Hardie™ Plank Weatherboard
The No-Fuss Weatherboard for Cost-Effective Builds
Not every project needs, or has the budget for, the thickest, deepest-shadow, most architecturally deliberate weatherboard in the range. A lot of Australian residential construction just needs a reliable, time-tested, cost-effective weatherboard that goes up quickly, looks the part and doesn’t require thinking twice about. That’s exactly the role Hardie™ Plank Weatherboard fills.
A no-fuss, 7.5 mm thick fibre cement weatherboard available in two woodgrain textures and two widths, Hardie™ Plank is the practical choice for whole-home cladding or cost-effective home extensions, including the common scenario of extending a brick-veneer home with a lighter, faster-to-build weatherboard addition. Decades of installation history across Australian residential construction, now in a non-combustible, low-maintenance fibre cement format.
Technical Specifications
Material
Fibre cement – non-combustible
Thicknesses
7.5mm
Widths
230mm · 300mm
Finish options
Woodgrain texture · Smooth
Fire performance
Non-combustible – BAL-rated (confirm current rating against installation guide)
Durability
Resistant to rot, moisture damage and termite attack
Fixing
Gun-nail to timber frames · screw to light-gauge steel frames
Surface
Pre-primed – ready to paint
Typical use
Whole-home cladding · cost-effective extensions to existing brick or masonry homes
Positioning
The most economical weatherboard profile in the Hardie™ Exteriors range
The Practical Choice for Volume and Extension Work
Cost-effective whole-home cladding
For volume residential builds and cost-conscious new home construction, Hardie™ Plank delivers the classic Australian weatherboard look at a lower specification tier than Linea™ or Stria™, which is appropriate where budget efficiency is the primary driver and a deep-shadow architectural statement isn’t the brief.
Extensions to brick veneer homes
One of the most common Plank Weatherboard applications: extending an existing brick home with a lighter, faster-to-build weatherboard addition. The reduced weight and faster installation compared to matching brick veneer construction make Plank a practical, economical choice for second-storey additions and rear extensions.
Woodgrain or smooth - designer's choice
The two available textures let the specifier choose between a more traditional timber-look woodgrain surface or a cleaner, contemporary smooth finish, both in the same 230mm and 300mm widths, giving flexibility without complicating the specification.
Time-tested profile, modern material
The Plank profile itself has decades of installation history in Australian residential construction; builders and installers know it well, which contributes to faster, more predictable installation timelines compared to less familiar profiles.
Featured Projects with Hardie™ Plank Weatherboard
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Hardie™ Plank Woodgrain and Smooth?
Both are the same 7.5 mm fibre cement weatherboard available in 230 mm and 300 mm widths; the difference is purely surface texture. Woodgrain has a traditional timber-look textured surface; Smooth has a clean, flat surface. The choice is a design decision based on the desired final painted appearance; both accept standard acrylic paint systems equally well.
Is Hardie™ Plank Weatherboard suitable for extending a brick-veneer home?
Yes, this is one of the most common applications for Hardie™ Plank. Its lighter weight and faster installation compared to matching brick veneer construction make it a practical and cost-effective choice for second-storey additions, rear extensions and other scenarios where extending an existing brick or masonry home with weatherboard cladding is the design solution.
How does Hardie™ Plank compare to Linea™ Weatherboard?
Hardie™ Plank is thinner (7.5mm vs Linea™’s 16mm) and available in wider board widths (230mm and 300mm vs Linea™’s 150mm and 180mm), resulting in a flatter, more subtle shadow line than Linea™’s deep-shadow profile. Plank is generally the more cost-effective specification, suited to volume residential and budget-conscious projects, while Linea™ is the premium option for projects where a deeper, more architecturally deliberate weatherboard statement is the brief.
Can Hardie™ Plank be used to clad a whole home, not just extensions?
Yes. While it’s frequently specified for cost-effective extensions to existing brick homes, Hardie™ Plank Weatherboard is equally suitable for cladding an entire new home. It’s a genuinely versatile, time-tested weatherboard profile appropriate for full-building applications across a wide range of residential project types and budgets.