A building materials heavyweight: why thousands of New Zealanders choose it for their homes…

More than a century old, it remains a heavyweight in building materials

Tried and tested, it aims to put a roof over the heads of families throughout New Zealand

A leader for years, it continues to innovate and evolve

Who is it?…

That’s right: it is James Hardie, a leading global supplier of fibre cement!

Long-term New Zealand residents will no doubt have heard the name James Hardie.

James Hardie fibre cement products are a first choice for many residential building projects in New Zealand, particularly medium-density developments.

So why do so many homeowners, engineers, designers and developers trust it?

Today, we take a closer look at fibre cement products and this brand’s 133-year history to find out…

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Why does everyone love fibre cement? 

Fibre cement products are durable, fire-resistant, resistant to moisture and mould, and low-maintenance, making them particularly well suited to New Zealand’s climate.

Their advantages include:

• Suited to the local climate – Designed specifically to withstand harsh conditions, including coastal climates.
• Fire resistance, sound insulation and moisture resistance – James Hardie fibre cement products are non-combustible, fully meeting the New Zealand Government’s fire-resistance requirements for building materials. They also offer excellent sound insulation and resistance to moisture and corrosion, making them ideal for subdivisions and medium-density projects.
• Easy to clean – Walls can be easily cleaned with low-pressure water and a brush, keeping maintenance costs low.
• Easy to paint – You can paint walls any colour, including contemporary dark shades, without worrying about repainting every 2–3 years, opening up more design possibilities.
• Creating more space – Alongside excellent fire resistance and sound insulation, fibre cement products are slimmer than traditional materials, maximising a project’s floor area.

 

With so many advantages, fibre cement products are widely used for:

• External cladding
• Internal linings – floors, ceilings and walls
• Structural flooring
• Wet-area linings – bathrooms
• Eaves, gazebos and carports
• Fire-resistant and sound-insulating walls and floors
• Structural bracing solutions 

Why choose James Hardie?

As a leading global fibre cement supplier, James Hardie has stood the test of 133 years. Since its founding, it has consistently innovated and challenged industry conventions. James Hardie can be credited with driving the widespread use of fibre cement building materials and advances in the associated technology.

In 1903, a trip to London introduced James Hardie to “fibro-cement”, beginning a lasting connection. At the time, fibro-cement was made in France and used mainly for roofing and lining boards. James Hardie pioneered its introduction to Australia and began exploring its enormous potential. In the mid-1980s, James Hardie led the development of asbestos-free fibre cement technology and began designing and manufacturing fibre cement building materials on a large scale, making the most of their durability, versatility and strength.

James Hardie has also been established in New Zealand for more than 83 years, aiming to provide customers with smart building products suited to local climatic conditions. Linea™ Weatherboard was developed and refined here. Tested over more than 20 years, it won over countless New Zealand builders through its performance before gradually expanding worldwide.

Today, James Hardie has become a global leader in fibre cement manufacturing and technology, with a diverse team of up to 4800 people across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 

As part of the James Hardie family, James Hardie New Zealand remains committed to its original purpose: helping more New Zealand homeowners and builders create their dream homes. These homes should offer outstanding quality and unlimited design possibilities, combining an impressive appearance with the ability to withstand the weather and the test of time. 

The local sales and technical teams coordinate supply to meet demand and provide New Zealand customers with after-sales technical support. They also continually gather market requirements and suggestions, promptly passing them to the research and development team to help deliver more innovative products and building material solutions that meet market needs.

If you are considering external cladding or flooring materials for a building project, follow James Hardie’s official WeChat account or contact the sales team by phone or email. A sales representative dedicated to Chinese-speaking customers will be available to answer your questions.