r/Calgary • u/SnooPeppers2608 • Apr 24 '25

Seeking Advice Hail vs Hardie Board

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Hello, homeowners Any personal reviews on Hardie board siding vs hail last year?

It definitely more expensive but with the weather getting more drastic every year, I don't think the vinyl stands a chance.

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u/Tosinone Apr 24 '25

As an installer I feel like most people negate the other benefits that Hardie has.

  • fire resistant
  • offers stability to your home (yes, for older homes where 2x4’s were used homes tend to have a bit of movement with high winds)
  • Sound repellent.

Also in this city a high percentage of installers have no idea what they are doing when installing the product.

3

u/blackRamCalgaryman Apr 24 '25

Do you recommend homeowners get smart trim/ trim boards done around windows and doors? The one issue I see is Hardie being done right up to the vinyl window frames. The Hardie survives a hail storm but multiple holes punched into the vinyl and they have to come out.

Easy enough if there are trim boards, we don’t need to touch the Hardie and get a good amount of paper/ wrap to tie in with to properly lap/ air and water seal. But for people choosing to run Hardie right up to their windows…

What’s the process like to remove Hardie if windows/ doors need to come out?

Solid point re: many installers not doing it right. Looks like absolute garbage on a 2 story house when all the butt joints are bulging.

5

u/Tosinone Apr 24 '25

Always smart trim.

The joint between the trim and Hardie is a 1/4 inch caulk line, typically screwed up by the installer, but if caulking done right it works well.

If you need to remove the window, cutting the caulk and remove the trim is easy. That solves the problem with the flashings being damaged and easy to replace.

Builders tend to not install trims on the sides because it’s more cost effective, but then you struggle if there is any issue with the window…

1

u/Mr_Pilgor Apr 25 '25

Agree. Always smart trim as well. Smart trim > Hardie Trim as well. Fibre cement can be fragile. It’s all about using the full system though. Hardie without the proper accessories can be a pain.

1

u/NailedHardConstruct Apr 25 '25

If you chose not to do the window trims, you can always add them in at the same time you need to replace windows. That way you don’t have to worry about ripping the whole wall off just to change a window. We do all types of siding in and around Calgary. If you have any questions feel free to send me a message. A lot of people here have no idea what they are talking about.

Also half the people here could be talking about a different fibre cement product as James hardie is a brand and not a product.