| Author |
Message |
Chuck Coleman (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 - 04:46 pm: |    |
We're working on a project in the Mid-Atlantic region and the façade materials include a combination of brick veneer and fiber cement siding. In evaluating the fiber cement siding options, there appear to be two types to choose from - fiber cement products with or without fly ash included as part of the design mix. What experiences have you had with these products and which would you recommend for a market rate rental apartment project? Our thanks in advance for your feedback. Regards. |
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods
Post Number: 589
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 - 05:12 pm: | |
I can't comment on products with fly ash, but I just finished a large SwissPearl project and would caution you on where the material is used. If the apartments have balconies or areas where the exterior wall can be touched, it will be scratched and damaged over time. Our building raised all the Swiss Pearl to +10' above grade and had no balconies or operable windows, so it was safe to use, but we did NOT use it anywhere on the first floor where it can be accessed. It's impact resistant, but soft to sharp implements such as car keys. |
Ron Beard CCS
Senior Member
Username: rm_beard_ccs
Post Number: 415
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 - 05:16 pm: | |
Fiber cement siding products are expensive (initial coat) and cheap (life cycle cost). They usually come with a 50-year warranty (Hardie) and have a factory coating (primed or final finish coating).
Whether or not they contain a fly ash is dependent on whether there are LEED/green objectives, cost of manufacture, or regional fabrication requirements.
From the end-user's point of view, I don't think the presence or absence of fly ash matters to the performance of the product.
"Fast is good, but accurate is better."
.............Wyatt Earp |
spiper (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 - 05:44 pm: | |
There was a lawsuit against CertainTeed for their weatherboard fiber cement siding that aged poorly and some have argued that it was due to the fly ash content. I am not sure of the details and I do not believe CertainTeed made any official statement on the reason behind the issue so the fly ash might simply be a possible contributing factor or it may have nothing what so ever to do with the issues. Either way the settlement amounted to over 100 million dollars late last year.
I believe the Hardie Board product does not contain fly ash and some have argued that this makes it a better product. If you are considering adding fly ash to the spec just to chase LEED points I might do more research to see if some of the claims about early aging are valid. |
Colin Gilboy
Senior Member
Username: colin
Post Number: 377
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2014 - 06:17 pm: | |
And Certainteed Fiber-Reinforced Cement Siding - sold to Elementia and is marketed in the US by Allura / Plycem - part of a Mexican company.
http://www.4specs.com/s/changes/changes_2014.html
Colin Gilboy
Publisher, 4specs.com
435.200.5775 - Utah
800.369.8008 |
Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap
Senior Member
Username: lgoodrob
Post Number: 250
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 07, 2014 - 09:21 am: | |
Chuck,
We have prepared master specs for two national apartment building chains; they have requested Hardie or Cemplank, based on lifecycle cost.
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