Hardiplank - Invaluable tool

[Der Bugmeister]

I'm just starting the installation of HardiPlank siding on my garage, and if anyone has done this before then I don't need to tell you it's not a fun job to do on your own. I was cruising through a new subdivision on Friday and stopped to talk with a Hardiplank installer, who turned me onto these Gecko Gauges.

The clamp onto the lower course of planking and support the next course. No muss, no fuss - they adjust to space your boards depending on which of the 4 hardiplank sizes you're using. Support the board to leave both your hands free for nailing and checking level.

If you're going to do any Hardiplanking, alone or with a friend, you need to check these out. They may be a bit pricey (found mine for $115 CDN), but damn! they're worth it.

The Gecko Gauges up close and in action:

 

[eschoendorff]

Didn't even know those existed... pretty neat, though. Most of us here in the states use vinyl siding nowadays. Is Hardiplanking cheaper?

 

[nova65ss]

That's a cool tool. The guys that did mine just used a piece of wood w/ two notches but it wouldn't stay up by itself. Still a two person job. If I knew those were out there I would have done it myself, getting someone to help every night and on weekends would have been tough so I paid someone.

Most everyone around here still use hardi-plank. It is much more expensive than vinyl and still needs to be painted. I think it looks much better than vinyl, jmo.

Jimmy

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Vinyl is cheaper, but I far prefer the look of Hardiplank vs vinyl. Yes, you have to paint the hardi, but that also means your colour choices aren't limited to what vinyl is available in. I got mine precoloured before delivery to save myself the time for the first coat.

I put some hardiplank up on my attached garage walls when I converted it from a carport, and brushed on one coat of paint 7 years ago. Still looks like new, and I don't even need to think about doing any maintenance except to hose it off.

For the extra three or four hundred it cost to put the hardi on my garage (30 x 30 x 11), I couldn't say no.

 

[sjsfire]

I used the hardipanels (4x8 sheet) when I built my yard shed. If it's the same stuff, you need a concrete saw blade to cut them?? I just nailed a 2x2 along the bottom of my shed and was able to lift the sheets up and support them that way then nailed them. What a pain to nail, I bent just as many nails as I used to hang it Good durable material. I like the looks plus it should last my lifetime....

 

[cheyenne10]

Will it work on wood lap?

I wonder if these tools would work on bevel cedar lap siding?

Good example of right tool for the job.

thanks.

 

[Whatsit]

They make something similar for vinyl, I seen it on this old house.

 

[JMURiz]

Would this tool also work?
Not sure if I understand how to remove it though!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl.../search.dll?from=R40&satitle=7600136546&fvi=1

 

[Der Bugmeister]

Yes, it looks like it would work. The concept seems to be that you don't drive the initial nails home, which allows you to lever the bottom of the plank outwards enough that you can remove the tool. I think.

They're a lot cheaper than the Gecko Gauges, but I think I would still go with the GG's, given the option.

 

[JMURiz]

Makes sence now, the gecko looks way nicer, I guess you get what you pay for eh?