Meeting with architect next week and question about siding

14 years ago

We had thought about building a cedar shingle house with a stone foundation but are at the very infancy of our design project (architect hasn't even met with husband yet). I have been reading about the artisan hardiplank and it looks really good in pictures (haven't seen it in person).

I know true cedar shingles are not the most economical siding choice and I do have some concerns about maintenance. We want to use what we can from a pvc/cement siding standpoint on trim anyway as I have had it with replacing rotten windowsills and eaves. I suspect since this house will be tucked in the woods, it may be more of a problem there.

Has anyone used Artisan Hardiplank? How does it compare cost wise? How does it look in person? It reminds me of cedar siding with the thicker look and deep shade lines which I love. We have made no decisions about our exterior except we must have a stone mailbox and stone apron on our driveway. We do love the white clapboard farmhouse look, but the area we are building requires a more neutral palette since they want all houses to be "integrated with the natural environment".

Thanks!

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Comments (14)

drjoann
14 years ago
athensmom,

From what I can see from the Hardie site, Artisan looks like lap siding, not cedar shingles. Is this the look you want?

If you want a cedar shingle look with the maintenance of fiber cement, you should consider Nichiha Sierra Premium Shake. That is what we are using for our Shingle Style inspired house & several on this forum have been very happy with it. Just put "Nichiha" in the search block at the bottom of the page.

We have samples of all of the Nichiha standard colors for the Sierra Premium Shake and they do have a transparent look like you would see on wood. There is a bit of a sheen & I don't know if that dulls with age. Perhaps someone can chime in?

If you aren't happy with the available colors from Nichiha, Carolina Colortones will do a custom color using the same process and Woodtech "stain" that Nichiha uses. Here's a link:

http://www.carolinacolortones.com/home/ProductsServices/FiberCementProducts/NichihaSiding/tabid/88/Default.aspx

Jo Ann

P.S. DD got accepted to UGA Law School just before Thanksgiving for Class of 2013. She really liked it when we visited in Oct. She's still waiting to hear from some T14 schools, but I certainly wouldn't mind if she were only 2 hours away in Athens when we move to Upstate SC.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nichiha Sierra Premium Shake
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, Artisan is lap siding, which I also love the look of. We were planning on real cedar shakes with a semi transparent or transparent stain. We were not going to consider Hardie shingles because they were painted. I didn't realize the composite shingles came in a semi-transparent finish. I will have to check that out, although I don't think anything with a sheen would give us the look we want.

That was why the Artisan was appealing - paint as you wish, looks like high end lap siding, paint lasts longer and no rot. I just haven't seen it in person so you can't really tell whether it really looks that good or not!
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I only glanced quickly last night but looking at it again, I feel your home lacks flow and as an aging in place house, I feel flow is so important. Here's what I mean. I drew lines on it in different colors to show. The blue line shows the route from your entry to your kitchen. So with the fireplace in the corner like that, I agree with the others that furniture placement in your family room will be a problem. The green and purple lines are showing two different ways you'll have to lug your laundry from your closet (or bathroom) to your laundry room. Notice one takes you through your dining room, and the other takes you through your breakfast/kitchen area. Now imagine you've slowed down and maybe can't carry much anymore. Now imagine having to slide the laundry baskets (assuming they're on wheels) through the house dodging the furniture in the family room or the furniture in the dining room. I would think you'd prefer having the laundry closer to where the majority of the laundry will be generated. I also notice both pocket doors into your bathroom and closets are not ADA compliant being only 2'4" wide. ADA specifies a minimum of 2'6" so you'd be able to get a wheelchair or a walker through the doors. Also regarding ADA, if you ever need a wheelchair or walker, trying to maneuver into and out of the bedroom from that small hall alcove might be difficult. What is the large red empty space behind the kitchen? I agree that upstairs the sink should not be compartmentalized. No need for it. Also you said craftsman. I don't see any elements to the outside of your house that reads craftsman. I'd like to help with the exterior but I'm wondering if you're willing to consider changing the interior based on the comments before changing the exterior? If craftsman is what you like, it can definitely read more craftsman but would need lots of changes. BTW: Don't get discouraged. It took over 9 months and lots of help from the good folks here to help refine my plans.
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None of us here were at the early meetings, or a party to any discussions or information exchanges, so we can only respond based on the normal and standard practices of the architectural profession and our experience therein. "... My in-laws made an assumption that that would be a few hundred dollars (yes, assumptions get you in trouble). Just seems shady not to mention exactly, or at least ballpark, how much the construction plans would cost..." I don't know why or how they could have made such an assumption, but given the amount of work actually required that sort of thinking is simply and completely unreasonable. Look at the itemized scope of services provided in your description above. How could that be provided for "a few hundred dollars"? That means someone at a $100/hr billing rate would spend up to three hours to complete your project! Does that sound reasonable? Or even remotely possible? So far as I can see from this thread, there was nothing shady, unethical or unusual about the contract arrangements or sums. There was an initial phase to create a design, "to the owner's satisfaction", for a modest sum of $3,000. As a retired architect, I would have never used the term "to the owner's satisfaction" (since I well know how often consumers can change their minds over the smallest, often inconsequential, issue), and I would not have used a fixed sum, but an hourly rate, so that the owners had a share in the responsibility for how long the design phase took. So in this phase, the owners really got a bargain, and to their advantage. The fact that your MIL is "hooked" on the design suggests your family got their money's worth and what they were hoping for. Having a separate, fixed fee for the necessary detailed construction drawings and specifications is a good (and normal) practice. The list of items covered in the description above is very thorough and complete; it's far more than many residential architects, designers and drafters ever provide! The fee for these services is reasonable and may actually be low, if separate engineering design, drawings and calculations, or other services, are required by the local jurisdiction. As proposed, your family will receive a much more thorough and complete set of documents for bidding and construction than is the norm. As a result, the quality of construction and lasting value should be significantly higher than normal. You are concerned about why the costs for services weren't itemized up front. It's a reasonable concern. As you describe, the architect said there would be an initial charge for the first phase (design) and a subsequent charge for services to complete the project. Until the schematic design of the house was complete and approved, the architect had no way of knowing the scope and extent of time and services required to prepare and complete the construction drawings and specifications. It would be like trying to determine if something was bigger than a bread basket and/or flatter than a pancake. How would anyone know the scope and complexity of the house (and the amount of time to prepare and complete the required construction drawing and specifications) until the owners had first approved a design? If you buy a ready-made plan from one of the Internet plan factories, you will thereafter have to spend money to have the plan adapted to your family's needs; you will have to have pay for a foundation design to fit your specific site; you will have to pay for the necessary engineering structural services; for the creation of systems plans--HVAC; electrical, lighting, signal and controls; plumbing, etc. Your local jurisdiction may have other special requirements to be addressed, i.e., seismic or hurricane forces, etc. All of these are included in the services the architect has proposed. I'm very sorry that this situation has occurred and that your family feels wronged or misled. But, as far as I can tell, the total costs are reasonable, and actually less than normal in many areas, for the extent of services provided. I know this is likely not what you want to hear at this point, but it is a fair and reasonable response to the situation which has been described. I sincerely wish you and your family good luck with your project.
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srercrcr
14 years ago
We love our (now 13 year old Hardie lap siding (pic)

Here is a link that might be useful:
dancingsams
14 years ago
We are building a 3 story victorian. It is all hardiplank artisan. It looks perfect. It looks like wood. Everyone that sees it is impressed, and the maintenance should be minimal. We love it. Make sure the painter follows hardiplank's guidance for paint prep and application.
srercrcr
14 years ago
This reminds me of one of the many build problems we had. The supplier delivered one pallet of smooth Hardie and one pallet of woodgrain. What on Earth is wrong with people?
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
Dancingsams - do you remember the cost per square? Trying to get a rough comparison. It looks great in pictures - just like cedar siding to me.
kaismom
14 years ago
According to the Hardi web site...

Hardiplank now allows you to finish mitered corners on lap siding. This is truly a beautiful way to finish the siding. I would see if you can find someone that knows how to do this. In the past, this is what set the wood cedar siding apart from the Hardi planks, IMHO...

We had our siding done in 2001. At the time, we had to use corner caps. This is much less attractive option than mitered corners. I wish we could have done mitered corners at the time. Oh well!

Vertical trim pieces at the corners have completely different look of the siding.

I have also seen some really nice looking shake-look with Hardi.
srercrcr
14 years ago
I can't believe mitered corners are gonna come out looking as good as drawn on paper. Installers have to fasten both boards just right and hope for no movement. Not in 2009.
macv
14 years ago
Fiber-cement boards can also be alternately lapped or woven at the corners.
mariend
14 years ago
Check fire restrictions on any shingles==side or roof. They really burn fast and are not allowed in certain areas. Looks are great, but safety comes first.
macv
14 years ago
Fire-retardant treated shingles are available.
buckheadhillbilly
14 years ago
Athensmom,

When you go to see the Christmas Show House, go north on Ridgewood to 3515. Bill Baker designed the renovation on that house, and I was told that the siding on the garage is Artisan Hardiplank. It looks fabulous.
kateskouros
14 years ago
many of the pre finished colors from nichiha are very shiny. i was very concerned about this, as when the sun shines directly on it there's a substantial "glare". i'm thrilled however with our nichiha in weathered gray. there is no sheen as on the other wood stains. the macadamia stain doesn't seem to have it either. i'm planning on taking some pics tomorrow. neither our architect or builder had used (or even heard of) nichiha before our job and were using the hardi products. architect told me the other day he's spec'd it on four other houses and builder loves it since there was no breakage during install ...so no waste. i'll post back with pics of our shingle style tomorrow!
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
Buckhead - He is coming up here Friday to talk. I'll ask him about it. I didn't get your message until now and we saw the Christmas house Saturday. Got some good ideas - loved the colors on the outside and how they took the bluestone into the mudroom/backhall area. . . It was waaaayyy more /overly molded than we want and very chopped up feeling also so I also got some don'ts from it!

I would love to see pictures of your house kate - I love a gray shingled house!

Meeting with architect next week and question about siding

Comments (14)

drjoann

athensmomof3
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Meeting with architect next week and question about siding

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