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The Global Insight

What is HardiePanel

Author

Emma Valentine

Updated on April 03, 2026

The Hardieplank lifespan. As a result, it has the same durability as brick or stone. And just as with a brick or stone home, Hardieplank siding should last for the life of your home. James Hardie offers a 30-year warranty on their product, which shows just how confident they are in the long life of their product.

How long does hardiplank last?

The Hardieplank lifespan. As a result, it has the same durability as brick or stone. And just as with a brick or stone home, Hardieplank siding should last for the life of your home. James Hardie offers a 30-year warranty on their product, which shows just how confident they are in the long life of their product.

Is Hardie board the same as cement board?

Fiber cement siding is often called “hardiplank” or even “hardie board” named from the most popular brand of fiber cement siding which is manufactured by James Hardie. … It is also installed in much the same way as traditional lapboard or wood siding, as it is nailed directly to your home.

What is Hardie used for?

Hardie board is a special siding material that uses cement fibers to create a more durable and attractive product. Cement is combined with sand, water and cellulose wood fibers to create a material particularly suited to protect home exteriors, especially in the Kansas City area.

Is Hardie board fiber cement?

Hardie Board siding is a super durable siding product that looks amazing, is long-lasting, and comes with a fabulous warranty. It’s made of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers which combine to create an outstanding material to both protect and beautify homes.

Should you paint HardiPlank?

Yes, you can, and you should. Painting Hardie board siding will significantly improve its look and its longevity. Siding finishes generally last for around 15 years, so you need to do it, and do it right. Painting, when done properly can really bring out the wood feel of the Hardie board.

Do termites eat hardiplank?

As we’ve mentioned, Hardie Board, vinyl, and metal siding are impervious to pests. Termites and carpenter ants eat wood, but the wood pulp used in Hardie board is infused with cement, so the pests have no interest or access to it.

Is Hardie board cheaper than brick?

Material alone, regular Hardi siding runs approximately $1.15/SF where “Artisan” runs $2.40/SF and brick runs anywhere from $2.50-$5.00/SF depending upon the brick you choose. There are six “standard” size brick per SF so this range will allow for an allowance of $0.42 – $0.83 per brick.

Does Hardie board need waterproofing?

Hardiebacker (James Hardie): the use of a waterproof membrane, vapor barrier or vapor. retarding membrane is optional unless the local building code requires it.

Does Hardie board soak up water?

Hardie siding does a great job of wicking moisture when it is installed on the wall, but when it’s uncovered and flat on the ground it will absorb water. … Luckily, it takes lots of water to saturate Hardie products! It’s no problem for a contractor to install James Hardie products in light rain.

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Do you need plywood behind Hardie board?

Fiber cement siding should be installed over plywood, OSB, or sheathing. … Building codes will usually require installing siding over water-resistant barriers and nailed into the studs every 16 or 24 inches.

Is hardiplank fireproof?

James Hardie Fire Resistance While James Hardie fiber cement is not considered a fireproof product, it is considered to be fire resistant. James Hardie siding products are non combustible and are considered by many building professionals to be a safer alternative than wood or vinyl siding.

Does Hardie board come unpainted?

Having unpainted Hardie siding can also provide an alternative option for your home and provides some benefits as well. More color selections are available with primed boards.

Can you screw into Hardie board siding?

James Hardie Building Products recommends keeping nails or screws at least 3/8 inch from the end of a plank. … Drill pilot holes, at each mark, one-quarter to one-half inch deep, to make it easier to insert screws and prevent cracking the siding. Align the bracket holes with the pilot holes in the siding.

Can Hardie board look like cedar?

These cedar slats have a golden undertone. Changing the color of the Hardie Board siding on your house is a relatively simple process. Select a sample of cedar in the shade you wish to match. … Once you are certain of your paint scheme, proceed with painting the Hardie Board.

What is better than HardiPlank?

Once the contractors believed in the product, the information was passed to the homeowners, including the following advantages: LP SmartSide has superior moisture protection and strength, longer lengths than Hardie (16′ over 12′), less weight than Hardie, and is less expensive to install (no special cutting tools …

Why is Hardie board so expensive?

High Installation and Labor Costs: Hardie board siding requires more planning, a larger labor force, and takes longer to install due to its composition. It weighs about 300 pounds (100 square feet) compared to 60-70 pounds for vinyl siding. This can increase labor and the cost of cement installation.

Can you pressure wash HardiPlank?

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 paint or stain Hardie board?

Hardiplank siding is a long-lasting, fireproof building material that resembles natural wood. Because it is a concrete-based product, it cannot be stained in the traditional sense.

Do you need to prime Hardie plank?

Whether you’ve got a ColorPlus finish or custom paint on your existing Hardie siding, you don’t have to use primer when re-painting Hardie. All you should have to do is rinse your siding (use a garden hose – no pressure washers here!) to clean off any dust or dirt.

Should you caulk Hardie siding?

James Hardie DOES NOT recommend using caulk or “H”-jointers for the butt joints of HardiePlank® siding with ColorPlus® technology. James Hardie also DOES NOT recommend applying caulk to the horizontal overlap between siding planks (see Figure 2).

Can Hardie board be used for fencing?

Cement boards, often referred to as “Hardie Boards” (after a popular manufacturer) have been around for a while as a house siding alternative, made up of 90% sand and cement. We love it on outdoor fences. … Longevity: It wears much longer than a traditional wood fence.

Which is better cement board or Hardibacker?

Durock is a reliable cement product that contains glass mesh. It is the heavier of the two materials, which means it is more difficult to use and maneuver. … HardieBacker is much more light, and it is also the best selling brand of cement board available. It is much cleaner because it does not have any glass in it.

Can HardieBacker be used outside?

HardieBacker boards are recognized as non-combustible, when tested according to ASTM E 136. Can I use HardieBacker cement board in an exterior application? HardieBacker cement board may be used in some exterior applications, download the installation guide for more details.

Does Hardie board warp?

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 Hardie board be put over brick?

Cover brick with Hardiplanks for a long-lasting, easily cleaned surface. Hardiplank is a fiber cement siding made for exterior use to cover a structure in a long-lasting sheathing. Though generally used over wooden house sheathing, you can mount your Hardiplank siding over brick with only few preparatory steps.

Is hardiplank a masonry?

IMHO, hardiplank is not masonry.

What goes behind Hardie siding?

Hardie™ Weather Barrier is installed over the sheathing—beneath the exterior siding—to reduce water and air infiltration. I’ve been using Hardie siding in the Texas heat for over 10 years. The homes I built then still look brand new today.

Do I need house wrap behind Hardie siding?

With fiber cement siding, the heavy material may compress the wrap so it’s extremely important that a non-woven wrap is used. … This is because the heavy siding may lead to a build-up of moisture behind it, which in turn, can lead to mold growth and wood rot if that moisture is not properly addressed.

Can you nail into hardiplank?

Fasteners must be corrosion resistant, galvanized or stainless steel. James Hardie prefers and recommends installation of HardiePlank® lap siding by the blind nailing technique, such that fasteners are hidden by the course above. Fasteners shall be installed between 1 in. and 3/4 in.

Do you need insulation under Hardie siding?

Hardie Plank is a cement board; it’s composition is sand and water. It is heavy on the wall and provides no insulation value. Formed to resemble wood, it fails to provide a deep, rich grain and does not come close to the look of wood. It is highly susceptible to mold and mildew.