What is Hardie board
James Bradley
Updated on March 27, 2026
What Is Hardie Board Siding. Hardie Board remains the number one siding in America and continues to be the top of the line fiber cement siding. Fiber cement is a composite material comprised of cellulose wood fibers, sand, and water. As such, it is a durable material designed to mimic wood.
What is Hardie board made from?
What Is Hardie Board Siding. Hardie Board remains the number one siding in America and continues to be the top of the line fiber cement siding. Fiber cement is a composite material comprised of cellulose wood fibers, sand, and water. As such, it is a durable material designed to mimic wood.
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.
Is Hardie board better than wood?
Hardie® siding is available in a texture that has the classic, natural appearance of cedar, while providing you with more benefits. Unlike wood, James Hardie fiber cement is specifically formulated to better resist the damaging effects of sun, moisture, extreme temperatures, pests, and fire.What do you use Hardie board for?
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.
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.
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.
Which is better Hardie board or vinyl siding?
By contrast, Hardie® fiber cement siding is more durable and up to 5x thicker than vinyl siding. It easily stands up to the elements, resisting damage from wind, rain, freezing temperatures and hail, and gives homes years of protection with low maintenance.Does Hardie board increase home value?
James Hardie Siding Does Increase the Resale Value of Your Home. Whether or not if you’re deciding to sell your home, having James Hardie Siding is going be one of the best investments you’ll ever make. According to Family Handyman, you can recoup as much as 76% of the upfront cost of it upon the sale of your home.
Which is better Hardie board or LP?James Hardie fiber cement siding gives homeowners longer-lasting results for your money over time than LP SmartSiding. If you plan to remain in your home for years and can make the investment, Hardie Board siding is a winner.
Article first time published onIs 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.
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 Hardie siding expensive?
You can expect it to be more expensive than vinyl siding, but it’s cheaper to use than brick or stucco and about the same price as other composite sidings. On average, Hardie board siding costs $10 per square foot — so, for example, a 1,200-square-foot exterior wall would cost around $12,000 to install.
Do you nail or screw Hardie board?
What is the correct fastener pattern for installing HardieBacker® cement board? Fasten HardieBacker sheets with proper nails or screws (as listed in ”Materials Required” in the backer installation instructions) every 8” around the perimeter and all supporting studs.
Can you screw into Hardie board?
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 you paint Hardie board?
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.
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.
How often should you paint HardiPlank?
Hardie Plank is also called fiber cement siding. While it’s far heavier than aluminum, vinyl or wood, it is extremely durable and typically only needs a new paint every ten to twenty years for maintenance. It is one of the best materials and long-term solutions for protecting your home.
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.
What happens if Hardie board gets wet?
If Hardie is installed too close to these surfaces, there is a chance that the paint will start to bubble and peel. This happens because the boards are wet almost all the time, and the water in the board will start to expand and contract as the temperature changes.
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. … Price: It is WAY cheaper than a wood fence (especially with the rising cost of lumber)
Do you have to Prime Hardie board?
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.
How much does it cost to have Hardie siding installed?
Hardie Board siding materials cost $3 to $6 per square foot, and the labor cost to install is $3 to $7 per square foot. Old siding removal adds $0.25 to $1 per square foot when residing. Get free estimates from siding contractors near you or view our cost calculator below.
Is James Hardie siding a good investment?
James Hardie siding looks great and is long-lasting, which offers homeowners an excellent return on investment. According to the 2020 Cost vs. Value report, Indianapolis homeowners who invest in fiber cement siding recoup 80.5% of their investment.
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 …
Is hardiplank a fiber cement?
The James Hardie brand produces high-quality fiber cement siding products, often called Hardie Board or HardiePlank. These terms are often interchanged with fiber cement. However, these brand name James Hardie products typically cost more than lower grade siding.
What is the best type of siding?
Siding TypeOptionsDurabilityVinylExcellent20-30 yearsAluminum & SteelGood30-50 yearsFiber Cement & CompositeGood35-50 yearsWoodExcellent50+
What is the difference between Hardie board and Smart Board?
The primary difference between the materials used to make SmartSide siding and Hardie siding is that SmartSide uses a wood-based product, while Hardie uses a cement-based product.
Is there an alternative to Hardie board?
Steel Board-and-Batten Siding: A Better Alternative to Hardie Board. Board-and-batten siding has a classic appearance that complements a wide range of architectural styles. It can give any home a more rustic-looking exterior, while increasing curb appeal.
Is Hardie board hurricane safe?
Resilient to Hurricane and Flood Besides being inherently fire resistant in material, James Hardie siding has high impact resistance against heavy precipitation, hurricane, flood, and hailstorms.
Is Hardie board considered masonry?
James Hardie is one of the biggest names in fiber cement siding. Fiber cement siding gives you benefits of masonry siding in styles that look like stone, brick, clapboards, or shingles like those commonly made from vinyl or wood. James Hardie’s fiber cement siding is available in shingles, lap, and vertical styles.