Hardiplank or other cement siding problems?

[2drx4]

Does anyone here have personal experience with problems with these products?

I hadn't heard of anything other than blatant install errors. However, my contractor mentioned to me that there had been some issues, so I got out my googler and found a LOT of bad press.

The issues appear to be paint failure due to adhesion problems, probably resulting from moisture when the paint was applied (both for site painted and factory painted siding); along with total failure/delamination of the siding from moisture penetrating it for an extended period of time (example was snow left against siding). Certainteed also appears to have reformulated as the result of expansion/contraction issues sometime around 2006?

So, I'd like to hear the personal opinions... If the failure rate is less than 1%, I'm still sold on going with Hardiplank. If it's higher than that, then what? My contractor wants to just throw Vinyl on it, 'easy and cheap', I hate that stuff

 

[Tunajoe]

I did my whole house in Hardisiding. Absolutley no problems to date.
However, I am in Southern California and our weather isn't nearly as extreme.

 

[PAToyota]

Did you post the question over on Pirate? If so, I won't repeat myself here.

 

[2drx4]

However, I am in Southern California and our weather isn't nearly as extreme.

Yeah.

We have an extreme of an 80* C (135F) temperature differential between summer and winter here

Also, it can snow a lot. So I'm a little concerned if simply having some snow against the siding is such an issue. My house is ceder sided though, no issues with it, as snow doesn't build up against it. The shop will have the siding starting at least a foot off the ground, due to my obsession with concrete.

 

[2drx4]

Did you post the question over on Pirate? If so, I won't repeat myself here.

I'm the same guy.

Pirate GCC first, then go somewhere else when I don't like what I hear...

 

[Nowater]

I used Hardiboard in the few areas of my house done with a decorative siding when my house was built here in Florida. So far no problems. In fact, I delayed painting one section for a year, so I applied my own primer and than some of the best Sherwin-Williams paint. No chance of snow sitting against the siding, but plenty of chance for rain. This stuff is like a thin sheet of concrete! The nails should sit proud of the surface, not flush. Also, I made sure that each nail was sufficiently covered with paint.

 

[retfr8flyr]

My house is brick but all the exterior trim and the siding on my sun room is Hardiplank. The house is 12 years old and I haven't had a single problem with the Hardiplank, still on the original paint. The winters here in VA aren't that bad but the summer heat is brutal. I would highly recommend it.

 

[sselander]

My colonial was built with the pre-finished HardiPlank around 2005-2006.
There is a very small area where the finish peeled away. (Granted this is near where the furnace vents out)

I contacted James Hardie, and they mentioned they had a problem with a small batch. If I provide them with the lot number on the back, they will reimburse me for the replacement. (not including labor of course). I have not done this yet. So far the rest of the Hardi-Plank has held up through all of the storms we have had and still looks good.

We also went with the plastic Azek trim and fiberglass Marvin Integrity windows and sliders, and fiberglass Therma-Tru doors.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Like TunaJoe, I'm in Southern California, but 10 years on, I have had no problem with the Hardi siding. I painted mine before installation only touching up seams and the like afterward. The only issue so far has been in areas with a strong southern exposure, the movement in the siding has caused the caulking in the joints to fail. No big deal. I am gradually going back and replacing it with a more expensive and hopefully better quality sealant.

 

[jimindm]

We installed it on the house, about 12 years ago, following a major addition. We used it for soffits also. So far I have no complaints. It has held up as well as any other siding would have. Some of the paint is just beginning to peel at the bottom. I would say that the reason for this was that we had no gutters on the house and did not get it cleaned of good enough before painting.

My mom has a slate siding on here house. I used some to do a repair job around her door. It does not like ice melt. My dads health was bad enough that I beached it on the porch all winter. Did try to sweep it of periodically, and a long soaking rinse in the spring. The paint is there, but I will likely replace the lower piece this summer. Most people would not throw as much salt as I did. It still lasted 7-8 years.

At our house we have replaced one piece next to the driveway, because of my snowplow usage, it busted in two. It has held up to bushes rubbing on it, balls and hockey pucks inadvertently hitting it. We get below zero in the winters and high 90 in the summer.

The Masonite is looking pretty grim on the garage. Will go with hardiplank next year on it. In my opinion, it is great stuff.

 

[1320stang]

A co-worker's parents house in Iowa was done in James Hardie 30 some odd years ago and went 25+ years on the original white paint. He said it was chalky but looked great from the road. Vinyl gets the droops in Oklahoma, particularly on west exposures. Vinyl windows are the same way.

 

[brouser01]

I used the planks on a southern facing Granny Flat (I am also in Southern CA). Siding was installed by professionals. Since the siding can get extremely Hot, I have to assume it is the origin of the Flat's uncomfortably high interior temperatures. The siding radiates heat into the evening.
My .02

 

[2drx4]

Thanks for all the input. It doesn't seem like there's much for negative press over here.

 

[Bib Overalls]

We used Hardiplank siding and soffit material when we built our house 12 years ago. No problems. Use stainless steel fasteners.