Comparing the Costs of Steel Metal Siding vs. Hardie Board

Looking at steel metal siding vs. Hardie Board for your home’s exterior? There are a lot of factors to consider: material and installation costs, maintenance requirements, durability, the return on your investment, and more. 

It can be tough to choose the right product for your new siding project — and that’s why we’ve created this guide. Read below to learn more about both materials and to get a better understanding of what each will cost you, both in the short term and over the lifespan of the material.

How Steel Siding and Hardie Board Stack Up

First of all, you need to know what you’re getting with each type of siding. Steel metal siding and Hardie Board are both heavy-duty products that provide distinct advantages over alternatives like wood and vinyl siding. It means that either option can be a worthwhile investment — but let’s look deeper to see which may be better for your home siding project.

Hardie Board Siding

Hardie Board siding, which is also known as James Hardie siding, is a fiber cement product that is made using cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. Like other fiber cement products, this composition means that Hardie Board offers enhanced strength and durability compared to materials like vinyl and wood siding. 

Fiber cement is non-combustible, less susceptible to water damage, and less attractive to termites and other pest infestations.

What Are the Disadvantages of Hardie Board Siding?

While Hardie Board siding is more durable than wood or vinyl, it does have some notable drawbacks. For starters — and we’ll cover this in greater detail later on — it can cost more to install and maintain than other siding options. 

It’s also not a totally maintenance-free option. While it won’t sustain the damage, wear, and tear that wood does over time, you’ll still need to repaint it regularly to keep it looking great and to protect it from the elements.

Additionally, fiber cement products can release silica dust when you’re cutting or working with them. For the average homeowner, this may not be a huge concern, but for people who work with these products often, respirators are a necessity to prevent inhalation.

Steel Metal Siding

Steel metal siding by TruLog is a siding product that combines the durability of steel with the look and feel of wood siding. Our siding comes in board and batten, log, and lap siding styles — and it’s available not only in solid colors, but also beautiful wood-look patterns designed to give you the realistic look and feel of wood.

Like Hardie Board siding, steel siding is noncombustible. It also comes with the added advantages of being maintenance-free and completely impervious to moisture and pest damage.

How Does Steel Compare to Fiber Cement in Terms of Durability?

Steel siding is by far the more durable option. While fiber cement is less susceptible to water damage and less attractive to pests, it’s not completely impervious to these things — but steel siding is. Steel siding also comes with a Class 4 impact resistance rating, which is the highest level of durability possible among siding and roofing products.

On top of that, when we say that it’s a maintenance-free siding product, that’s exactly what we mean. Whereas fiber cement siding will need repainting along with occasional repairs, TruLog siding never needs to be repainted.

Steel Metal Siding vs. Hardie Board: A Cost Comparison

In reality, both steel siding and Hardie Board siding are superior products with clear advantages over wood and vinyl siding. However, when it comes to comparing costs for steel or Hardie Board, these two products are not quite as comparable. Long-term value, return on investment, and installation fees factor into the equation.

How Much Does Hardie Board Siding Cost?

Hardie Board siding comes as both Hardie siding panels and Hardie planks. The planks are designed for use as lap siding, while Hardie panels can replicate a variety of looks, including stucco or board and batten siding. Whether you choose panels or planks, the costs are comparable. 

At the low end, Hardie Board fiber cement siding will cost between $2 and $6 per square foot — but keep in mind that this doesn’t include customization options like specialized colors or finishes, delivery fees, or the labor to install it.

Hardie Board Costs Can Fluctuate Depending on the Middle Man

While you can use the price that we outlined above as a rough guide to what Hardie Board fiber cement may cost, be sure to do thorough research before you make your final decision. 

One thing that frustrates homeowners is that the cost of Hardie Board can fluctuate depending on many factors — like the contractor that you’re working with or the supplier that you’re purchasing from.

In fact, Hardie Board cannot be purchased directly — even from the James Hardie site. This fluctuation can make cost comparisons a nightmare. Most homeowners should contact several dealers to get a variety of quotes before making a decision.

Meanwhile, responsible steel siding manufacturers like TruLog display the price of steel siding products clearly on their website. You can order direct from the supplier and know exactly what you’ll need to pay without all the runaround. The cost of steel siding may be slightly more than Hardie Board, but this transparency allows homeowners to make a more informed choice.

How Much Does Steel Siding Cost?

While the cost of metal siding may vary among some manufacturers, TruLog steel siding prices range between $4.25 and $8.50 per square foot. This cost doesn’t include delivery or installation — but the upper end of the price range does reflect premium pricing for the hyper-realistic wood-look TruGrain colors.

Which Costs More to Install?

Across the United States, the total average cost for Hardie Board siding ranges between $6 and $15 per square foot. Since the siding itself is usually around $2 to $6 per square foot, most of the total cost is labor. 

In terms of labor costs, steel will usually be more affordable — and there are several reasons why. Hardie Board is made out of fiber cement, which often requires siding installation to be completed by a licensed siding contractor for health and safety reasons. You’ll also need to pay for painting — or pay extra for pre-finished Hardie Board siding.

Meanwhile, TruLog’s steel siding is easy to install. Many homeowners can DIY the project themselves. If you’d rather hire a professional to install it, you won’t need to worry about hiring a specialist. General contractors can do this job since it features a locking design that installs with the same ease as vinyl siding. On top of that, TruLog products come pre-finished, which means no painting or finish work will need to be completed once the siding is in place.

Which Costs More to Maintain?

Product lifespan is another component to think about when comparing steel metal siding vs. Hardie Board. They both provide better strength than wood or vinyl materials, but steel siding products, especially those made from high-quality metal with a high gauge, may last longer and show less damage over the years. 

Hardie Board is advertised as a strong material, but homeowners can easily damage the fiber cement siding when using a power washer, causing chips and scrapes in the siding. Little mistakes like this can add up when it comes to the cost of repairs. It should also be repainted every few years not only to refresh a fading and chipping finish but also to help seal it against the elements.

TruLog products are damage-resistant, and they also never need to be painted. Hardie Board siding will cost less to maintain than wood or vinyl — but TruLog steel siding comes with virtually no maintenance costs outside of possible damage sustained during a natural disaster.

Which Offers the Better Return on Investment?

When it comes to ROI, TruLog steel siding is the better investment. It may cost you a little more for material and installation costs, but the price isn’t significantly higher than Hardie Board. For that cost, you’ll enjoy years of low maintenance, worry-free beauty and durability.

The Final Verdict: Is Steel Metal Siding Better Than Fiber Cement?

Yes, in most cases, steel metal siding will be the better option. It’s less likely to experience insect damage, moisture damage, and deterioration. Steel siding is also fire resistant while vinyl and wood are both flammable For overall durability and strength, there’s no question that steel outperforms most other siding products — and that includes fiber cement.

Choose TruLog Steel Siding for Lasting Beauty and Durability

When it comes to overall costs, including long-term value, TruLog steel siding is a great choice. It’s a high-performance product that requires very little in the way of maintenance, and it provides a reliable return on your investment. 

Plus, transparent pricing takes the guesswork out of your project, whereas fiber cement products like Hardie Board must be purchased through dealers and installed by skilled contractors.

No matter what siding product you choose, it’s best to know all about the options available to you. Get in touch with TruLog to learn more — or download our product catalog for additional details.