HardiPanel Durability Question
I recently was presented with a photo from an interiors mag in which the homeowner glued smooth colored hardipanel (fiber cement panel) to a plywood subfloor. It seems like a good idea for a number of reasons, especially when compared to the price of hardwood or tile. I am not that familiar with the product,…
I recently was presented with a photo from an interiors mag in which the homeowner glued smooth colored hardipanel (fiber cement panel) to a plywood subfloor. It seems like a good idea for a number of reasons, especially when compared to the price of hardwood or tile.
I am not that familiar with the product, however. The extent of my experience with fiber-cement is with clapboard and I wonder how these panels would survive as flooring. Anyone have first-hand experience with them that might advise?
Hardiplank is brittle enough you can snap it apart with your bare hands, so I would think as a flooring it wouldn’t last more than a few years even on a stable substrate. Like a concrete slab.
On the other hand, I have seen 5/8″ cement board used as flooring in a Soho loft, and after a few years it cracked apart in a couple of places but basically looked pretty great.
I have it under my floors–it’s the thermal mass for my radiant heat.
It took a long time for all the floors to get finished, and have to say that this stuff is always shedding dust and that the edges crush if you look at them funny. I wouldn’t do it.
It is more durable than wood as a siding but I doubt that would be true as a floor. As a siding because it does not rot like wood does when exposed to the elements. But it is not designed for the impact it would take as a flooring. Also since it is intended as an outdoor product I would be concerned about what else might be in there other than cement and fibers. I know people who have used hardiboard (backer board) for their flooring and it looks nice if you are going for the industrial look. The edges do begin to wear over time. Certainly won’t last as long as any wood or tile flooring. However you can always add tile flooring later, which is what it is intended for anyway. For more information go to the forums on livemodern.com.
I’m almost 100% certain the James Hardie Co would not guarantee the product if it was used in any manner other than its intended. That’s not really an issue with me, as that’s a risk I’d willingly take. I’m just looking for an informed opinion as to whether or not this would be feasible or a nightmare that I’d soon live to regret. I’d definitely buy a single panel and wear-test it. It seems that it would be more durable than wood and it should certainly be waterproof as it’s intended as outdoor siding.
As 11:49 points out, the fibers need to be contained. We’ve used Hardiplank siding in new construction, and the installers had full masks and gloves on. Special saw-blades need to used as well. I don’t think this material is meant to be walked upon every day. You may want to contact the manufacturer.
I guess the real answer to the question would be if the company would be willing to offer a guarantee to the product if it were used in this way. Then I think that it could be used. Lots of those interior mags are into the cheap and quick fix, and not necessarily a durable one.
Did the article address sealing the material to prevent the release of fibers once the surface started to wear?