Hanging Things on HardiPlank

[mcp6453]

My wife wants to hang an ornament on the side of our house, which is covered with HardiPlank. I did a search to find out how to drill a hole into the material:

"Use a drill bit meant for concrete. Drill the holes so that the screw threads will be anchored in the wall studs - not just the Hardiplank or sheathing. The Hardiplank itself is too brittle to hold a lot of additional weight or wind loading. The usual OSB sheathing isn't very strong for this, either."

I don't know if there is sheathing under the planking. It may be screwed to studes. It is unlikely that there are studs behind where she wants this single nail or screw to be inserted. The one time I tried to drill a hole in HardiPlank, I used a masonry bit. It did not drill well. It essentially wore a hole in the siding.

Once I get the hole in the siding, I'm at the point of no return. Should I be prepared to use a plastic anchor if there is no sheathing or stud?

Suggestions?

[RBM]

I wouldn't use an anchor. You should at least have sheeting underneath. If the thing isn't too heavy, a screw into the sheeting may do, or you could drill a larger hole and use a toggle bolt.

[mcp6453]

What kind of bit do I use to drill the hole?

[RBM]

You use a carbide bit, but unless you have a hammer drill, the tend to wander on Hardi board. With a hammer drill they go through like butter

[mcp6453]

A carbide rotary drill or a carbide masonry bit? Believe it or not, I have a rotary drill 3 feet away from me at the moment. It's new and never been used, to I didn't think about it!

[RBM]

** masonry bit

[krw]

I have Hardipanel, so it's somewhat different because of the geometry, but a regular twist drill will go through it easily enough. I use cheap bits because the stuff does ruin them. HF has more. I've hung Christmas lights and small ornaments on just screws (or screw hooks) just into the Hardipanel. No problems.

I wouldn't use a toggle bolt. They're not great for sheer loads and will leak (the hole is a lot bigger than the screw). I'd rather the fastener just pulled out than take a good hunk of the sheet with it.

How big is what she wants hung?