By now, I'm sure that many of you have heard the craze of James Hardie's fiber cement siding that mimics the look of real wood. While fiber cement has been around for many years, it has just recently spiked in popularity. What makes James Hardie's fiber cement siding so special?

James Hardie Siding

First off, James Hardie is a well-known and trusted name in residential construction and remodeling. They are headquartered in Amsterdam with operations in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. James Hardie values innovation and research in the pursuit to create quality products for your home.

James Hardie’s fiber cement siding is one of the most durable siding options on the market today. What is fiber cement, exactly? Fiber cement is composed of four elements: water, wood pulp, fly ash, and portland cement. The combination of these materials results in a high quality siding product.

Advantages of James Hardie Siding

When it comes to James Hardie's fiber cement siding, there is a long list of benefits. Some of the advantages include:

Extremely Durable. Hardie Board siding is very durable and is unlikely to peel, fade, or rot. As a bonus, most Hardie Board comes with a 50 year limited warranty.

Beautiful Appearance. Fiber cement siding is a beautiful option for any home exterior and exudes the timeless look of wood siding, without the upkeep. As a bonus, James Hardie offers several styles of Hardie Board to mimic the look of wood lap boards, cedar shingles, and wood shaker siding. James Hardie is also available in many colors to suit any home.

Low-Maintenance. Since James Hardie in resistant against harsh weather, rotting, warping, and more, this means you'll save money long-term on repairs and maintenance. Also, on average, vinyl siding has a paint lifespan of 5 to 7 years. On the other hand, James Hardie's paint lifespan is about 3x that due to the company's ColorPlus® Technology.

Fire Resistance. Since Hardie Board is primarily made up of sand and cement it is more fire resistant. Vinyl siding is prone to feed flames and, as we know, wood is extremely combustible.

Storm Resistance. According to James Hardie's website, "James Hardie siding and trim products provide more protection than wood from wet and freezing conditions as well as hot, humid weather."

Return on Investment

While we know fiber cement siding has many advantages, the biggest drawback is its high price tag. According to sidingcost.org, "For a typical American home, the average total cost can range from $8,000 and $20,000 for standard vinyl siding. — Compare that to fiber cement which on the same home will cost $14,000 to $28,000 for full installation." So, is James Hardie siding worth the extra cost?

Although James Hardie siding comes with a hefty price tag, it is important to consider the average return on investment instead of solely looking at the price. This will help to determine whether the fiber cement siding is worth the investment. According to Remodeling Magazine, fiber cement siding replacement has been consistently ranked as the #1 return on investment from 2009-2015. Additionally, "100% of homeowners responding to the "Report" said they were happy or satisfied with the result of their fiber-cement siding replacement project."

James Hardie's fiber cement siding is a great choice for many homes since it can drastically improve the curb appeal and increase home value. Overall, James Hardie is a great investment for those looking for a long-lasting and low-maintenance siding material. It is important to properly maintain your James Hardie siding products to prolong its long lifespan and get the biggest bang for your buck.

Need more information on James Hardie products for your home? Feel free to contact Balducci Exteriors to set up an appointment for a free estimate.