Hardiplank – green and sustainable building material

Hardiplank siding is a middle path taken between vinyl siding and renovation of clapboard siding. The true name of this siding is cement siding. Hardiplank is a brand name for the fiber cement siding produced by James Hardie Building Products. It is made up of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fiber and other additives. This siding can also give the look of clapboard and stucco depending upon the texture dealt with. It is however more durable and fire resistant. It is costlier than vinyl but at the same time is cheaper than others and requires less maintenance.

There are many advantages to Hardiplank siding.  Some of these advantages are that it is eco-friendly, durable, fire resistant, investment friendly, and it looks like wood. 

Hardiplank, or fiber cement, siding is a green and a sustainable building material. The cellulose used in siding does not come from endangered species of trees and no toxic materials are used in the manufacturing process.  Another major positive about Hardiplank siding is that it lasts for a lifetime if properly cared for. There is a warranty that one gets from the manufacturers in this form of siding and it generally stands tall for 50 years which is much more than other forms of sidings. Hardiplank is a fire resistant product but not a fire proof one, but then no building material is actually fireproof. This is one major advantage that this form of siding enjoys over wood or vinyl siding.

A recent study of the Remodeling magazine has shown that returns on houses with Hardiplank siding is higher than others. Also, the insurance premiums of such houses are less than others.  The look of this siding is that of a wooden one, thus aesthetics are taken well care of. Only under close scrutiny can one actually differentiate it from wood. The wooden texture of the planks does not make the task any easier.

Despite all these merits the two downfalls of this siding are its cost and difficulty in installation. Looking at the advantages offered by this type of siding, one must say that it is worth considering and falling back upon.