Table of Contents
What blade do you use to cut cement board?
Cement is a tough material to use a jigsaw to cut through, so you need to use the right blade for the job. Use a metal-cutting blade or a carbide-grit blade to cut through the board. Make sure the blade is securely fixed into the saw.
Can cement board be drilled?
It can be cut and drilled just like wood. However, drilling through cement-fiber siding goes better if you use a carbide drill bit, as opposed to a regular steel drill bit. Cement-fiber siding can be drilled while installed on a house or prior to installation.
What is the best tool to cut Hardie board with?
A carbide-tipped scoring knife is recommended, but you can also use a utility knife or shears. Never use a high-speed grinder to cut cement board indoors, since this can create a dust hazard.
Do I need a special blade to cut cement board?
There are a few different power tools that you can use to cut cement backer board. For straight cuts, use a circular saw fitted with a carbide-tipped wood-cutting blade, pushing the saw into the material with slow, even pressure. Here’s a little secret: Use a blade with the fewest number of teeth you can find.
How do you drill through cement board?
Cement fiber siding (CFS) can be drilled, nailed and cut much like wood. Since it is more abrasive than wood, carbide or diamond blades are best for cutting. Holes are easy to make with an electric drill and a carbide tip drill bit. As with any project, good eye protection is recommended.
Will a hole saw cut through Hardie board?
HardiePlank, or any fiber cement product, is challenging to cut because it’s very soft and abrasive. A bimetal hole saw, often used to cut through wood and steel, will not last when used to cut through any fiber cement product.
Can you drill holes in hardiplank?
HardiePlank is available as ready-to-paint or with a color layer. Although the siding does not require drilling pilot holes, you may need to run wire or cable through the siding, necessitating drilling a hole.
What is the best saw blade to cut Hardie?
what is the best saw blade for James hardie siding? For a larger project, use a fiber cement saw blade with polycrystalline diamond tips; if you’re installing Hardie siding on a shed or other small building you can use a fiber cement saw blade with carbide tips.
What side of cement board do you cut?
Cement board has a smooth side and a rough side. Face the rough side out if you will be using thin-set mortar adhesive to install the tile but the smooth side out if you will be using latex mastic.
Can you cut cement board with a table saw?
A carbide-tipped blade with as few as six teeth will cut a cement backer board smoothly and quickly. Lay your backer board out on a work table or between two sawhorses. Unlike score and snap, you’ll need to use a surface that allows for a saw blade to go through the board.
Can you cut durock with a circular saw?
Use power tools on large projects or thick Durock to muscle through the process with ease. A circular saw with a carbide-tipped woodcutting blade is the best tool for the job. While a jigsaw or an angle grinder fitted with a cutting wheel can also cut Durock, these options result in more mess and less accuracy.
How do you cut a cement board with a utility knife?
Lay your cement board flat, and draw a line with a carpenter’s pencil where you intend to cut. Place a straightedge along the line and drag either a drywall utility knife or a scoring tool against it. Repeat your cuts two to three times to make them deeper, which will make snapping the board easier.
Can you hang things on Hardie board?
If you do choose to hang items from your Hardie® siding, it is possible and we have general guidance. If you’re not comfortable with small projects, it may be best to hire a handyman. Generally speaking, items can be attached to Hardie® siding by using either corrosion resistant nails or screws.
Can you screw into fiber cement siding?
Fiber cement siding can be nailed by hand or with a pneumatic nailer. It can also be attached using corrosion resistant screws. Use hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel nails.
What kind of screws do you use for Hardie board?
James Hardie recommends 1-1/4” long galvanized or STAINLESS steel roofing nails or 1-1/4” long ribbed waferhead screws in compliance with the tile industry. It is 8-18 x 3/8” HD.
Can I hammer a nail into hardiplank?
Fiberboard cement siding can be hand-nailed, but because it’s so much harder and more brittle than wood, you have to predrill holes near any edge. You can save yourself a bunch of time by using a pneumatic coil siding nail gun. Use 6d or 8d galvanized or stainless siding nails and install a single nail about 1-in.
Will a stud finder work through hardiplank?
Wirepuller, most hardieplank is blind nailed thus the problem with finding the studs. Best bet is to look for the spot where 2 butt joints meet in the field.
What do you cut Hardie siding with?
Steps: When cutting fiber-cement siding with circular saw, use a blade that has only four or six teeth. To keep dust to a minimum, use a circular saw that’s equipped with either a dust-collection bag or electric fan that blows dust into a bucket. For a slow, but virtually dustless way to cut siding, use power shears.
What is a Hardie blade?
Overview. Diablo HardieBlade™ is the only approved PCD (PolyCrystalline Diamond) tipped fiber cement blade recommended by James Hardie Building Products. Diablo Fiber Cement Blades generate up to 50% less respirable dust*, while delivering the longest life in all fiber cement materials.
How long will a diamond blade last cutting concrete?
According to experts, a low-quality diamond blade can only last around 12 hours of non-stop cutting, while high-quality blades can cut materials up to 120 hours.
What do you use to cut fiber cement siding?
For cutting fiber-cement siding, it’s best to use a 4- to 6-tooth polycrystalline diamond-tipped (PCD) blade made specifically for fiber-cement. Regular carbide blades will cut fiber cement, but they dull relatively quickly, and if you attempt a gang cut, the blades overheat and can warp.
How do you cut fiber board?
You can make straight cuts in fiberboard with a utility knife, or use any type of power saw to do the job. Or, if you take the time to prepare the cut properly, you can go old-school and use a hand saw!.
Can you cut Hardie trim with a regular saw blade?
You can use a jigsaw, table saw or circular saw, or another tool, as long as it’s equipped with the right kind of blade. Once prepared, cut the Hardie board as you would any other material. Mark your line; align the board against the guard as needed and slowly but firmly make the cut.
