Fibre Plank

[williamfieldman]

Hi,
Does anyone know whether Fibre Plank house is durable? I'm looking at a house which the agent's brochures said Hardi Plank. But he later said it's Fibre Plank.

I'm told by a real estate agent to avoid Hardi Tex and monolith. But Hardi Plank and weatherboard houses are OK. I can't seem to find much information about Fibre Plank.

Thanks.

[Green Fish]

The type of cladding is not the relevant issue. The relevant issue is the assumption that any type of cladding can be 100% waterproof - and that it can therefore be tacked onto the timber framing.

This false assumption was then compounded by the permission to use untreated timber for framing.

The consequence is that thousands of NZ houses built after 1993 will simply implode on themselves, and collapse.

[Tan]

Find a house that is a good investment, then get a builders report.

Not many agents know a lot about building, but all have heard heaps of rumours.

[mortgage broker]

Get the right builders report as well, I reckon Michael Back is pretty good, 021 2838363. He uses a thermal imaging camera.

[Wayne]

Fibre Plank and Hardie Plank are considered durable. They were mostly used on 'cheaper' houses and clad houses that did use treated timber in the framing.

[k1w1]

My home is clad in hardiplank. It's cheap, simple, doesn't look as nice as some modern options, but it works and lasts forever. It's so good in fact, that the extension I'm adding to the property will also be clad in the same. We could have opted for a total reclad in that nice plastered finish, but I can't stand the cracks they end up with, and the green that eventually grows in it.

[Green Fish]

Either "... Plank" is durable, in itself.

But it is impossible to clad the whole building with a continuous layer.

[cantthinkofanickname]

Hardy plank is great but prone to cracking if there is movement in the house.
Fibre plank looks the same but is a totally different substrate. If the paint work is not 100% perfect and water penetrates it it is like a sponge (think chip board)It was a aussie product but totally unsuitable for nz conditions .My mates house was built with it and he repainted it every two years just to be safe. As he knew is water got in he would need to reclad

[williamfieldman]

Hello Everyone,
Thank you for your replies.