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The Pros of Hardie Board Siding
When siding starts to wear out, homeowners usually notice it pretty quickly. Maybe the paint has faded, a few boards are starting to crack or the siding just doesn’t look the way it used to. Besides the glaringly obvious issue of it hurting your home’s curb appeal, failing siding can cause what we refer to as “hidden damage” like leaving parts of the house exposed to moisture and weather. One could argue this compounds the problem especially with the kind of winters and rainstorms we get here in Ohio.
That’s usually the point where people turn to Google and start searching for a siding replacement. And if you’ve done any of that research yourself, you already know how many options are out there. Vinyl, wood, metal, fiber cement – every manufacturer says their product is the best. This often leads one to feel overwhelmed and fearful of being taken advantage of.
At American Way Exteriors, we talk with homeowners everyday throughout the buckeye state. From Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland to all of their surrounding communities who are trying to figure out which siding will actually hold up long-term. Around here, homes (and their siding) have to deal with some real temperature extremes. Freezing winters, heavy rain and high humidity are not uncommon at various times throughout the year. Because of that, siding durability tends to be a homeowner’s biggest concern. That’s one reason they end up choosing James Hardie fiber cement siding, often called Hardie board. Today it protects more than 10 million homes across the United States and has become one of the most widely used siding materials for a reason. It’s built to handle all the harsh weather that’s thrown at it and it comes backed by a strong manufacturer warranty.
If you aren’t already familiar, fiber cement siding is made from a blend of cement, sand and cellulose fibers. The finished product is thicker and more durable than many other siding materials and it’s designed to protect your home while still giving you the look of traditional wood siding but without many of the other headaches that come with it. But, just like any exterior material, Hardie siding has both advantages and disadvantages. Understanding both can help you decide if it’s the right investment for your home. In this blog post we’ll cover what Hardie siding is, some of the pros and cons, how it compares to other popular siding materials, as well as some cost expectations associated with installing it on your home.
Some of the key benefits of Hardie Board siding include:
Extreme durability
If there’s one thing that really stands out about Hardie siding, it’s durability. In our opinion, this is where fiber cement separates itself from a lot of other siding options on the market. Homes here in Ohio deal with some pretty wild weather swings. Freezing winters, heavy rain, humidity in the summer and those constant freeze-thaw cycles that can really beat up cheaper siding materials. Vinyl can crack, wood can rot and lower quality products tend to show their age pretty quickly. Hardie siding holds up much better in those conditions. It resists rot, warping, swelling and moisture damage which are some of the most common pain-points we see when homeowners call us about replacing old siding. When it’s installed correctly and taken care of over time it’s not unusual for Hardie siding to last 30 to 50 years or even longer. That’s a big reason many homeowners see it as a long term solution rather than just another exterior upgrade they’ll have to redo in 15 years. At the end of the day, re-siding your home isn’t cheap so wouldn’t it make more sense to “do it once and do it right”? We tend to think so…
Multiple style options
You deserve the perfect siding to complement your home, and James Hardie has something for every home from Craftsmen to Contemporary.
- HardiePlank Lap Siding—Top-selling HardiePlank lap siding gives you timeless design, custom color, and gorgeous texture.
- HardieShingle Siding—The distinct look of cedar merged with the durability of James Hardie products to create this siding.
- HardiePanel Vertical Siding—Vertical siding with simple lines perfectly complement a farmhouse look or contemporary home.
- HardieTrim—You can beautifully accent your home’s front door, windows, and more with colorful, attractive HardieTrim.
- HardieSoffit—Protect your home from moisture penetration and pests by fortifying the space between eaves and exterior walls.
Outstanding warranty
James Hardie also backs their siding with one of the stronger warranties in the industry. Most products come with a 30 year non prorated transferable product warranty along with a 15 year warranty on the ColorPlus finish. Now here’s a bit of a contractor hot take: a warranty is only as good as the installation behind it. Even the best siding on the market can run into problems if it isn’t installed correctly. That’s why choosing the right contractor matters just as much as choosing the siding itself. When both are done right, homeowners end up with a siding system that can perform well for decades to come.
Fire resistant
This is one of those benefits that doesn’t get talked about enough (and hopefully will never need to be put to the test on your home). Fiber cement siding is non-combustible which means it won’t ignite or contribute to the spread of flames the way wood siding can. Now, to be clear, siding alone isn’t going to make a home fireproof. But choosing a material that doesn’t actively contribute to a fire is obviously a smarter move than one that does. In our opinion it’s one of those practical advantages people don’t think about until they hear it and then it suddenly makes a lot of sense. As an aside, James Hardie has a cool video on their Youtube channel that demonstrates exactly this!
Low maintenance
Another reason homeowners gravitate toward Hardie siding is that it doesn’t require nearly as much upkeep as wood siding. Anyone who has owned a home with wood siding knows how much work it can be to keep it looking good. Patching, painting, repairing and doing it all over again a few years later. Fiber cement is much easier to live with in the long-term. Most homeowners just rinse the siding with a garden hose once or twice a year to remove dirt and debris and occasionally check the caulking around windows and trim. Eventually you may repaint it if the color fades but that usually happens many years down the road. A lot of people also choose Hardie products with ColorPlus Technology which is designed to resist fading, chipping and peeling for a long time. In our experience that finish holds up better than standard exterior paint.
Pleasing aesthetics
Let’s be honest, curb appeal matters. A big reason homeowners choose Hardie siding is simply because it looks good. Fiber cement siding is designed to mimic the look of real wood which gives homes that classic textured appearance without the maintenance headaches that come with actual wood siding. James Hardie offers several different styles so homeowners can customize the look of their exterior. HardiePlank lap siding is probably the most common and works well on traditional homes. HardieShingle siding gives you a cedar style shingle look that’s popular on craftsman homes. HardiePanel vertical siding has become really popular on modern and farmhouse style houses. Then you have trim and soffit products that tie the whole exterior together. In our opinion Hardie siding hits a sweet spot between durability and aesthetics which is why it shows up on so many homes across the country.
Pest resistance
Another advantage that people don’t always think about is pest resistance. Since fiber cement siding isn’t made from wood, it isn’t something insects want to munch on. Termites and carpenter ants that might chew through wood siding usually ignore fiber cement completely. And then there is the dreaded woodpecker. If you have or know someone who has wood siding on their home, then you know all too well how much damage these little guys can do! There’s actually a video that shows just how unappealing Hardie siding is to woodpeckers that really puts things into perspective.
Environmentally friendly
James Hardie siding is the most environmentally friendly siding option in the industry because of its ingredients and the James Hardie Company’s sustainable practices.
Third-party tested
It’s tough to beat the highly esteemed Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, and James Hardie siding received this honor after rigorous testing by the Good Housekeeping Research institute. Popular HardiePlank lap siding was tested for moisture resistance, color retention, fire resistance, and more.
Fresh options
The latest line of James Hardie siding products is the New Aspyre Collection. Ideal for contemporary or modern homes, this luxury collection combines the thick distinctive patterns of Artisan siding with the smooth, geometric Reveal® Panel System. It provides creative siding design for homeowners who want distinct style.
Trained installation experts
The James Hardie company takes the guesswork out of which contractor to hire to ensure your siding’s long term performance. They train contractors themselves on how to install their product. American Way Exteriors is the only family-owned James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor in the region, and we install James Hardie siding according to the strict reliability standards set by the James Hardie company. Your outstanding warranty will be honored because the siding was installed by a qualified Elite Preferred Contractor.
The Cons of Hardie Board Siding
Some of the downsides of Hardie Board siding include the:
Lengthier installation
Because of the weight and the precision involved, Hardie siding usually takes longer to install than vinyl. There’s more cutting, more fastening and more attention to detail required throughout the project. Some homeowners see that as a negative but in our opinion it’s just part of doing the job right. Fast installation sounds great until corners start getting cut. We’d rather see a siding project take a little longer and be done correctly than get rushed through just to save a little time.
Initial investment
The biggest downside for most homeowners is the price. Hardie board siding usually costs more than vinyl siding and that alone can be enough to make some people hesitate. That said, it’s often still less expensive than other options and many homeowners feel the added cost is justified once they understand what they’re getting. In our opinion, Hardie siding makes the most sense for people who are thinking long-term. If your main concern is spending as little as possible right now, it may not be the right fit. But if you care about durability, appearance and not having to deal with siding issues five or ten years from now, the higher upfront cost starts to feel a lot more reasonable.
James Hardie siding is more expensive than vinyl, less expensive than brick or stucco siding, and equal to or less than composite siding materials.
Repainting after 15 years
The James Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology warranty covers your siding’s color for 15 years and keeps your color looking vibrant. After approximately 15 years, your Hardie board siding may need to be repainted, but by then you may desire a new look anyway.
Heavier Material
Hardie siding is much heavier than vinyl and that’s both a strength and a drawback. The weight is part of what gives it that solid feel and long term durability, but it also means installation is more demanding. This is not the kind of siding you want installed by a crew that cuts corners or is just trying to maximize their output. It takes the right tools, the right technique and a crew that actually knows the product. A large majority of the complaints that we hear from Hardie detractors aren’t due to the material itself but are actually due to less-than-ideal installation. If Hardie siding is installed the wrong way, it can absolutely lead to issues that could have been avoided from the start.
How Much Does Hardie Siding Cost?
This is one of the first questions homeowners ask and honestly it should be. Hardie siding is a premium product and the cost reflects that. At the same time, this is also one of the hardest questions to answer with a single number because there are so many variables that go into the final price.
A lot of people assume siding cost is mostly about the boards themselves, but that’s only one part of the overall project. When pricing a full James Hardie siding job, you also have to account for all the pieces that make the system complete. That includes trim around the windows and doors, corner boards, fascia, soffit, house wrap, as well as removal and disposal of the old siding. If a home has a lot of architectural detail, multiple roof lines, dormers or decorative trim, that can change the price pretty quickly. The same goes for homes that need sheathing repairs or insulation upgrades once the old siding comes off.
That’s why giving a simple square foot price can be a little misleading. It’s not that contractors are trying to dodge the question. It’s that two homes with the exact same square footage can have very different siding costs depending on how much detail work is involved. A basic two story home with simple lines is a very different project from a home with lots of windows, custom trim and complicated elevations.
In many parts of Ohio, homeowners can generally expect Hardie board siding installation to fall somewhere between $14 and $22 per square foot installed. For a typical 2,000 square foot home, that often puts the total project cost somewhere in the range of $28,000 to $44,000. Some homes will come in below that range and others will land above it depending on the scope of work.
Here’s the part a lot of contractors do not say out loud. When a homeowner asks for a ballpark price, there can be a lot of pressure to give the lowest number possible because nobody wants to scare someone off before the conversation even starts. We get why that happens. But in our opinion, that approach usually creates more frustration later because the homeowner starts out thinking the project will cost one thing and then finds out the real number is quite a bit higher once all the necessary pieces are included.
That doesn’t mean every higher quote is automatically better and it doesn’t mean every low quote is dishonest. But it does mean homeowners should be careful when comparing prices. One estimate may include trim, fascia and full tear-off while another may only be pricing the most basic version of the job. On paper those numbers can look wildly different even though they are not quoting the same scope of work.
It all boils down to this: the cheapest siding estimate is often the most expensive one in the long run if it leaves out important details or cuts corners on installation. With Hardie siding especially, the product only performs as well as the system around it and the crew installing it. That’s why value, transparency and experience usually matter a whole lot more than just chasing the lowest price.
How Hardie Siding Compares to Other Popular Siding Options
By the time most homeowners start seriously looking at new siding, they’re usually comparing more than one material. And that makes sense. Hardie siding is a great option, in our opinion, but it’s not the only option. The better question is which product makes the most sense for your home, your budget and what you expect from it over the next twenty or thirty years.
Around Ohio, the three materials we find ourselves comparing Hardie to most often are traditional wood siding, vinyl siding and older metal siding like aluminum. Each one has its place. Each one has pros and cons. But when you really start comparing them side by side on cost, maintenance, longevity and long term value, the differences become pretty clear.
Hardie vs. Traditional Wood Siding
Here in Centerville, Ohio (which is home base for American Way Exteriors) we are surrounded by countless cedar-sided homes that were mostly built in the 1970s-80s and are really starting to show their age. On the right house, cedar can still look beautiful. Nobody is denying that. But once it starts to wear down, it tends to demand a lot from the homeowner. Ask us how we know!
Wood siding usually needs more maintenance than just about any other option on this list. It has to be painted or stained regularly, it can absorb moisture, it can crack, split or rot and it tends to be a target for pests like termites, carpenter ants and even woodpeckers. Ohio weather is not especially forgiving either. Heavy rain, humidity and repeated freeze thaw cycles can really take a toll on wood over time, especially if maintenance has been delayed.
That’s one of the biggest reasons we see homeowners replacing older cedar with Hardie. They like the idea of keeping that classic wood look but they’re tired of the upkeep and tired of worrying about hidden damage underneath. Hardie siding gives them a similar visual style but with much better resistance to moisture, pests and fire. It also tends to last longer with far less maintenance.
Wood can still make sense for certain homes, especially if someone is committed to the authentic look and is willing to stay on top of the maintenance. But in our opinion, a lot of homeowners love the idea of wood more than the reality of owning it.
Hardie vs. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is still one of the most common siding materials we see, especially in parts of northern Ohio and up around Cleveland. If we had to guess why, it probably comes down to a few things. Vinyl has historically been one of the more affordable siding options, it installs relatively quickly and it became a very common choice for builders and homeowners who wanted a lower cost exterior with less maintenance than wood. That helped it gain a lot of traction over the years and once a material becomes common in an area, more homeowners tend to keep choosing it because that’s what they’re used to seeing.
Vinyl absolutely has its place. It’s more affordable upfront than Hardie and it requires relatively little maintenance. For some homeowners that alone makes it the right fit. But vinyl also comes with tradeoffs. In Ohio weather, especially with the temperature swings we get, vinyl can crack, warp or become brittle over time. It can also fade and in our opinion it usually doesn’t give the same solid appearance or curb appeal that Hardie does.
Hardie costs more upfront, no question. But it tends to outperform vinyl in durability, fire resistance and overall lifespan. It also does a better job of mimicking the look of real wood, which matters to a lot of homeowners trying to upgrade the appearance of an older house. If someone’s main priority is the lowest initial price, vinyl may win that conversation. If the priority is long term performance and a more premium finished look, Hardie usually comes out ahead.
Hardie vs. Aluminium & Other Metal Siding
Aluminum siding used to be much more common than it is today. We still run into it from time to time, especially on older homes, but it’s definitely not as popular as it once was. Part of that is because newer materials have given homeowners more choices when it comes to appearance and performance.
Metal siding does have a few advantages. It’s not attractive to pests, it’s non combustible and it can hold up reasonably well in certain conditions. But older aluminum siding in particular tends to dent pretty easily and once it starts looking worn or chalky, it can be tough to bring back. Here in Ohio, hail and storm damage can also become an issue with softer metal products. A lot of homeowners with older aluminum siding eventually decide they’re ready for something that looks more current and feels more substantial.
Compared to aluminum, Hardie generally offers a more updated appearance, stronger curb appeal and better resistance to the kinds of dents and cosmetic wear that can make metal siding look tired before its time. Aluminum can still be a workable option in some situations but in our opinion it usually feels more like an older solution than a long term upgrade.
Which Siding Material Offers the Best Long Term Value?
If you just compare upfront cost, Hardie is usually not going to be the cheapest option. Vinyl is almost always less expensive and in some cases aluminum or other metal products may be competitive too. Wood can vary widely depending on the species, the finish and the amount of labor involved.
But upfront cost is only one part of the equation. Long term value is really about how the product performs over time and how much time and money it takes to keep it looking and functioning the way it should.
Wood tends to be one of the highest maintenance options and is usually the most vulnerable to moisture and pests. Vinyl is easier on the budget and lower maintenance but can show its age sooner in tough weather. Aluminum is pest and fire resistant but tends to lose points on appearance over time and dent resistance. Hardie lands somewhere in the middle on upfront cost versus premium materials, but it performs well across almost every category that matters. It lasts a long time, holds up well to extreme weather, requires relatively low maintenance, resists pests, offers fire resistance and delivers strong curb appeal.
That doesn’t mean it’s the perfect choice for every homeowner. Some people will still prefer vinyl because of the lower cost. Some will always love real wood and be willing to maintain it. Others may already have metal siding and want to keep it for now. That’s fair.
But if we’re looking at the full picture including cost, longevity, durability, maintenance and resale appeal, our opinion is that James Hardie siding offers the best overall value for many Ohio homeowners. It tends to strike the best balance between performance and appearance without asking homeowners to constantly babysit their exterior year after year.
At the end of the day, the best siding for your home depends on what matters most to you. Some homeowners prioritize the lowest upfront cost while others care more about longevity, appearance and how much maintenance they’ll be dealing with over the years. In our opinion, that’s where James Hardie siding really stands out. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but for many homeowners that we service here in the heartland, it offers the best overall balance of durability, curb appeal, weather resistance and long term value. If you’re starting to see signs that your current siding is wearing out, now is a good time to weigh your options carefully and choose a product that makes sense not just for today, but for the long haul.
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