James Hardie fiber cement siding can be found on more than 8 million homes across North America. Developed nearly 30 years ago, fiber cement siding has changed the siding industry for the better. James Hardie is the undisputed leader in fiber cement siding and continues to develop its product lines.
James Hardie siding is made of fiber cement which consists of three key components: cement, sand, and cellulose fiber. The materials are dyed and formed into boards, which are offered in a variety of styles, finishes, and colors.
Types of Fiber Cement Siding Options
If your home needs an updated look or a more durable siding option, James Hardie has the styles you need. The last thing you want when selecting your new siding is to have to settle for a style or color that doesn’t match your home or fit your style.
Your siding is the first thing others see when approaching your home. You should feel confident in your selection. With James Hardie, you have viable options to choose from.
1. HardiePlank Lap Siding
The best-selling product is the lap siding that gives homes a traditional and timeless look. It comes in two different textures, Select Cedarmill or Smooth. The Select Cedarmill siding has a natural cedar look with a soft texture that mimics wood. The Smooth siding gives a more modern look to homes. Both options come in a variety of colors that are separated into 5 color groups:
- classic light & darks
- earth tones
- blues & greens
- pastels
- greys & neutrals
HardiePlank lap siding can also be chosen in Beaded Cedarmill or Beaded Smooth styles. They add a rounded edge to each panel. Colonial, James Hardie’s take on Dutch lap siding, will give your home a more historic look.
The architectural styles of colonial or traditional homes work well with HardiePlank lap siding, specifically the Dutch lap siding. Cape Cod-style homes are simple and practical while colonial homes are more externally detailed. Colonia homes are typically found in historical communities.
2. HardieShingle Siding
For homeowners that like the attractiveness of wood but want to avoid the risks of wood- rotting or splitting (and pest and insect infestation), then HardieShingle siding is the way to go. Also referred to as shake siding, it is offered in straight edge, staggered edge, or half-rounds. This siding is very popular because it gives homes a rustic or retreat-style look. It can be used as the primary siding or to complement other James Hardie siding products.
If you want your home to have clean lines or a coastal style, choose the straight edge shingle siding. Seaside cottages and Cape Cod type homes are typically clad in straight edge shingles.
Staggered edge siding has a distinctively rustic appearance that fits in well with natural settings. It has a lot of character and texture, with a distinctive look that has endured for generations. The staggered edge siding works well with different architectural styles such as a cottage or ranch.
For those that truly want the look of actual shakes, you can get individual shingle siding as well. Available in a range of different sizes, you can install them singularly to get the look and authenticity that you’re after for your home, without the high maintenance of wood.
For homes with many different levels of exterior architecture, such as a Victorian or Georgian home, half-round shingles can be the perfect finishing touch to the upper portion of the home. They help to draw the eye upward, creating the illusion of height.
3. HardiePanel Vertical Siding
Many homes today have horizontal siding. If you’re looking for a new look, consider vertical siding. It’ll ensure your home stands out from the rest in your neighborhood. Hardie Panel Vertical Siding comes in Select Cedarmill, Smooth, Stucco, and Sierra 8.
Vertical siding is known to elongate homes and make them eye-catching. However, if you live in a particularly traditional neighborhood with streets filled with Colonial-style houses and want to keep up with the rest of your neighbors, then perhaps vertical siding isn’t for you.
Highlighting areas of your home’s architecture and design more effectively can be done with vertical siding. To draw attention to second-story windows, install vertical siding underneath them.
If you want to add visual height to a townhome and make it stand out from all the homes with horizontal siding, use vertical siding. By changing the direction of the siding, it forces the eyes to look up and enhances the height of the building.
James Hardie Accent Options
Hardie Trim Boards
Trim helps accentuate corners, columns, doors, windows, and gives your home the finishing touch. Add a contrasting color to help features stand out. Hardie Trim Boards are available in Rustic and Smooth. Rustic offers a wood-like texture, whereas Smooth will give your home a sleek, more modern appearance.
Hardie Soffit Panels
Like trim, soffits help finalize your home’s look by covering the underside of your roof eaves and exterior porch ceilings. Hardie Soffit Panels are available in both Smooth and Vented with stylistic options like Beaded or Cedarmill.
Key Benefits of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is one of the most popular siding options with homeowners. There are many reasons James Hardie fiber cement siding is chosen over other siding materials and brands.
Durability
Hardie siding will protect your home from the elements year-round. James Hardie tests its products to ensure they can withstand different weather elements. Hurricane type winds, heavy rains, snow, ice, or extreme heat are no match for James Hardie siding. It is designed to hold up against moisture and prevent rotting.
If you live in an area with a changing climate and temperature, you’ll want to consider Hardie siding. It won’t buckle, warp, or crack. It is even fire-resistant and will not ignite when exposed to a flame. Hardie siding is more resistant to heavy impact than other siding options.
Unlike vinyl or wood, fiber cement siding will last for years, saving resources, time, and money for every homeowner that chooses to have it installed. The durable composition of fiber cement eliminates the need to re-side homes often, thus reducing the consumption of replacement materials.
Aesthetics
James Hardie siding comes in a variety of styles, trims, and colors. Regardless of your neighborhood’s look, your house is sure to stand out. And, if you’re not too keen on the color options, James Hardie siding can be primed and ready to be painted the color of your choice. Any style of home will benefit in appearance with James Hardie siding. Colonial, traditional or modern, they have a siding style to fit them all.
Maintenance
One of the most popular benefits of Hardie siding is low maintenance. You’ll only need to wash down your siding with a garden hose every 6 to 12 months. Use soap and water to clean regular dirt and grime off your siding. If you do opt to use a pressure washer, James Hardie recommends that you use a wide fan tip on the washer, keep a minimum of 6 feet from the wall, and keep the pressure below 1500 psi.
Sustainability
Fiber cement is environmentally friendly due to its makeup of sustainable materials. It has a much smaller environmental footprint than materials like vinyl. Vinyl does not decompose easily and remains in landfills for decades. The unique qualities of fiber cement are advantageous to conserving resources. James Hardie fiber cement siding was named the Greenest Siding Brand by Green Builder Media.
Most siding materials will last around 15 or 20 years, with various needs for upkeep and maintenance. Fiber cement siding from the James Hardie company, on the other hand, has a guaranteed warranty of 30 years, lasting up to twice as long as other siding materials.
Is It Time to Replace Your Siding?
It’s important to regularly check the siding on your house, particularly after rough weather or as the seasons shift. Take a walk around your house and evaluate areas of concern, signs of pests, and aesthetic changes. Also, look at your utility bills for any increases, which may indicate a problem with insulation or damaged siding.
Some problems can be resolved with minor repair but repairing siding on your own can often be a patchwork job that won’t last. Here are some quick tips to determine if it’s time for a siding replacement:
- You can spot damaged areas from a short distance. These include fading, chipping, or peeling paint.
- Mold or mildew is beneath the siding panels or inside your home. This is often an indicator of water damage, which can result in structural home damage if not resolved.
- There is an indication of dry rot. This causes your siding to weaken and decay. Dry rot spreads quickly and can make your siding irreparable.
- Your utility bills show significant increases that are otherwise inexplainable.
- You notice cracked, warped, or loose siding.
Which James Hardie Siding Works Best for Your Home?
If you are not sure which style of siding goes best with the architecture of your home, Banner Construction can guide and inform you of all the siding options. As a James Hardie preferred contractor, we are knowledgeable on all James Hardie products. Contact us today to discuss your next siding project.
Check out our James Hardie Siding Resource Page too!