James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding - Pros & Cons

There are many options out in the market for siding materials today.  In this blog post we take a look at the pros and cons of fiber cement siding and why we choose to use the popular brand James Hardie.

THE PROS
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• COST SAVINGS: ​​Fiber cement costs less than wood, doesn’t attract pests, and resists water absorption to help protect against mold, swelling and cracking—buying you more mileage for your dollar.  It can be ordered in primed or pre-finished in one of their standard colours which is factory applied; therefore, a final coat will need to be applied on site, saving you time!

 

• CLIMATE SPECIFICITY: James Hardie is a low maintenance product as they engineer their siding and trim products for specific climates, ensuring that you get the best performance for your region.  It's hail-damage resistant and non-combustible (unlike vinyl) which is perfect for any side yard applications,  especially in the City of Vancouver where the bylaws that govern fire prevention are very strict.

 

• DESIGN OPTIONS & COLOUR THAT LASTS: Their fiber cement product is available in an array of standard colours which incorporates their baked-on ColorPlus® Technology which has greater resistance to fading, chipping and cracking, meaning less maintenance for you.  You can get the material in shingle, lap siding, panels, or board & batten format.  They also offer the materials in a smooth or cedarmill (wood grain) finish.  As a result, you can mix and match wood siding with fiber cement and it will look cohesive.

 

• GREAT WARRANTIES​: Below is a breakdown of the warranties for their products:

1. Color – 15 years
2. Cement board for exterior use – 10 years
3. Cement board – lifetime
4. Lap siding, shingles, panels, soffits – 30 years
5. Trim – 15 years
6. Weather barrier, flashing, seam tape – 10 years

THE CONS

• INSTALLATION & LABOUR COSTS: Hardie siding requires more planning, a larger labor force, and takes a bit longer to install due to its composition. It weighs about 300 pounds (100 square feet) compared to 60-70 pounds for vinyl siding.  The material itself is also more expensive compared to vinyl.

 

• Maintenance: It has to be re-painted periodically. Hardie board’s ColorPlus® Technology covers paint and labor for peeling and chipping of their finishes for only 15 years.  After that you're responsible for regular painting maintenance for your home.

 

• CORNER TRIMS REQUIRED: As we are unable to miter Hardie siding we are required to install corner trims which may be restrictive on the overall look of the home you're trying to achieve.

As you can see the benefits of James Hardie fiber cement siding greatly outweigh the cons.  This is why JDL Homes uses this material on majority of our projects.  For more information on this product please visit their website, here.