Question for Home Repair/Contractor types

[brandonbull]

I'm looking to replace existing T1-11 on my house and would like to know if Hardipanels are a good replacement idea in FL. I've gotten good and bad responses from the contractors that came out for repair estimates.

 

[wyvrn]

I have them on my home. They are becoming standard issue on new homes in TX. The good thing is they are concrete, so they don't rot. They are also harder to install than wood, AFAIK. But I would recommend them because they look great and are low maintenance.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
I have them on my home. They are becoming standard issue on new homes in TX. The good thing is they are concrete, so they don't rot. They are also harder to install than wood, AFAIK. But I would recommend them because they look great and are low maintenance.

One contractor told me they fail after a few years due to the humidity in FL. I don't know anything about the Hardie products.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: brandonbull

Originally posted by: wyvrn
I have them on my home. They are becoming standard issue on new homes in TX. The good thing is they are concrete, so they don't rot. They are also harder to install than wood, AFAIK. But I would recommend them because they look great and are low maintenance.

One contractor told me they fail after a few years due to the humidity in FL. I don't know anything about the Hardie products.

Hardipanel is touted to resist humidity better than wood. I like hardibacker and use it as underlayment.

FYI, there is some carcinogens in their products, so be sure to wear a mask and score and crack, not cut.

 

[Greenman]

I've used a lot of Hardiplank, and just put HardiPanel on a room addition here in CA. It's a good product, but I can see where the concern about humidity would come from. The stuff does soak up water, and it's very hard to handle when it's wet. But if you buy it pre-primed, and paint it per manufactures specs, I should be fine.
From a contractors prospective, it's harder to work with. It's heavy, doesn't cut well, it's fragile, and the dust from cutting the stuff will give you silicosis if you don't wear a mask.

I've heard from one person that there was a class action suit in Australia over a very high failure rate, but that information is second class hearsay. Around here it's almost become the standard siding because it's cheap, looks great, and has a twenty year warranty.

 

[brandonbull]

I need to replace the existing T1-11 on my end gables and a few contractors suggested Hardipanels to cover the T1-11 and one said to just put siding up over the T1-11.