At Stewart Lumber & Hareware Co., we are pleased to offer Hardie board, a specific type of material that’s made with cellulose fibers and cement. The combination of these two materials makes the boards extremely versatile, as cement is ideal for load-bearing applications, while cellulose is best for decorative applications like siding, trim and soffit.
You can find these boards in a variety of different sizes and thicknesses. Here are just a few examples of common Hardie board uses in Seattle.
Siding for your home
Fiber cement boards are rapidly growing in popularity as a type of siding material, largely because of their outstanding durability. Compared to vinyl siding and wood siding, they last much longer, while still being less expensive than materials like stone, stucco and brick, especially when you also consider the costs of installation.
Part of that durability comes from the fiber cement’s excellent resistance to the elements, including rain, ultraviolet exposure, heat and salt spray. They cannot be destroyed by birds and insects (like wood and other materials) and are not affected by changes in temperature. Perhaps best of all, they require very little maintenance, which is good for people who don’t want to have to frequently paint or wash their siding. You can choice per tinted options that never require painting and come in a variety of colors or choice the options to paint like a typical siding.
Substitutes for tile walls
There are internal applications for Hardie board as well. For example, it’s become a very popular alternative to tile walls in areas like bathrooms and kitchens, as it is water resistant or waterproof (depending on the style of board you select). It offers excellent resistance to mildew and mold, and will not be structurally compromised with a long-term exposure to moisture. If you wish, you can tile over the fiber cement boards, and tile actually adheres better to those boards than to other surfaces. But if you just want to keep the boards as is, their smooth finish will still look great.
Flooring underlayment
If you wish to use tiles or vinyl for your flooring, fiber cement makes an excellent underlayment, because it adheres well to both wood and tiles, is moisture resistant and can offer a very strong, smooth surface. Be sure to use the ½-inch boards if using them as underlayment, because this prevents grout and tile breaking and cracking and gives you a more rigid surface. If using the boards as tile backing boards on walls, you can safely opt for the ¼-inch variety.
These are just a few examples of some of the most common residential Hardie board uses in Seattle. If you’re interested in learning more about this type of material and the various advantages associated with its use, we encourage you to contact the team at Stewart Lumber & Hardware Co. today with any questions.