We are going to be doing Apex siding on our 100+ year old house in Boston. I did a ton of online research on the different siding products and ordered samples. We were seriously considering the Everlast composite siding, but they didn't have it in a smooth finish (without the cedar imprint) and it had a shine to it when the light hit it certain ways. So I just couldn't do it. Then I started reading about Apex. It has not been used in the Boston area, but we contacted the company and they put us in touch with the New England manager. He told us they were using it on Cape Cod Lumber's new building in Abbington. We drove down to look at it. They were using the Apex boards with Azek trim. It looked just like clapboard -- really! We LOVED it. So we got the name of a contractor that could install it for us -- Yeti (a new name for South Shore Exteriors). They're supposed to start May 1st -- can't wait!. Now the issue centers on the Azek -- I want gray trim and don't want to paint it. I found this product from Jain called EX-cel that is pvc trim board with the color right through it. Has anyone used this stuff? Can you tell me anything about it? Thx! Here is a link that might be useful: Link to EX-cel color palette page

I have Hardiplank on SEVEN homes which I own. Speaking from experience the James Hardy product is pure junk. It is highly hydroscopic, meaning iT absorbs water readily. Once the siding has absorbed water, paint peeling is the likely result. We observe that on the south, west and eastern sides of our homes paint peeling is generally less of a problem as the sun exposure warms the siding and drives out most of the moisture absorbed in a heavy rain. The northern exposures are a different situation and that's where paint peeling is the biggest problem. In coastal locations Hardiplank is at its worst. Wind driven rain will force its way behind the siding and will often find its way behind the laps and will literally get between the siding and the paint forming large balloons under the paint filled with water! These balloons can be as large as a foot or two wide and unbelievably can hold 4-6 ounces of water for months until the peeling sets in. You pop the balloon and water runs down the side of the home! Additional areas where paint peeling and Hardiplank delamination often occur are any location where there is a high 'slash' effect off of gable roofs or splash from decks or porches back onto this siding. iF YOU READ THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, THEY WANT YOU TO KEEP THE PRODUCT 'X' INCHES AWAY FROM DECKS AND ROOF SURFACES, HOWEVER THIS ISJUST NOT PRACTICAL IN MANY CASES. In a real sense this is Hardy's own admission that the product is not suited for geographic areas of the US which receive a fair amount of rain due to water absorption. I've read lots of painters saying the problem is the paint. Over the years, we've tried all the major brands including Behr and Sherwin Williams and numerous others, and in our experience the paint makes little to no difference. In our view the product is not suitable as an exterior siding unless the structure is located in an arid environment like the southwest. Many homeowners have been told it's an installation problem. Except in the rarest cases, I do not believe it. I have seen rampant delamination of the product 2" from a patio surface and 20' above as well. I have experienced the butt joints open up as much as 3/4 of an inch on hot southern exposures. All this means that the product is swelling and shrinking constantly and inherently causes paint to peel as a result. In short, the product does not appear to be suited for the purpose for which it is intended: SIDING. I would not put it on a dog house!

We love the look but someone told us nail pops are visible and it has a plastic-like glisten in certain lights. Any experiences pro/con, vs. Hardy Plank?

Ondrea - I’ll definitely give a full review on Nectar once my son sleeps on it a few nights! So far we’re happy - we set it up on Monday night to start to expand, we also heard some beds can have an odor that just needs a few days to dissipate. We honestly haven’t experienced much of an odor- if you stick your nose right to it (we did) it does smell a bit plasticky - but nothing significant. The mattress and the 2 free pillows have expanded/filled out pretty well in just 24 hours. We got the foundation too- very easy to assemble. Ninday- Oh my goodness, so sorry that your inspector got shocked but glad it was discovered!! We hired an inspector after our last home - it was a spec home by a production builder, and after a few minor mishaps... we hired one knowing full well the builder wouldn’t do anything, but we wanted to know if there was anything major. (There wasn’t.) this time around we built semi-custom with a much more reputable builder and figured we’d be okay without one... but over the summer we probably should anyway to be certain- because everyone makes mistakes!! Thanks for the reminder ;) Good news- the cleaners got in today - so we will start moving some stuff over tomorrow! Living with the in laws, so as I’ve bought stuff for the house it’s been taking up an extra office at my husbands office space. He’ll be happy to get it cleared out!! We’ll probably go over tomorrow and do some spot cleaning ourselves. Cleaners made 3-4 visits... but we are pretty picky and will still find things to clean! (We own a cleaning company, lol.)