior surface, diminishing the look of your siding and your house. James Hardie siding shouldn't need cleaning very often. It is resistant to mold, mildew, and fading, but it can get dirty over time like all things.
What are the disadvantages of fiber cement siding?
Top 5 Problems With Fiber CementFiber cement siding requires maintenance.Fiber cement siding absorbs moisture.Fiber cement is difficult to install.Fiber cement is not the most environmentally friendly siding.Fiber cement is not energy efficient.
Does Hardie board siding rot?
James Hardie® siding, unlike wood or vinyl siding, will not rot, warp, or burn. HardiePlank® is a fiber cement based siding, so it's impervious to water, termites, woodpeckers, and any other animal you can think of.
Do you need to caulk hardiplank siding?
Examples of suitable material include painted or coated coil stock and code compliant water-resistive barriers, such as HardieWrap® weather barrier. Other products may also be suitable. James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank® siding with ColorPlus® technology.
Does Hardie board siding rot?
James Hardie® siding, unlike wood or vinyl siding, will not rot, warp, or burn. HardiePlank® is a fiber cement based siding, so it's impervious to water, termites, woodpeckers, and any other animal you can think of.
Can you power wash Hardie board?
Can You Pressure Wash James Hardie Siding? The manufacturer recommends that you do not pressure wash your Hardie siding. The hard spray of water from the power washer can damage the surface of the siding. In fact, pressure washing fiber cement siding is one of the only ways you can damage this durable type of siding.
Do you need to caulk hardiplank siding?
Examples of suitable material include painted or coated coil stock and code compliant water-resistive barriers, such as HardieWrap® weather barrier. Other products may also be suitable. James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank® siding with ColorPlus® technology.
Is cement board water resistant?
Cement boards may be classified as water resistant as they are not affected by water exposure; however, they do allow penetration and passage of water and water vapor. To waterproof cement boards, a liquid or membrane waterproofing material is applied over its surface.
What is a hardie siding?
Hardie siding problems, a.k.a. fiber cement problems, are rare but do happen from time to time. Fiber cement is a siding material that was first introduced in the 1980’s as a replacement for asbestos cement, wood, aluminum and vinyl siding products. Hardie has steadily grown in popularity since, mostly due to it’s durability, style, feel and texture. It’s also a mostly natural material which is more “eco friendly” than vinyl, acts as a fire stop, and last longer if properly maintained. With so many siding products available today, it’s important to understand the benefits, as well as the problems with Hardie siding before you make a decision about what siding to install on your home. While we’ll look at the benefits of Hardie siding elsewhere, this article will explore the five worst problems with Hardie siding.
How long does hardie siding last?
While a paint job on fiber cement siding lasts longer than wood—usually anywhere between 7-10 years, it’ll eventually need to be redone. And that can be a pretty expensive task.
What is the flashing on a hardie siding?
Water which makes it’s way behind the Hardie siding should hit the flashing layer. The flashing keeps water off the sheathing and drains water properly which prevents water damage. Remember, one of the main Hardie siding problems is water damage however it’s also one of the easiest to prevent with proper installation.
What are some examples of siding problems caused by an inexperienced contractor?
Clearance Issues. When installing fiber cement you have to respect the manufacturers recommended clearances. There should be a space between the bottom the the Hardie and the cement. This is another example of Hardie siding installation problems caused by an inexperienced contractor.
What is the worst thing about fiber cement siding?
Fiber cement siding is a hard, brittle product. One of the worst problems with Hardie siding is moisture damaged which can be caused by cracking. Water will run down from this sill, absorb into the siding, get behind into the sheathing and possibly the frame, causing all sorts of eventual problems.
How to prevent moisture absorption with fiber cement?
The only way to reduce moisture absorption with any fiber cement siding product is correct installation. It all comes down to installing the material the right way. Follow the manufacturers instructions to a tee. In order to do that you have to hire the right professional to do the job. Make sure they’re experienced with installing fiber cement. Moisture problems with Hardie siding aren’t going away. There’s no way to completely eliminate them when the material itself is the problem. But with proper installation and care you can prevent moisture problems with Hardie siding from damaging your home.
Why is my siding so hard?
Most Hardie siding problems we see are due to improper installation. Fiber cement is a great siding materials, but you have to install it the right way. And not just the siding itself, but also the flashing, house wrap, and painting too.
What is hardie siding made of?
By now you probably know that Hardie siding is made of fiber cement, which requires installers to take care when cutting to make sure that they don’t breathe in small sand (silica) particles. Continued exposure to these particles can lead to severe long-term health issues for workers if it isn’t managed correctly.
How long does James Hardie siding last?
James Hardie siding is a beautiful exterior product that can last longer than 30 years in Edmonton’s harsh climate. However, to ensure that the product lasts as long as it should and looks great throughout its lifespan, it’s important that your siding contractor follows the installation instructions.
How far down should nails fall on hardie plank siding?
Hardie Plank siding has a nail line across the top of the board that is 1” down from the top, and nails are supposed to fall between ¾” and 1” from the top of the board to give the best hold. Any lower and you might see a few nail heads poking through the bottom of the next board, any higher and your siding is likely to be loose and could even rattle in the wind.
Why are James Hardie nails so high?
High nails are very common from inexperienced James Hardie installers, because they think the nails can go anywhere above the nail line. If you can easily fit your hand underneath your Hardie siding, 9 times out of 10 that’s because the installer didn’t nail the boards properly.
What are some common mistakes James Hardie makes?
1. Ugly Touch-Ups. Touch-up mistakes are by far the most common error that Edmonton’s James Hardie installers make. Because James Hardie paints and cures its siding in its factories, the sheen of the touch-up that it sends out doesn’t quite match up.
What is the best tool for siding?
Hardie Plank siding is almost always installed with air nailers, which are the best tool for quick installation. The only downside of pneumatic tools is that sometimes the installer will get going a little bit too quickly, and will lose track of where the nails are going.
How much gap between James Hardie siding?
Hardie siding requires a minimum 2” gap from all hard surfaces like decks or rooflines, and at least 8” from any soft surfaces like grass, dirt, or gravel.
The culprit: Dirt
Tools: Big storms and windy days pick up dust and dirt that can cling to your home siding. To clean the muck from your home’s exterior you’ll want a soft cloth, a soft brush (such as an All Paint poly brush, a chip brush or horsehair bench brush) and a garden hose.
The culprit: Oil, grease or other organic contaminants
Tools: Oil-covered hands and greasy fingers can make their way to your home’s siding, in which case you’ll want to grab a soft cloth and a garden hose.
The culprit: Mold and mildew
Tools: Mildew can resemble dirt at times, so when it comes time to clean your siding, be sure to inspect the planks, panels or shingles. If you land on any mold or mildew, you’ll need a soft cloth (or soft sponge) and a garden hose.
