Hardie board lap siding has a popular presence in the home construction industry, where it is recognized as a more durable option than traditional building materials. While it has gained a pretty good reputation for itself, Hardieplank® lap siding and other Hardie board products are not necessarily the best choice for your home — especially if you value transparent pricing and an easy installation process.
Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of siding your house with Hardie board lap and other Hardieplank® products, and we can also compare these options with a better alternative for beautiful, long-lasting siding: TruLog.
What is Hardieplank® Lap Siding?
Hardieplank® lap siding is often regarded as a stronger, more durable exterior material than traditional siding products, like vinyl and wood. Why? Because of its composition. Hardie board lap siding is made from fiber cement, which is a unique blend of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers. When done right, this fabricated composition can provide better strength and durability overall, making it a longer-lasting siding product.
Though fiber cement can be formed into all sorts of shapes and styles, horizontal lap is a very popular choice for residential homes. Hardie board lap siding has a traditional layout of horizontal panels that provides a classic aesthetic that looks great from generation to generation. With strong staying power and the durability to look great for several years at a time, Hardieplank® lap siding has become a well-known option for builders, house flippers, and homeowners alike.
Hardie Board – Pros and Cons
Whether re-siding an old house or building from the ground up, Hardie board lap is a good option to consider. However, it’s not necessarily a flaw-free choice. Homeowners should familiarize themselves with all the pros and cons before settling on Hardieplank® lap siding.
Pro – More Durable
Compared to vinyl, wood, and other traditional siding materials, Hardie board offers much better durability due to the strength of its fiber cement composition.
Pro – Classic Look
Horizontal lap siding is a timeless choice, and Hardiplank® offers multiple color choices.
Pro – Low Maintenance
Fiber cement siding is generally low-maintenance, meaning homeowners won’t need to worry about investing the same time, money, or energy in upkeep as they would with traditional siding options.
Con – Sold by Independent Contractors
Hardie board products are only sold by independent contractors, which is a problem for many reasons. First, you must find a dealer who is licensed to sell Hardie board. In addition, pricing isn’t consistent and may vary from contractor to contractor. This can make the buying process a bit confusing and frustrating if you’re trying to find hard numbers to calculate and compare the costs of different siding options.
Con – Costly
Hardie board products are typically more costly than other siding options.
Con – Difficult to Work With
Fiber cement is not the easiest material to work with. Due to its composition of cellulose fibers, it’s recommended to have an experienced builder install fiber cement siding.
The Smarter Alternative: TruLog
If durability, low-maintenance, and aesthetic value are your priorities, then it’s worth considering TruLog as a practical alternative to Hardie board lap siding. TruLog siding is made from heavy gauge steel, which means it will provide better durability than wood, vinyl, and other typical exterior materials. Like Hardiplank® lap siding, TruLog is a very low-maintenance material, too, which makes it a great investment for homeowners who don’t want to worry about constant upkeep.
Plus, TruLog offers a range of timeless styles that look great on residential homes. Whether you prefer the simple, clean lines of horizontal lap or you’re dreaming of a more rustic, log-style aesthetic for your home, TruLog has an abundance of authentic styles and colors that can beautify your space.
Where Hardie board comes up short with multiple drawbacks, TruLog shines. First of all, TruLog steel siding is sold factory-direct, which means homeowners can order straight from the manufacturer and cut out the middleman completely. This allows the potential to get more consistent pricing, better transparency, and a better cost-to-value ratio.
In addition, TruLog siding products are designed to be very easy to work with. Installation is intuitive, thanks to the innovative design of the siding planks that make it easy to install correctly. Even if you have never worked with steel siding before, TruLog simplifies the entire process by offering easy-to-read resources, too.
Make a Great, Long-Lasting Choice with TruLog Steel Lap Siding
Durable, beautiful, and easy to work with, TruLog is the smart alternative to Hardiplank® lap siding. Whether you are re-siding an old home or planning an entirely new build, TruLog provides a practical way to beautify the structure and protect it for the long term. Download our Lap Siding Buyers Guide today to explore all of your siding options!
