The Complete Hardie Board and Fiber Cement Siding Guide

Everything a Homeowner Should Know About James Hardie Siding

You take a great deal of pride in your home, which is why it’s frustrating when your siding starts to look weatherbeaten, warped, or shows signs of dry rot or decay.

What are some other warning signs sending the message that it’s time for a siding replacement from the experts at Falcon Exteriors?

• Cracked, bubbling or loose siding
• Sky-high utility bills
• High-maintenance siding
• Signs of damage from woodpeckers, termites, carpenter ants or other pests
• Sun-faded siding
• Damage from hail, ice or other impacts
• Moisture or peeling paint on your interior walls
• Outdated siding that ages your home

You need exterior siding that’s durable, low maintenance, and attractive. The problem? Most siding materials just don’t live up to these demands.

Wood needs constant attention and vinyl fades quickly. What can be done to get beautiful siding you’ll love for years?

James Hardie siding is the solution. Also called Hardie Board siding or HardiePlank siding, James Hardie is the premier manufacturer of fiber cement siding, and it’s widely known for its eye-catching appearance and long lifespan.

At Falcon Exteriors, we specialize in installing Hardie Board to protect your home and your warranty for years to come. Here’s what you should know about this exceptional siding material.

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What Is Fiber Cement Siding Made Out Of?

James Hardie siding is revered for being a strong, versatile siding material that boosts curb appeal, but what is it and how is it made?

James Hardie siding is a kind of fiber cement siding that’s renowned for being sustainably made, durable, low maintenance, long-lasting, and resistant to pests. It’s even noncombustible thanks to the materials that go into creating this strong, yet somewhat flexible siding.

Fiber cement siding is made from just a few simple ingredients:

• Portland cement
• Sand
• Water
• Cellulose fibers

Fiber cement siding is designed to be durable and last for decades. Thanks to James Hardie’s baked-on factory color application known as ColorPlus Technology, even the color is manufactured to last.

James Hardie siding is manufactured to match the needs of specific climates, which means that the Hardie Board siding we install in your Georgia home won’t be the same siding that a homeowner in Upstate New York receives.

How Does Hardie Siding Compare to Other Siding Materials?

When surveyed by the National Association of Home Buyers, homeowners with fiber cement siding have a 100-percent satisfaction rate with their siding choice. How does it measure up to other siding options?

• Compared to vinyl siding: Vinyl siding is a popular option. It’s affordable, customizable, easy to maintain and resistant to pests. But if you’re looking for a long-term, fully warranted solution that can mimic the look of brick, wood, or stucco and endure Georgia’s tough climate, fiber cement siding is the right choice.
• Compared to wood siding: Wood siding is a charming option that can give your home a lot of character. The prohibitive drawbacks? Wood siding is expensive, susceptible to pests and rot, and requires frequent, costly, labor-expensive maintenance.
• Compared to stucco: Many homes, especially those built in the 1980s and 1990s, were sided with stucco, which is now failing and exposing homes to moisture and rot, causing many homeowners a lot in costly repairs. Fiber cement siding is made to last, with no issues of failure.
• Compared to oriented strand board (OSB) siding: OSB siding is extremely prone to chipping, curled edges, swelling, buckling, warping, and cracking along the bottom edge of each plank. It just doesn’t hold up against Georgia weather and requires lots of maintenance to attempt to keep it in fair condition.

The bottom line? James Hardie siding is the perfect combination of form and function, with very little upkeep and no structural issues presented in these other siding materials

ColorPlus and James Hardie Siding Color Options

All Hardie siding options are primed at the factory and ready to paint. From there, homeowners have two options:

• You can choose any color in James Hardie’s range of colors applied with ColorPlus Technology. ColorPlus Technology is an even, consistent coating of a color finish that’s baked into the siding in a controlled factory environment. This even finish provides unmatched long wear and durability. With ColorPlus Technology, you get:
  • A durable finish to optimize color adhesion
  • A baked-on bond
  • UV-ray rated, fade-resistant color
• You may also choose to purchase Hardie siding that has been primed. By choosing this option, you can have a painting company paint your siding for complete customization; you get to choose any color you’d like.

One of the perks that makes James Hardie siding so popular with homeowners is the ColorPlus Technology that the manufacturer uses to create vibrant, long-lasting color. And with over 700 different colors to choose from, Hardie siding colors can be personalized to create a stunning final result you’ll truly love.

To narrow down your options, James Hardie siding is broken down into multiple color collections:

• The Dream Collection
• The Statement Collection
• The Aspyre Collection

Not sure which colors are right for you? Here are a few things to consider:

• The colors of the houses in your neighborhood and directly next door
• The color of your roof
• Your home’s architecture
• The kind of landscape you’re planning

You can use James Hardie’s Color Visualizer tool to see for yourself exactly how your color choices will look for your home.

How Much Does James Hardie Siding Cost?

What is the cost of replacing your home’s siding with fiber cement siding?

When embarking on the process of having new siding installed, it’s important to know that there are a lot of factors that can affect your costs. Home Advisor suggests that the cost of installing new fiber cement siding is somewhere in the average range of $6,003 and $19,822. The reported high end of the range can be $35,000.

That’s a big range, which depends on the size of your home and a few other considerations that go into your siding replacement cost as well:

• Fiber cement is a composite that’s made in a factory, which requires a special blend of components in a process that’s been carefully perfected over time. The material composition can stand up to the elements and is much better than its less expensive counterparts.
• James Hardie fiber cement siding is thick, heavy, and takes a bigger installation crew to install it.
• Before installation, there are all kinds of stipulations in a James Hardie warranty on how the Hardie Board should be stored, handled, prepared and installed on your home.
• Fiber cement siding does come with a number of optional features to select for styles and color. ColorPlus Technology gives your home even coverage and lasting vibrant color.

It’s important to note that while James Hardie siding may cost more than other siding options like vinyl, you are getting several major trade-offs: high performance, a long lifespan, and an inclusive warranty.