Hardy Board

Art Oliveri

Roundtable Host 2009
I went to a trade show today. The Sales Rep was there from Hardy Board. So I asked him how do you clean it. He said soap and water. I said no S/H . He said never, it fades the Hardy Board color. So I said what if it has Mold on it. Then he proseeds to tell me that the Mold isn't on the Hardy Board, its on the dust that collects on the Hardy Board surface.
I'm shore many of you guys here washed Hardy Board. How do you wash it and is the mold on the Hardy Board or on the dust.
 
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Around here if you just wash Hardy Board with soap and water the mold remains on the board.
 
I have washed many houses with the hardy siding and no problems with removing the mold, mildew and algae.
 
Then he proseeds to tell me that the Mold isn't on the Hardy Board, its on the dust that colects on the Hary Board surface.

Wow what a line, did he say it with a straight face? Just use a swiffer duster lol!

House wash mix but do a test spot first.
 
I don't pre wet, just start washing.
 
Regular house wash mix here. Sh and soap. I normally spend just a little extra time rinsing on them though. Never had any issues. They actually clean up very easy.
 
In my opinion its always to be safe than sorry...its a good practice to prewet .....yeah you might get by not doing so...but if u wash long enough ....it might fade some shades....at least in your customers eyes. I am sure lots of variables come into play.....cheap paint, bad prep work, chems to strong, chems dried on or maybe a customer that is out for a free ride.
In my opinion ...major cause is chems to strong....got over spray on hardy and missed it on pre wet.....and has happened when I have treated gutters without pre wetting.....once that happens....you can't take it out..only try to blead it in to where its not noticeable.....if I notice paint on hardyhas a good gloss.....you can bet I will prewet and cut back on my mix.
Everyone has there on method and reasons......this is mine!!!
 
Most of the homes I wash, including my own have hardy board on them. They do fade, but that is usually the paint that fades. Cheap paint doesn't stay on it. The contractors paint that was on my home when it was built 11 years ago faded out in 3 yrs. The new paint is 8 years old and I wash it every year. (lots of sh) Still looks good.
 
This is the hardi care and maintenance ....http://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/HardieZone-HZ10-Care-and-Maintenance-Guide.pdf



High Pressure water blasts (e.g. pressure washers and sand
blasting) will damage the surface of fiber-cement. James
Hardie does not recommend these methods of cleaning. Low
pressure water spray, or a soft brush are more suitable for cleaning
fiber cement products.
 
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