Elegant, long-lasting James Hardie fiber cement siding is a favorite among homeowners across the country for its attractive appearance and decades-long high performance. It may be the only siding replacement you ever need. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect for every home.
Even a top-performing product like James Hardie (one we’re proud to install!) has aspects that homeowners have to evaluate before investing. Here are four things you should consider when you think about Hardie siding for your home.
4 Concerns to Address Before You Choose Hardie Siding
Hardie siding has very few cons, and its benefits can outweigh any concerns homeowners may have. Still, it pays to understand what a Hardie installation requires to ensure it works well on your unique house.
1. These Are Heavy Boards to Deal With
Hardie siding is weightier than most other materials—a feature that increases durability, but only works for houses with a strong foundation. If your property has foundation issues, have your structure assessed to see if it can bear the added weight of Hardie siding safely. If not, a lighter siding material (or foundation repairs first) might be a good idea.
2. Proper Underlayment Is a Must
To ensure Hardie siding is properly secured, your home must have solid sheathing. If your current siding has significant rot, it can damage your under-structure, and you will likely need to add OSB sheathing (a form of engineered wood similar to plywood) prior to installing fiber cement siding boards. If budget is an issue, there may be more affordable ways to side your home that we can suggest.
3. It’s Less Forgiving to Mistakes During Installation
Proper installation techniques are key for any home improvement project, siding included, but James Hardie is more demanding than other siding materials. If nails aren’t flush with the siding boards or you miss the precise amount of clearance required between boards and other aspects of your home, damaging moisture could creep behind your siding, causing it to fail.
4. Expertise Is Required to Protect Your Warranty
Overall, James Hardie outperforms other siding products in most cases when installed to manufacturer specifications. In fact, Hardie siding is warrantied to last 30 years, and when properly installed and maintained, it can last as long as 50 years—a real plus. But this impressive durability is guaranteed only if your installation team has been trained directly by James Hardie.
So, we can’t say this often enough—it’s essential to work with an experienced, well trained James Hardie contractor to secure your warranty and get the top performance you deserve.
Choose a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor for the Best Results
At Smart Exteriors, we value serving you with precise craftsmanship that you can count on. As a James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor, we undergo continued training to stay up-to-date and skilled in the latest installation techniques. We’re also required by James Hardie to have insurance and licensing.
When we install your Hardie siding, you can be confident that the manufacturer has vetted us. We follow all the James Hardie techniques and do our installations with dedicated precision—from using the proper nails in the right places to applying the caulking with care, and everything in between. This ensures you get the many benefits of Hardie siding, along with peace of mind that your home is well protected.
Achieve Lasting Durability for Your Home Exterior with Gorgeous Hardie Siding
James Hardie siding is the #1 choice for homeowners across the nation—and for good reason. Its many pluses—beauty, ability to withstand harsh weather, fire and pest resistance, and more—all add up to excellent results that you can count on for decades.
Why not get a picture of what new siding could look like on your exterior? Check out the attractive Hardie siding colors and styles we can install for you—and begin dreaming of the possibilities for your home.
