Hardiplank, fibrolite and fibre cement houses

[OneStepCloser]

What's your opinion on hardiplank houses? I have read a few posts and I am confused. Some says it is one of the most reliable/low maintenance material to use, and some says beware of leaks.

Also, is hardiplank same as fibre cement? How about fibrolite?

I am interested in durability and reliability etc but not opinions on the look.

Thanks!

[Tomo]

my understanding is Hardiplank and Fibrolite are brand names for products produced by James Hardie which specialises in fibre cement products. Fibre cement is as it sounds, fibre mixed with cement to produce sheet products, originally the fibre component was asbestos - fibrolite - but this is no longer produced due to health concerns. These days altenative fibres are used, I think cellulose is mainly used.


As far a durability goes, both perform well with even with little maintenance as moisture penetration is less of an issue than say timber if left exposed to the elements. Main issue I find is brittleness especially older houses. I used to own a hardiplank house in a rougher area and was constantly fixing the exterior cladding that was damaged from kids bike wheels, kicking balls, lawnmowers and drunken bottle throwing. As far as repairs go its goes its challenging to patch and generally needs a new sheet or weatherboard. I would imagine plenty of investors would own them as they are often in higher yielding areas and would find them perfectly satisfactory.

[OneStepCloser]

Thank you very much Tomo, that's much clearer!

[AlFa]

I own 1970s built fibrolite house. I needed to cut a hole for exhaust fan a month ago. Broke 3 drill bits and bent 2 jigsaw bits. So not so sure about brittleness
In my opinion cementboard cladding is much better than timber, more rugged, less maintenance, no borer or any insect damage, it doesn't shrink or expand with change of seasons. But it's less attractive for sure so you'll likely to find it in low to med priced houses.

[PC]

Is Linea Weatherboard the current version of fibrolite?

[AlFa]

Don't think so. James Hardie weatherboard look more like it - http://www.jameshardie.co.nz/product...therboards?i=3

[Damap]

The one to watch onestep is weatherside. That is the one that breaks down and you can't insure easily. All the fibre cement products are fine EXCEPT they are easily broken or cracked if abused.

[jimO]

The one to watch onestep is weatherside. That is the one that breaks down and you can't insure easily. All the fibre cement products are fine EXCEPT they are easily broken or cracked if abused.

weatherside was a hardboard type product not cement based

[OneStepCloser]

Thanks all for the great info.

[Jasonm]

What's your opinion on hardiplank houses? I have read a few posts and I am confused. Some says it is one of the most reliable/low maintenance material to use, and some says beware of leaks.

Also, is hardiplank same as fibre cement? How about fibrolite?

I am interested in durability and reliability etc but not opinions on the look.

Thanks!

In terms of weather-tightness it can be fine,check if it is on a cavity,this helps significantly,if it isn't however and the cladding is direct fixed to the framing then be cautious,a simple desgined single story property with nice big soffits would probally be ok but definatly get a moisture check done..

Durability and reliability is pretty good I think,the product has been used for years

(don't breath the stuff if you are ever doing repairs and need to cut any of it)

Hope this helps

[Wayne]

In terms of weather-tightness it can be fine,check if it is on a cavity,this helps significantly,if it isn't however and the cladding is direct fixed to the framing then be cautious,a simple desgined single story property with nice big soffits would probally be ok but definatly get a moisture check done..

'Weather-tightness' seems to have taken on a life of its own.
I presume you would get a moisture check done on all property built prior to the cavity rule change - the old, solid, weather board houses didn't have cavities.

[jimO]

'Weather-tightness' seems to have taken on a life of its own.
I presume you would get a moisture check done on all property built prior to the cavity rule change - the old, solid, weather board houses didn't have cavities.

im doing up a old weatherboard house, no cavity, no building paper very little rot about 110 years old

[Wayne]

im doing up a old weatherboard house, no cavity, no building paper very little rot about 110 years old

Kinda my point really.
I'm probably being too subtle.
People latch on to things like no cavity, monolithic cladding etc and assume that is all there is too it.
To be fair to Jasonm he did offer a few caveats with a cautious, probably etc.

You probably have untreated timber also jimO.

[John the builder]

Fibrolite is the old version of the modern fibrecement sheets (Harditex and Monotek). Fibrolite had asbestos and was a good product but also fixed to treated framing.

The problems manifested when fibrecement was fitted to untreated framing (UTKD) in the late 90'2 and early 2000's

In terms of weather-tightness it can be fine,check if it is on a cavity

Weatherboards are intrinsically better as they drain at each overlap so effectively have a cavity already

In terms of durability it is market perception and the performance of these claddings (ie. they leak!) that is the issue rather than the durability of the cladding itself.

[donna]

I'm interested in a property that in good nick except for cracked weatherboards - from the roof down on two sides. So all weatherboard sheets would need replacement?

cheers,

Donna