Hardie Plank Options

[Brian in sunny FL]

Just wondering if anyone has any good and less expensive alternates to Hardie plank.  I would start with a detached building that is 14' of block plus roof trusses and is 40' x 50'.  The quote I got for Hardie was about $28K and I figured there may be other alternates out there that are similar in style but less expensive.  Really didn't want wood or stucco and have vinyl now.  I assume there are some wood furring strips already attached to the block for attaching the vinyl.

[rudedan60]

I live in WI near the twin Cities. When, I did my house 22 years ago I used Certainteed Weather Boards. You have to follow the same rules as Hardie board. At the time it was a lot less than Hardie. I now see that Menards has a brand called Allure. A 12" x 12' piece is $20.98.  before the 11% rebate. My buddy who did his block house insulated it with 2" Foam board and furring strips. His only mistake he made was to not use long enough nails to go through the insulation into the firing strips. He needed a 3 1/8" nail. You need to use full round head nails and a air nailer. He used my 2 1/4" nails that went through a 3/4" Sheathing and the weather board into my studs. Get the Gecko Siding spacers and a Fiber Cement Shear and a Clever (No dust for most cuts.
When working with the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS rehabing houses they only use Hardie Board and the pre painted as well.

[Brian in sunny FL]

Thanks for the info, I’ll check those options out.

[R Clark]

I have three buildings with lap siding: Two are Hardie plank built in 2004; one is LP SmartSide built in 2020.  You have to get up close to determine that the lap siding on the newest building is different from the Hardie plank.

I am a fan of the Hardie Plank.  It has been very durable through severe weather.  We have suffered hail and wind damage to roofs, gutters, windows, and screens.  Accessories like hose hangers have been absolutely destroyed by hail and ripped from the house.  But the Hardie plank has held up very well.  I would be hard pressed to find a hail dent in it if I went outside right now to look for one.

When we had the third building built in 2020, I could have used Hardie plank.  However, cost was a factor, and the LP SmartSide looked almost exactly the same, including the embossed cedar lap grain on the surface.  I haven't been disappointed.

[DieselDennis]

My shop is sided with Nichi boards. Just another fiber cement board.

[Brian in sunny FL]

My shop is sided with Nichi boards. Just another fiber cement board.

I've seen those in my travels.  One thing Hardie does that others don't seem to do is sell primed.  Maybe that defeats the purpose of this material but would like my own color.