Speed of construction: Hardie™ fibre cement vs traditional materials

If you’ve ever tackled house renovations or built a home from scratch, you know one thing: time is money. The longer a project takes, the more pressure it puts on your budget and your sanity. That’s why a growing number of designers and builders are turning to Hardie™ fibre cement cladding products to help shorten construction timelines – without compromising on quality or design ambitions.

Compared to many traditional materials like brick and render, Hardie™ fibre cement cladding can be lighter, faster to install and less affected by weather delays. As architect Julian Brenchley from The Block 2025 puts it: “Contractors can get whole facades of houses done within a day if the patterns are set out correctly.”

A streamlined solution

A standout performer on this season of The Block has been Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture – a cladding with a subtle, fine render texture and sharp v-grooves that deliver a bold and modern aesthetic. It was selected for House 4’s central upper volume and created a strong visual contrast against the more textural use of brick.

But its appeal goes far beyond looks. Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture is easy to install, pre-primed and ready to paint. It is low maintenance and engineered to stand up to harsh weather, including coastal conditions.

The backbone of faster builds

Speedy builds don’t just come from good cladding – they must also be grounded by a solid system underneath. That’s where the Hardie™ Structural Batten shines.

“Once that’s done, it really becomes plug-and-play,” Brenchley says. “The cladding comes in standard lengths and are all square and true. It’s super-fast.”

Using Hardie™ Structural Batten as part of your external wall system means you minimise the need for extra trades or complicated frameworks. The battens allow for direct fixing of cladding, help with better airflow behind the wall for moisture management, drainage and ventilation – especially in volume builds or for multi-faceted designs.

A practical comparison of Hardie™ fibre cement vs brick

Construction using Hardie™ fibre cement building products can make the building process simpler and faster than traditional construction methods, such as brick and masonry. Not only are Hardie™ building products easy to deliver and move around the site, the number of tradespeople required to install them (usually a carpenter and painter) is reduced compared to some other methods of construction. Not only can this deliver cost savings, it can allow the construction process to proceed more quickly.

The benefits are especially noticeable on complex builds or projects with tight deadlines – like The Block houses.

“From a construction methodology point of view, it’s very quick and easy for contractors to enclose a building,” Brenchley says. “That’s really the benefit of James Hardie’s portfolio of fibre cement exterior solutions.”

No compromise on style

Speed doesn’t mean sacrificing your design goals. With products like Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture, it’s possible to achieve a broad range of architectural styles – from Mid-Century Modern and Japandi to Box Modern and Modern Farmhouse.

“Let your imagination go wild,” says Brenchley. “With Stria™ Cladding – vertical, horizontal, any kind of width – you can have a lot of fun. It can be ultra-traditional, it can be ultra-modern. There’s a lot of scope to play with there.”

Hardie™ fibre cement products are also easy to paint and available in textured finishes that echo other materials like brushed concrete or render – without the hassle or weight of brickwork.

When speed meets confidence

With rising material costs and skilled labour shortages continuing to impact project timelines, builders and renovators can adopt solutions that will reduce the build’s complexity without negatively affecting the final outcome.

As Brenchley puts it: “Hardie™ exterior cladding products have been around long enough for designers to understand the typical panel widths and heights. You’re not asking contractors to reinvent the wheel when a pallet of fibre cement products turns up.”

Preparation, compatibility and speed of installation will also translate to faster projects. And that’s a win for both homeowners and builders alike.