Hardiboard is pretty flexible, so you can put fasteners through it with no
problem. The special tool sold to cut the stuff is really just powered
scissors.

With almost any product, you can avoid cracking by predrilling.

"Smagmire" wrote in
om:

We purchased this home about two years ago. It has a brick front and
the rest is hardiboard. I've thought about affixing a couple of
garden hose reels to the walls in the back and side yards. However,
I'm concerned that I might damage the hardiboard. Is this stuff
brittle so that I might risk cracking it just by driving a couple of
nails (or screws) into it? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Smag