Progressive Foam Technologies
progressivefoam.com › home › the 5 biggest problems with fiber cement siding
The 5 Biggest Problems with Fiber Cement Siding
February 27, 2023 - Absorptive claddings like fiber cement can hold moisture, leading to panel damage, rot, and even mold problems.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/homeimprovement › fiber cement siding gave my house “cancer”
r/HomeImprovement on Reddit: Fiber cement siding gave my house “cancer”
May 31, 2023 -
I wish I had found the Reddit string asking “those of you who had Hardie Board installed, would you do it again,” BEFORE I had the product installed.
NEVER NEVER NEVER!!
If only I had gone with simple metal screw in barn-style siding; even vinyl!
HB Installation pulled the studs from my interior drywall resulting in hundreds of nail pops in the drywall and the beautiful latex paint on the drywall
I paid $30,000 for HB to lose at least $250G in home equity.
My only choices now are all costly and time consuming:
(1) cover the nail-popped walls with some type of “feature wall” (a) tongue and groove interior, (b) a type of batten and board DIY where the vertical batten hides the nail pops;
(2) a costly repainting of practically the entire interior after costly repair of the nail pops;
(3) do nothing and AUCTION my dream home (rather than list my home with an agent because the home has a pre-existing condition—nail pops)
Finally, know that fiber cement siding adds thousands of pounds of a concrete “girdle” to your house and that weight will seek out and worsen any existing pressure cracks above doors, in load-bearing walls, additions to your home—a spreading cancer that can’t be stopped.
IF ONLY I had searched for negative experiences with Hardie Board before committing!!!!
If I can save one person the deep pain this product has inflicted on me and my family, this post will have been worth it.
For those of you who love HB, I’m glad for you. You’re welcome to come and remove mine. BTW—another $30,000 to remove the product (I checked with installer)—and likely completely destroy my home in the deal.
LET THE BUYER BEWARE!!
Relieved to tell my sad story.
Fiber cement siding
I inspected a home with what appeared to be James Hardie fiber cement siding. There were many cracks observed in the siding. I think this was caused from settling. There were no indications of cracks in the poured concrete foundation walls, drywall or stone veneer. More on forum.nachi.org
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November 2, 2013Why is this cement fiber siding delaminating / spalling - and how do I stop it?
I'm no expert, but cement products tend to be hygroscopic. The cut edges need to be painted and kept 1-2" away from opposing surfaces. Your pictures show deteriorating material in contact with the shingles, which is improper installation. The tendency of moisture to wick up the cementboard is why the whole pieces are deteriorating. You might be able to just replace the affected areas if the same profiles are still available, just make sure they're primed, painted, installed with proper clearance, and caulked where needed. More on reddit.com
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February 12, 2022Fiber cement siding gave my house “cancer”
sorry but if hardie pulled the studs you have a substrate issue not a hardie issue. More on reddit.com
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May 31, 2023Fiber cement siding gave my house “cancer” : HomeImprovement
I wish I had found the Reddit string asking “those of you who had Hardie Board installed, would you do it again,” BEFORE I had the product... More on old.reddit.com
Videos
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Feldco
4feldco.com › articles › fiber cement siding problems
Fiber Cement Siding Problems: Why it Should Be Avoided
August 4, 2025 - Not all fiber cement is created equally which means that you're never sure of the quality you're getting until it's already installed. When you're mixing multiple components together, there's bound to be some inconsistencies that are unavoidable. That isn't the only problem though.
Southwest Exteriors
southwestexteriors.com › blog › 2023 › november › why-is-my-james-hardie-siding-failing-5-probable
Why Is My James Hardie Siding Failing? 5 Probable Causes
January 23, 2025 - If your James Hardie siding is cracking, chipping, or coming off of your home, you want to know why. This article will outline five common problems that may be causing your Hardie siding due to installation issues, foundation shifting, or manufacturing defects.
Address 2430 Freedom Dr.,, 78217, San Antonio
Everlastsidingnewengland
everlastsidingnewengland.com › blog-0 › bid › 80175 › Problems-with-Fiber-Cement-Siding
Problems with Fiber Cement Siding
This leads to swelling, crumbling, delamination between layers, and loss of paint adhesion. In areas where fiber cement has absorbed moisture directly or endures consistent back splash, the surface paint may start to peel prematurely.
Allura USA
allurausa.com › homepage - allura › blog › 8 fiber cement siding misconceptions
8 Fiber Cement Siding Misconceptions | Allura USA
January 4, 2022 - For example, cheap wood or vinyl siding may not cost much initially, but it’s likely to require regular repainting, restaining, and individual plank replacement due to scratches, holes, rotting, warping, insect damage, and other regular exposure to the elements. Fiber cement siding problems rarely stack up as quickly (or as severely) as they do with traditional siding.
James Hardie
jameshardie.com › blog › siding-replacement › not-all-fiber-cement-siding-is-hardie-siding
Mistaken identity: not all fiber cement siding is Hardie ® ...
January 16, 2025 - Unfortunately, Swanz wasn’t alone in his dilemma. Many contractors or homeowners assume one fiber cement siding is as good as another.
Abcofnebraska
abcofnebraska.com › home › what homeowners should know about fiber cement siding
What Homeowners Should Know About Fiber Cement Siding - ABC Seamless of Nebraska
August 29, 2025 - If not installed correctly, the fiber cement siding can absorb water. In areas with heavy rainfall or snow, trapped moisture can cause mold growth, rot, panel damage, swelling, cracking, and structural damage.
Contractor Talk
contractortalk.com › home › forums › trade talk › carpentry
James Hardie Siding Concerns | Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum
February 26, 2019 - Most of the "problems/complaints" I've seen regarding Hardie are either due to it not being installed properly or guys doing one or two jobs and not being used to working with it.
Thebuildingconsultant
thebuildingconsultant.com › 2018 › 11 › common-siding-failures
The Building Consultant » Common Siding Failures
On this house, the siding had been so haphazardly nailed on and the fiber-cement boards so poorly attached that wind caused the siding to vibrate. This vibration transferred through the framing, creating a loud hum when the wind blew that kept the homeowners awake at night. As it turned out, there were problems beyond the inadequate nailing—none of the detailing designed to protect the walls from water had been done correctly.
Quora
quora.com › What-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-fiber-cement-siding
What are the pros and cons of fiber cement siding? - Quora
Answer (1 of 17): I will add a bit to what Tom Seim has said. In 2007 I replaced my Masonite siding with fiber cement siding. At many of the seams the Masonite siding had expanded and was falling apart from water getting into the ends of the siding. Fiber cement does not have that problem. Fibe...
Today's Homeowner
todayshomeowner.com › siding › types of siding › 8 common hardie siding problems and how to address them
8 Common Hardie Siding Problems and How To Address Them - Today's Homeowner
April 12, 2025 - This article explores common Hardie siding problems, along with their causes, and practical solutions to help homeowners protect their property and maximize the lifespan of their siding. Hardie siding, manufactured by James Hardie, is a fiber cement siding product made from cellulose fibers, sand, and cement.
ScribeWare
scribeware.com › 2018 › 03 › fiber-cement-siding-common-installation-defects-found
Fiber Cement Siding: Common Installation Defects Found - Scribeware | Home Inspection Report Software
December 26, 2023 - Example 2 shows a common problem where builders install concrete porches and patios in contact with fiber cement siding. This is not recommended and can be difficult to repair once this is done. An important point here is that home inspectors may find installations that are incorrect but may not be worth fixing at this time as the repair would be too difficult relative to the benefit.
ChiefTalk
chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com › user resources › industry & design resources
Hardieboard (Fiber Cement) Siding ? - Industry & Design Resources - ChiefTalk Forum
June 23, 2021 - Hi Folks, Anyone have experience with this type of product - does it hold up well over time ? I looked at one home that had it and there was significant water damage to the siding after just a few years. This was the specific product I've been interested in: Fiber Cement Lap Siding | Allura USA T...
Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 3977588 › cement-board-siding-problems
Cement Board Siding Problems
June 20, 2016 - Since it's time to paint, I figure removing the old caulk and refilling the joints will solve that problem. However, I'm really concerned about the boards pulling out. The company who did the work is still in business, however they no longer do residential work. After 8 years, would they even be liable for repairs? Would like opinions/suggestions, particularly from pro's. Thanks so much. Third board from bottom you can see how it's pulled away. ... When I had my house sided with HardiePlank the manufacturer recommended flashing the joints and _not_ caulking them.
United Home Experts
unitedhomeexperts.com › united home experts: siding, roofing, windows & doors company › blog › problems with fiber cement siding - united home experts
Problems with Fiber Cement Siding - United Home Experts
June 8, 2018 - The number one problem associated with fiber cement siding involves moisture seeping into cracks and being absorbed by the wood particles in the fiber cement material, which can cause substantial damage.
NACHI Forum
forum.nachi.org › specific inspection topics › exterior inspections
Fiber cement siding
November 2, 2013 - I inspected a home with what appeared to be James Hardie fiber cement siding. There were many cracks observed in the siding. I think this was caused from settling. There were no indications of cracks in the poured con…
VISExterior
visexterior.com › blog › 8-top-siding-problems-and-how-to-avoid-them
Top 8 Siding Problems by Type (How to Avoid Them)
Heavier than many other siding products, fiber cement is more difficult to transport, handle and install, which means labor costs can be higher. For example, 100 square feet of it weighs around 300 pounds, compared to vinyl, which will weigh ...
Golden Group Roofing
goldengrouproofing.com › blog › moisture-problems-with-hardie-siding
Problems with Hardie Siding You May Face - Golden Group Roofing Company
November 6, 2025 - Ineffective flashing and caulking can lead to water damage within the walls, resulting in costly repairs, potential structural issues, and problems like mold and mildew, which can have negative health repercussions.
Nonprofit Home Inspections
nonprofithomeinspections.org › home inspection › fiber cement siding installation issues
Fiber Cement Siding Installation Issues - Nonprofit Home Inspections
December 2, 2023 - If the manufacturer guidelines for spacing are not followed, siding will often bulge and buckle, leading to a poor visual appearance and a compromised installation. Fiber cement, like any building material, expands and contracts in response ...