terry wrote:
Understand that this is a cement based product; brochures advise it
comes in various sizes and patterns.

My neighbour has installed hardi-Plank of the type most similar to
conventional wooden clapboard, on the two ends of an A-frame summer
home; in recommended manner and it is painted.

He has noticed some 'crumbling' of the leading edges of some of these
clap-'boards'.

So now we are wondering; did the product got wet while in storage
before sale; and frost has now (a couple of winters later) caused the
edges to erode. Or was it a 'bad batch'?

Perhaps there are are/is basic problems with the product? It is
advertised as 'resisting', cold, fire, damp, insects etc. That seems
fair enough; cos nothing, except perhaps seam welded stainless steel,
would be 'impervious'?

Hardi-Plank and/or similar products would, on the face of it, seem to
be ideal. making house somewhat fireproof, as quiet as wood clapboard
compared to vinyl siding in our, at times, high winds and can be
installed in/with pretty conventional manner/tools?

Any comments advice or opinion about this type of product would be
appreciated; for example had been thinking of using it as replacement
for 10 inch (8 inch reveal) clap-board on our 60' by 36' single storey
bungalow. But if edges 'crumble' not so sure.


I have seen this is Hardi soffit that I stored improperly for a number
of months. if it gets wet, before it gets primed and painted (backside
too), it will disintegrate where it sits, or in your case, after it has
been up a while.

Backside priming is NOT needed if you buy a whole pallet a ta time, have
it delivered with the Hardie plastic wrap on it and install it on a dry
sunny day.

PET for water has a similar issue, you need to get fresh rolls still in
their protective wrap from the factory and get them under the roof asap.
UV breaks down the walls of this pipe.