Hardiplank Cladding Repairs

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sJBs

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#279684 1-Nov-2020 17:01

I'm purchasing a house that has some of the Hardiplanks damaged (bits broken out) while quite a number are cracked (vertical cracks). I have spoken to a couple of builders who highlighted the difficulty in repairing the damage by attempting to replace a single plank at a time. The reason is that the plank on top also needs to be removed, and then in the process will be damaged. They also indicated that the epoxy or sealant type solution would only provide temporary relief, before falling out.

Has anyone had experience in successfully repairing Hardiplank damage such as cracked boards and broken boards (piece missing)

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Bung

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#2595944 1-Nov-2020 18:02

What is the age of the house? Unless it is late enough to be obviously non asbestos you should probably start with getting a sample tested. That might determine what you do next.

I haven't replaced planks but have done some sheet replacement. I've had cracks at window cutouts where there's been some movement. Can you see any pattern in where the cracks have occurred? The amount of damage you do depends on how patient you are at removing the nails.

sJBs

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#2598057 5-Nov-2020 08:35

Bung: What is the age of the house? Unless it is late enough to be obviously non asbestos you should probably start with getting a sample tested. That might determine what you do next.

The house dates from the mid 80's.

Bung: I haven't replaced planks but have done some sheet replacement. I've had cracks at window cutouts where there's been some movement. Can you see any pattern in where the cracks have occurred? The amount of damage you do depends on how patient you are at removing the nails.

The cracks are all almost vertical, but randomly scattered throughout, ie not all on the same wall, or vicinity of other cracks.

Then there are 1 or 2 planks that had pieces broken out, but this is clearly from impact as it is next to doors.

BlueShift

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#2598081 5-Nov-2020 08:46

Have you had a building inspection to make sure the cracks aren't from the piles subsiding unevenly?

Bung

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#2598215 5-Nov-2020 11:36

sJBs:
Bung: What is the age of the house? Unless it is late enough to be obviously non asbestos you should probably start with getting a sample tested. That might determine what you do next.

The house dates from the mid 80's.

From the BRANZ Renovate site "Cement-based sheets and planks that are known to be installed before 1988 and have a corrugated profile or a dimpled back surface are likely to contain asbestos, making them potential health hazards. They should therefore be handled with care. See health risks - asbestos for health and safety aspects of handling asbestos."

If the planks do contain asbestos and you need to get a builder to replace more than 10²m they'd either need a removal license or get a specialist in. Then depending on how much of each wall you do you'd have the decision whether to do the whole wall. All this would have to affect the purchase price.

Edit. If the planks aren't asbestos and the crack is close enough to vertical you may be able to treat it as a butt joint and use a joiner.