HardieBacker - "other" uses.

[gmartine]

A creative friend of mine wants to use it like ply/chip board and make kitchen cabinets (doorless) out of it as he likes the brutalist look. Straight away I said no it's too brittle, wont take screws and plugs without splitting (I think) nor would any shelving take loading well. I've used it as specified for flooring (supported) or tile backer so have drilled and screwed it but I'm doubting myself, could it be a viable material for this type of use?

 

[Ben-gee]

Depending on construction technique, yes I think it would work (can’t screw into its edge, so would need a “batten “ framework to screw into)
It doesn’t split providing you’re not too near the edges, if you pilot drill and I always use a countersink too.
It is so stiff it would be pretty good,
Would need to seal it I suspect, and maybe smooth the rough side a bit.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You could but you would need perfect boards you could router them out

Ply you can get expensive versions which look good as base units

 

[Ben-gee]

If your mate is going for the brutalist look, I’m available for plastering - but it might be a step too far for him…

 

[SimonG]

Plus the dust off of it is apparently carcinogenic. Sticker on one of the boards of the last lot I used.

 

[gmartine]

Never realised, I'll be more careful around it.

Another reason for making them in cement board was that his kitchen kept flooding (1st floor flat) because one of his soil pipes kept backing up and blowing the cabinets apart even though I twice put in a non-return. I don't know why but it kept failing/flooding so we're now going to re-route the outlet to another stack over the summer so another need not to waterproof the cabinets.