Hardie Planks Hardie Planks And Siding

If you are constructing a new home or even remodeling the existing one, one aspect that you will not to give a prolonged thought will be the kind of exterior you should have. You will realize it is worth spending sometime to research of your own, as there are many options available. You are required not only to study it from the point of view of safety alone, but also take into consideration the looks of your house, which may look extraordinary, yet blend with the surroundings without making it stand-alone.

One major factor that decides the exterior of homes is its cost. A costly exterior doesn’t necessarily mean that it is better than the other options. You need to consider factors other than the cost too.

Apart from its cost you have to see the durability of the material to withstand the weather and its subsequent maintenance over the years. Over and above all these factors you have to keep in view the looks of other houses in the neighborhood, so that it doesn’t get too conspicuous. For example, a majority of houses in the neighborhood may all have brickwork. Under such circumstances you are not left with any option but to have a similar exterior. Even, deciding the color of bricks may pose a challenge.

We all expect the exterior coverings to last almost a lifetime. Some of the exteriors tend to deteriorate fast in the absence of insufficient maintenance. Wood is an example of such a material, as it would rot and fall apart when not maintained properly. Even Metals like aluminum or steel need periodic maintenance to prevent them from getting corroded or rusted respectively. So, you see every material has its plus and negative features and you have to make a comparative study of the options to decide which would best suit your requirements.

A cement boards sliding is one of the most popular and upcoming choice for exterior coverings. People have continued using it for almost a century and it has proven its worth for new and old homes equally well. It makes an excellent choice as an exterior material because of its characteristic resistance to fire and water and its ability to withstand the harshest of weathers. You would do well to take your time in deciding on an appropriate material for the exterior of your home, because this is not something that you can afford to change or replace so quickly and easily.

One of the very frequently asked questions is how to cut a hardie plank. Today, I’ll share my experiences with you on the subject as an installer. Cutting one of our favorite exterior materials, hardie plank, is not such a difficult job as it is made out to be. There are many tools available for doing the needful but what matters more is the kind of space available to you.

I mention space, as cutting of a hardie plank produces a lot of dust, which certainly is not very healthy. But, that’s no more an issue now, as quite a few companies have developed special saws and blades especially for the purpose to reduce the quantum of dust produced while cutting this plank.

My number one choice as an installer will be Hardy shears. Brands like Hilti Hardie shears are easily available with local stores like Lowes, and Home Depot. The operation of compact Hardy shears is nearly dustless and easy. There is a small drawback though. That is if you cut very close to the edge of a Hardi Plank, it is liable to break or crumble. Once you are aware of this problem and know how to avoid it, rest is very simple.

You can cut hardie board without the use of any power tools, without producing any dust too. Simply use a utility knife and a straight edge. This is also called a score and snap method. With the help of a sharp utility knife draw a straight line at the desired part of the board. Now, keep the board on a straight edge and just apply pressure on the section of the plank you wish to break and there it is!

However, you may be required to make intricate cuts also in the plank, like say the kind required to go around the door or window trim. These are a bit difficult. Such cuts demand the use of a jigsaw or an angle grinder. However, you’ll need to replace the blades frequently on a jigsaw. A metal cutting blade lasts longer but reduces the speed of cutting.

The other recommended tool is the angle grinder. This comes with a diamond-cutting blade and offers a very efficient way of doing the job. It’s a compact and fast tool that can easily be handled for making smaller cuts. But, once again, it produces a lot of dust and should be used outdoors or in a well-ventilated place.

Those who already have the basic hand and power tools need not spend money for buying a pair of Hardie shears. They can accomplish the job by using a traditional circular saw. Using a basic saw blade causes dust all over the house. It would be desirable to use low dust saws blades that greatly reduce the volume of dust created. Hardie plank saw blades could be incorporated with a table saw for making long rip cuts or angle cuts.

There are a couple of options when it comes to deciding for the best house siding for your home. The truth is, it really depends upon the homeowner to look for the one that best meets his requirements. Hardie siding forms a very popular choice and can be used for many purposes. It’s available in many shapes and different textures that make it a preferred choice of many homeowners.

Exterior cement siding like a Hardie board lasts for very many years. Durability apart, it offers a very easy installation also making it a favorite of many householders. Being weather resistant is another helpful characteristic. It characteristically endures elements of wind, rain, fire and hail for a number of years. It can withstand frequently changing and rough weather. You get it pre-primed and ready to paint. Then, there are some pre-colored sidings that need not be painted on being installed.

This variety of siding is available in many shapes and styles. You may have it in the appearance of wood, brick or vinyl. Though the price is favorably comparable to wood siding, it outlasts wood because of its inherent characteristics as noted above.

House siding, because of the long life it is expected to have, is a lifetime investment. It’s not too much to expect it to last for a lifetime of the owner. The total cost of the siding goes to include the cost of quality nails and screws, caulking, trim pieces, moisture barriers and the cost of paint. It will also include the labor charges for its installation and the area it is going to cover. Installation of cement siding is a very easy DIY project and most of the homeowners would generally like to install it themselves. That adds to the economy of this system.

Apart from exterior siding, cement boards of the type of Hardie have many other applications inside the house also. Quite often one finds contractors using this fiber cement board in the bathrooms for walls as well for providing a sub-floor over the existing foundation. When used in the bathroom, this fiber cement board lets the tiles to stick to the walls.

Hardie board siding is but one of the many options that you have for the exterior of your homes. You may very well use stone, stucco, bricks, or real logs to get the looks of a log cabin. You need not rush your decision. It will be time worth spent doing your own research to arrive at the most suitable material for your specific needs. People who already conducted research realized Hardie board to be the best.