You should be able to use whatever material you like on the outside of a fiber-cement SIP.  We have used T1-11 and Smart Panel.  Both are finished exterior products that can be applied to SIPS in factory.

You can do exactly what you are asking for. There is a company in Florence Alabama who will glady make and ship your panels to you. There name is Southeastern Building Panels and there phone # is 866-327-3057. You can get several types of exterior finishes and they do use the Hardie brand as well as others. They made the panels for my house and I must say that it has turned out very nice. I will be moving in very soon. Good Luck, Sam

Hey Dick, sorry about the late response to your post, I've been engulfed in my house for a few days. I do apoligize for misleading you. My panels are osb skinned. We used brick for the exterior and could not justify the upcharge for our panels just to cover it up. This was a hard decision to make also because you can get the Hardi put directly on the EPS. In the big picture it would have been much more econmical for me to have done this but my wife of 21 years asked me if I would like to make 22 years. I have seen the fiber cement panels put together several times and your assumptions are correct. It is a little more invloved than that but it is close. Putting in the doors and windows is real neat because they go in so fast, also assuming the panels are cut properly.  If you do decide to go with fibercement (good stuff) the weak link is in the transport of the panels. Shipping companies don't seem to have a clue as to what they are hauling they just ratchet the straps down until nothing can move. The panel company I used took some extra steps for me to make a safe journey for the panels. I hope this has been of some help.

Thanks, Sam Ramsey
In God I trust

Global Building Solutions, LLC

2509 Clements Ferry Rd

Charleston, SC 29492-7635

Tel:  843-881-3590, ext 224

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