Are you are considering updating or upgrading the look of your home’s exterior?  If so, you should really consider installing Hardie Board Fiber Cement Siding.  Unbeknownst to you, you have probably seen numerous homes covered in Hardie Board because it accurately portrays the look of wood or vinyl siding while offering numerous other benefits most homeowners are unaware of.

So what exactly IS Hardie Board?  The siding material itself is actually constructed of cement fibers … hence the name ‘fiber cement siding.’  It’s creator, James Hardie, was seeking an exterior building product that would offer the beauty of wood siding, yet withstand harsh weather conditions.  Today, James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding (or Hardie Board) has become THE cutting-edge building product unsurpassed on the market.  It is highly scratch-resistant and won’t crack, chip, or peel.  With its strength, beauty and durability, HardiePlank® enhances and protects homes with the look of real wood siding without the maintenance.

So what exactly are these “little known benefits?”  Many… let’s start at the beginning:

Color Matching:
Hardie board comes in a variety of pre-painted colors so you can easily select a suitable color for your home’s style without the extra labor, time, and expense of painting.  However, if you have a very specific paint color you are trying to match, Hardie plank is also available pre-primed for painting convenience.

Painting:
If you do choose to paint your Hardie siding, the good news is you don’t have to invest in future re-painting.  Because it is moisture-resistant, Hardie plank never swells or rots so the paint never peels, chips or cracks.   Because James Hardie siding is known to retain paint longer than wood, it not only saves you time and energy … but money in the bank.

Initial Cost vs. Ongoing Benefit:
With all these advantages, one would assume that Hardie siding is more expensive than other types of siding, right?  Wrong.  Hardie plank is actually comparable in cost to other types of siding.  Furthermore, since cement board siding is pest resistant, rot proof, and virtually maintenance free, it will never deteriorate.

The Beauty of Wood without the Maintenance:
Hardie Board was originally created to emulate the look of real wood.  Today, it is available in many different shades and styles to portray the beauty, texture, and grain of wood siding while eliminating the weather-related deterioration of real wood.

An Impenetrable Weather Barrier:
Remember, James Hardie siding is made of concrete fibers.  This means that it virtually enfolds your home inside a concrete barrier, making it impervious to any external elements, such as rain, hail, wind, flying debris, and humidity.  Cement fibers neither retain moisture, nor do they crack or chip.  Hence your siding will never rot, swell, or deteriorate.

Pest-Proof & Fire-Proof:
Again, because the Hardie siding material is cement fibers it is virtually pest proof and fire-resistant.

Make Sure to Get It Done Right
Now that you have finally decided on James Hardie Board Fiber Cement Siding (or HardiePlank) as your siding of choice, make sure you get a trained, qualified, and experienced installer to do the job right.  Hardie Board is NOT a do-it-yourself proposition.  Because it is stronger than other types of siding, it is also heavier and thus can be brittle if handled incorrectly. To reap all the benefits detailed above will require special techniques when it comes to the handling and installation of the siding product.  

Here at American Windows & Siding of VA, Inc., we enjoy helping people.  If you have any questions about James Hardie fiber cement siding or siding replacement questions of any kind … feel free to contact us anytime and we’ll do our best to answer all your questions!