Everything You Need to Know About James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Your house protects the things that are most precious to you. But what’s protecting your house?
Your home’s exterior siding should be designed to defend its core from the forces of nature, but all too often, cheap or aging siding falls short of doing its job, leaving your home’s structure compromised.
For homeowners looking for the ultimate protection for their homes, nothing compares to James Hardie fiber cement siding. As the most durable and longest-lasting residential siding on the market, fiber cement siding is America’s most popular siding material. James Hardie fiber cement siding is trusted above all others to protect homes in all climates because of its unique combination of endurance and beauty.
James Hardie siding goes by many names: Hardie Board siding, Hardie Plank, Hardie Panel, etc. Whatever you know it as, there is an option for you when you decide it’s time for your house to receive a siding replacement.
If you aren’t familiar yet with Hardie board siding, use this guide to learn everything you need to know about the incredible benefits of James Hardie siding and how to get it for your home.
What Is Fiber Cement Siding Made of, and How Is It Made?
What makes fiber cement siding so durable compared to other siding materials? The answer lies in its makeup.
Fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand and cellulose (or wood) fibers. Together these ingredients create a resilient mixture that is dyed and pressed into textured boards to create planks of fiber cement siding. James Hardie siding is also known for its many customizable styles and hues that make it look like other materials.
Once these fiber cement boards are hardened, they are impervious to most weaknesses of other siding materials. This is what makes James Hardie siding is ideal for Denver homes. It resists damage caused by:
- Extreme temperatures
- Flames/Wildfires
- Moisture
- High-impact wind
- Pests
- UV rays
- Rot and more
Fiber cement siding is perfect for Denver residents who understand the toll that their city’s climate takes on their residential siding. For homeowners who want their siding to last and protect their homes longer, James Hardie siding is the top choice.
What Are the Benefits of James Hardie Siding?
Most people think of vinyl or aluminum when they think about siding, but the benefits of James Hardie siding are far superior. Let’s look at what James Hardie siding can do for you and your Denver home.
First, as a fiber cement siding, Hardie board siding is extremely durable. In fact, it can last up to 50 years! With James Hardie siding, you never will have to worry about a siding replacement again.
Throughout its lifetime, your Hardie board siding will protect your home from Mother Nature. Unlike wood siding, James Hardie siding is unappealing to pests like termites and woodpeckers.
It is also flame-resistant. While fire burns wood siding and melts vinyl, fiber cement siding is non-combustible and will protect the interior of your home—and your family! In fact, many insurance companies will give homeowners a discount for installing James Hardie siding.
James Hardie siding is designed with different climates in mind. Denver residents will enjoy the most benefits with Hardie Zone 5 products that can withstand wet, freezing conditions. This means it resists damage like:
- Water stains
- Rot
- Cracks from temperature fluctuations
- Hail and debris
- Swelling from humidity
- Peeling paint
While Hardie board siding protects your home, it also protects the environment. Fiber cement siding is made from renewable materials and can be recycled. It also insulates your home, reducing your energy consumption.
James Hardie siding isn’t just about functionality, however. The brand offers a wide variety of siding styles and colors that allows homeowners to create a custom look for their homes. And because of its durability, your James Hardie siding will look better longer.
Finally, few other types of siding can compare when it comes to the return on investment that Hardie board siding provides. Denver homeowners enjoy the minimal maintenance costs of their James Hardie siding. And if you move, homebuyers will be willing to pay more for this beautiful, long-lasting siding.
No other siding offers as many benefits to Denver homeowners as James Hardie HZ5 products!
Protect Your Family and Home From Wildfires with Fire-Resistant James Hardie Siding
Unfortunately, wildfires are becoming a fact of life for Colorado residents, and they are likely to become even more prevalent in the next 30 years. A recent report found that about 1 million properties — or 40% of the state’s total — have some wildfire risk through 2052. Of those, about 85,000 properties face at least a “moderate” risk, which means they have up to a 6% chance of experiencing a wildfire during the next 30 years.
Specifically, Evergreen & Conifer rank #1 in Colorado and in the top 10 nationally for catastrophic wildfires with the potential for significant loss of life.
So how can you protect your family and what can you do to decrease the risk of your home being destroyed by a wildfire? One way is by installing fire-resistant siding on your home, such as James Hardie fiber cement siding. Here’s why James Hardie siding is a great choice when it comes to reducing the chances that your home will be destroyed by a wildfire:
- James Hardie products will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or contribute fuel to a fire.
- Hardie siding prevents your interior wallboard from burning for a period, while the fire department is en route to our home.
- HardieSoffit and HardieTrim are made of the same fire-resistant fiber cement, so you can be confident the entire exterior of your home is fully fire-resistant.
How Does James Hardie Fiber Cement Compare to Other Siding Materials?
We’ve discussed how exceptional fiber cement siding is, but how does it compare to other common siding materials? Let’s look at the different types of siding options and siding products Denver homeowners might consider and how they stand up against fiber cement siding.
Wood Siding
Many people like the natural, rustic look of wood siding and its sustainability. It also offers excellent insulation.
However, wood siding is very susceptible to cracks and rotting from water damage. Freezing conditions and temperature fluctuations also cause shrinking and swelling that ruins paint and loosens wood siding over time. And it attracts bugs and birds.
Fiber cement siding, on the other hand, never shrinks and swells, is waterproof and deters pests. If you want a natural-looking siding, James Hardie siding has styles that mimic wood grain.
LP SmartSide Siding
SmartSide siding is engineered wood coated with wax and a zinc solution for better moisture and pest resistance. But these coatings must be periodically reapplied and are not as durable as fiber cement. SmartSide is a lighter siding material than fiber cement and costs about the same. Both also come in multiple trendy styles and colors. James Hardie siding color lasts twice as long, however.
Vinyl Siding
Everyone has seen vinyl siding. Like fiber cement siding, it comes in attractive planks of various colors and styles. Both materials require little maintenance and are resistant to rot and pets.
Vinyl siding is much cheaper than fiber cement siding, but it warps and even melts under extreme temperatures. Fiber cement siding holds up to temperature fluctuations and flames.
Stucco Siding
Stucco is a type of plaster applied to the sides of houses. When done correctly, it can last 50-75 years! In comparison, fiber cement siding can last up to 50 years.
Homeowners like the unique look and durability of stucco, but it has one weakness: moisture. Colorado rain and snow can cause stucco to deteriorate and crack in ways fiber cement siding never will. It’s also a little more expensive than fiber cement siding.
One of the biggest differences between fiber cement siding and other siding materials is its non-combustible properties. While other materials burn or melt, fiber cement does not ignite or fuel fires. No other siding can protect your home from flames like this fantastic material can.
Styles of James Hardie Siding Products
House siding must protect your home, but it should beautify it as well. Hardie plank siding excels at this by offering homeowners a wide range of styles that can be mixed and matched to create a custom home exterior.
HardiePlank
HardiePlank Lap siding is James Hardie’s most popular style due to its versatility. Shaped in traditional siding boards, it comes in several textures to mimic other materials.
HardieShingle
HardieShingle siding has the same aesthetic appeal as cedar or wood shake siding with the James Hardie durability. It’s ideal for Cape Cods and cottage-style homes or as a stylish accent.
HardieTrim
HardieTrim includes accent pieces for corners, columns, fascia, doors, windows and more, all designed to complement your HardiePlank siding.
Artisan
Artisan lap siding and trim are ideal for homeowners with more discerning tastes. These products are extra thick to create deeper, more luxurious shadow lines for a real visual impact.
With so many styles to choose from, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why James Hardie offers a home visualizer tool that allows you to virtually test different looks on your home before picking the right products for you.
ColorPlus and James Hardie Siding Colors
James Hardie products are known for their ColorPlus technology that creates beautiful colors that are resistant to fading.
ColorPlus technology involves applying multiple coats of specially engineered paint to siding products and baking into the boards for maximum durability. This protects Hardie board colors from UV rays and other damage that would mar your home’s exterior.
The variety of Hardie board colors ensures every homeowner finds a stylish hue they love. The James Hardie palette was carefully curated to complement housing styles, surroundings and trends throughout the country.
Alternatively, you can have your siding primed at the factory and painted with another product by a contractor later. Just be warned, you won’t enjoy the same longevity with other paint as you will with James Hardie colors. No other paint resists fading like Hardie board colors do.
How to Properly Install Hardie Siding
Proper Hardie board installation is essential to receive all the benefits of this high-performance product. Always work with a reputable siding contractor who has experience with Hardie board installation. Attempting a DIY job or hiring an amateur installer can void your warranty and leave you open to major issues later.
For your information, it takes an average of 10-12 days to install Hardie siding following these basic steps:
- First, workers install a starter strip to establish the right angle for the next course of siding and create a proper drip edge at the bottom.
- The first course of planking is installed at the lowest point of the home. “Blind nailing” is used so that each subsequent course of planks covers the previous one’s nails.
- After the first course is installed, they continue to secure siding planks up the sides of your home, cutting planks to fit around doors and windows.
- Finally, trim, if applicable, is applied.
- To finish, your contractor will clean up your property and check with you to ensure everything looks right.
What Is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor?
If you required heart surgery, you wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon. Likewise, you shouldn’t hire just any siding contractor to install your James Hardie siding.
For the best results, work with a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor. Such a siding company is held to the highest standards to qualify for this honor, including:
- Regular and random installation audits by James Hardie
- Satisfactory background checks with at least 10 past clients
- Professional sales approach
- Satisfactory credit report
- Satisfactory record with the BBB or other accredited agencies
- License and full bonding
- Liability insurance of $1 million per occurrence
- Workman’s compensation insurance
- Compliance with installation best practices
With those qualifications, your James Hardie siding contractor can perform your installation accurately and give you peace of mind. That is Refined Exterior’s goal as your Denver James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor.
We take our reputation and your satisfaction seriously. To guarantee the best service, we seek continuing education for our team in industry standards and installation techniques. When we install your James Hardie siding, we do it right the first time.
What Does Siding Replacement Cost?
When you know you want James Hardie siding installed by a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, the final question is: What will this siding replacement cost?
That depends on a few factors, such as:
- Home size
- How many stories
- Any existing issues
The best way to estimate your cost for fiber cement siding is to request a quote from your contractor.
When calculating the cost for fiber cement siding, you also should account for this product’s high ROI. The cost for fiber cement siding vs. vinyl siding or other materials is higher, but its cost savings over time makes it worth it. With James Hardie siding, you will enjoy:
- Reduced energy bills due to better insulation
- Minimal maintenance or repair expenses
- Higher resale value
- Never needing a siding replacement again
- Homeowners’ insurance discounts
Other siding materials cannot offer all of these valuable benefits. To get the most for your money and the beautiful home you deserve, consider investing in a James Hardie siding replacement.
Choose James Hardie for Your Home
James Hardie is Denver’s favorite siding product for a beautiful, long-lasting home exterior. You can enjoy all the benefits of this exceptional siding when you work with Refined Exteriors.
As your local James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, we offer a full line of James Hardie products and expert installation that guarantees the curb appeal and protection you want for your home.
Begin our stress-free siding replacement process today with a free Hardie board quote. We provide a design consultation and help you find the perfect James Hardie siding to enhance and protect your home and everything in it.
