We are in the planning stage of building our family’s home in WV. We’re building a timber frame-hybrid home on an organic farm. We want the house to be contemporary, but also to fit into the rural setting. We love the look of cedar siding and shingle, but are wary about both the cost and the upkeep of real cedar.
I have heard that James Hardie-type cement siding can be stained to mimic cedar, but can’t seem to find good photo examples on the internet.
Does anyone have any experience with cement siding and shingle stained in this way? How “real” does it look and feel? Is it really as maintenence-free as the websites claim?
Your thoughts (and pictures, or links) are appreciated.
Erica
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I put Hardie Shingle on my dream home in 2000. It is every bit as durable as they say it is. The critical key is to follow the manufacturer's instructions for finishing, never using an oil based primer or paint. (The alkali in the siding will saponify the oil in oil base coatings and it will peel.)
I was going to do what you described, to get a cedar look, similar to the Gamble House designed by Greene and Greene in Pasadena. I was going to do a green base paint, then experiment with a wash coat of glaze of a brownish color. After putting on the green I moved on to other things and the green looked fine anyway, so I didn't get to try it out.
Many people when they look at my house, suspect the siding is not cedar, but don't know what to make of it. It looks very much better than vinyl. It feels very solid. Next dream house I'll use it again.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=35327.1
We're using the Hardie siding and shingles on our new timberframe. So far the siding is up, but not stained yet, but here's what we're using:
http://www.superdeck.com/masonsselect/6700spec.htm
It's designed to make cement siding look like wood. A neighbor used it on his house, and you really can't tell it from cedar, even close up. He's had it up for about 5 years, and it looks like new.
Leigh
Just because your children were born in the South doesn't make them Southerners. If a cat has kittens in the oven, does that make them biscuits?
This thread was posted years ago on Breaktime (the forum associated with FineHomebuilding) and has some pictures - and they look awesome. The thread mostly has claps, but he also has at least one shot with shingles. In other posts Jim has mentioned that the results look very good in person. You might try posting to Jim Blodgett over on Breaktime to see how it is holding up.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=34771.1
That's where I first heard about the Mason's Select product, then found out that's what a neighbor had on his house (which I thought was cedar!)
LEigh
Just because your children were born in the South doesn't make them Southerners. If a cat has kittens in the oven, does that make them biscuits?
So what are you doing over here? Anyway, how is the price on that cement stuff. Does it come in different widths? PamilynThe purpose of Art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls
Building a house, of course! (one that my DH describes as a kitchen with a couple bedrooms attached, LOL).
I don't know exactly what the Hardie board cost--I spec'd it, but the builder purchased it. I do know that it is more expensive than wood, but less than brick. It does come in various widths. Here's the website: http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/prodhome/hardiplank.php
Leigh
the difference in being involved and committed: chickens are involved in breakfast; pigs are committed...
Thanks...PamilynThe purpose of Art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls
This is Hardi Cedarmill, 8 1/4", 7" exposure. About $7.25 each at HD right now. Seems I saw it in a Lowe's flyer recently for about $6.50. None of the local yards carry it. HD doesn't carry the shingle panels, I have no idea what they would look like.
The wrap is WeatherTrek, made for cement siding. It has little dimples that allow any water that gets through to drain instead of sitting on top of the siding. Found it at a JLC show & conned the rep out of a roll. Neat stuff.
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Stained with a mix of 2 of the Mason's stains, Redwood & Mahogany mixed 50/50. I tried the stains individually and thought they were both ugly, mixed it's a warmer/nicer color. They're really nasty just out of the can.
I had to order the stain, Ace Hardware was the only local source. It comes 4 gallons to a case, so be prepared to buy it all, or pay a premium. It's not cheap stuff.
As to the actual staining process, you have to stain it before you put the siding on. The stuff looks to be basically a clear finish with pigments. You put it on and the solids settle out into the grain pattern on the siding. I can't picture this process working if the siding is on the building. I used a hotdog roller, takes 2 coats.
Any pieces you cut need to have the cut ends painted before it goes up. Makes for a slow process, but I think it was worth the effort.
There's a lot of info on BT about this, but it's not rocket science. Follow the directions is half the battle, buy a few tools like a pair of shears.
I have PC shears, they work great. Get a pair of the hanger/gauges. A small saw with a diamond blade for odd cuts like around windows, one of those 3" Makita 9.6V is what I have. A sanding block with 36 grit & another with 80 will clean up your sheared cuts.
A speed square & a utility knife to mark it, a good score line will leave a dead straight edge after it's sheared.
Joe H
Edited 9/12/2005 1:26 am by JoeH