Description
Hardie Tex Base Sheet is the blue board from James Hardie: a 7.5mm fibre cement sheet designed to be finished with a site-applied texture coat for a rendered-look wall. The two long edges are recessed so sheets can be set with concealed joints, and the sheet is supplied pre-primed ready for the texture system. Manufacturer details are on the Hardie Tex system page.
The system is lighter than rendered masonry, which is why it is often considered for additions and upper storeys; the structural adequacy of any addition must still be confirmed by an engineer or building designer. James Hardie notes that set joints can show under glancing light, so a high-build texture, lighter colours and well-placed trims give the best finish. The sheets are blue and printed with the reminder to nail at 200mm and support all joints.
Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer | James Hardie Australia |
|---|---|
| Product code | 401651 |
| Sheet size | 2440 x 1200mm |
| Thickness | 7.5mm |
| Coverage | 2.93 m² per sheet |
| Approx. weight | 33.9 kg per sheet (11.6 kg/m²) |
| Edges | Recessed along both long edges |
| Finish | Pre-primed; must be finished with a texture coat system at least 2mm thick within 90 days of installation |
| Coating colour | Light Reflective Value (LRV) greater than 40% |
| Framing | Timber or light gauge steel, all sheet edges supported |
| Warranty | James Hardie 25-year product warranty on the base sheet against defects in factory workmanship or materials, subject to installation and maintenance to James Hardie’s technical literature and the warranty’s conditions and exclusions (see Documents). The texture coating and joints are warranted by the coating manufacturer. Warranties are in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. |
Framing and Fixing Limits
| Wind classification | Max. stud spacing | Max. fastener spacing |
|---|---|---|
| N1, N2, N3 | 600mm | 200mm |
Higher wind classifications under AS 4055 need closer stud and fastener spacing, particularly within 1200mm of external corners; see Table 2 of the installation guide under the Documents tab.
Where to Use
- Rendered-look external walls on new timber or light gauge steel framed homes
- Additions and upper storeys where a lighter wall than rendered masonry is wanted, as designed by the project engineer
- Extensions matched to an existing rendered house
- Feature walls with a rendered finish (not for walls that must be fire rated)
How to Install
- Frame: use seasoned timber, kiln dried where horizontal joints are needed, framed to AS 1684. Timber at sheet joints must be at least 42mm thick; never use 35mm timber at a joint.
- Lay out: use full sheets rather than offcuts, and plan control joints on wall runs over 5.4m and at floor levels.
- Fix: nail at 200mm centres with 2.8 x 30mm fibre cement nails, at least 12mm from edges and 50mm from corners, using Class 3 external grade fasteners. Never glue sheets to the frame.
- Set joints: reinforce and set the recessed joints with the texture coat manufacturer’s jointing system.
- Texture coat: have a trained applicator apply a texture system at least 2mm thick, within 90 days of installing the sheets.
Important Notes
- Pickup only from our Keilor East yard.
- The sheet is heavy; lift and fix with two people.
- Confirm wind classification, bracing, fire and bushfire requirements with your builder or building surveyor under the National Construction Code.
- Contains respirable crystalline silica. Breathing the dust can cause silicosis, lung cancer and other lung disease. Cut outdoors with score-and-snap or dust-reducing tools, wear a P2 (minimum) respirator to AS/NZS 1716, and follow James Hardie’s Safety Data Sheet and Best Practice Guide under the Documents tab. Safe Work Australia has more on working safely with silica.
- When extending an older home, have existing cladding and linings tested for asbestos before cutting into them; see Asbestos in Victoria.
