Cohousing-L Mailing List: Hardiplank

[Graham Meltzer (g.meltzer]

Sherri writes

>Our architects are enthusiastic about "hardiplank," a concrete and celloulose
>material that looks a lot like wood. Eno Commons is looking for exterior
>materials that are less expensive than solid wood, fairly "green," and will
hold
>up over the years. I'm skeptical of all new, composite materials. Eric Hart and
>I have exchanged some private e-mail, in which he stated that all concrete
based
>materials are inherently environmentally very destructive.
>
>I would love to hear other people's opinions of hardiplank. Any people from
>Australia, where it has supposedly been used for a long time, have opinions on
>it? Durable? Environmentally correct or rude? And any suggestions out there for
>other materials we should investigate? 

I think this subject is slightly off topic and perhaps belongs in some of
the eco-architecture or sustainability lists. None-the-less, opinions from
Australia are not frequently called for ... so I couldn't resist.

Hardiplank is one of a range of products made from fibre-cement (FC). I
imagine from your description that it's the one which comes in long lengths
(8 or 12 ft) and is perhaps 1 foot wide with a wood grain appearance.

I have an aversion to this particular product on the basis of it pretending
to be something it's not ie. wood. I don't think that sort of fakery
contributes to the quality of our built environment (although it's full of
it, of course) nor the meaning and symbolism we ascribe to buildings. 

On the other hand, the same material comes in sheet form in a range of sizes
(8x4 ft, 12x4 ft, 12x3 ft etc) and without the woodgrain pattern. This
product has much greater appeal for me anyway. It can be used as internal or
external sheeting ... is very durable, inexpensive, easy for self builders
to fix ... and has a simple, modest appearance. In combination with battens
used to cover the joints, it can have a calming, almost Japanese kind of
aesthetic. 

In Australia, as Sherri notes, it's had a long history, though up until
about 15 years ago, it used to be asbestos-cement. I has been used on many,
many homes, beach shacks and garden sheds for a hundred years or so. It is
not universally appreciated and is associated by many with cheap or social
housing. But certainly in this part of Australia (where the climate is kind)
FC sheeting is back in vogue amongst young and innovative architects at
least, where its use is common in a fresh, regional housing style being
developed in Queensland.

On the down side, I sort of agree with Eric that it is environmentally
problematic. Certainly cement products use heaps of energy in production and
transportation. But if you add to the equation its long life, low
maintenance and inherent modesty ...... I'm not so sure that its a clear-cut
choice. Certainly in places where timber is precious it has to be worth
considering.

Hope this helps Sherri.





Graham Meltzer 

School of Architecture, Interior and Industrial Design
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
Tel:(07)3864 2535(w)  (07)3870 2090(h)  Fax: (07)3864 1528

"The neccessity to unite with other human beings, to be related to them,
is an imperative need on the fulfillment of which, man's sanity depends" 
                 E. Fromm (The Sane Society(1965))