Choosing new siding comes with a host of considerations, from curb appeal to cost. But if one factor deserves the top spot on your list, it’s durability — the tougher your home’s exterior, the more long-term value and peace of mind it offers, and with less upkeep. If you’ve been researching your options, you’ve likely come across everything from wood and vinyl to fiber cement brands like James Hardie.
But what is Hardie board siding? What is it made of, and are there any special considerations when installing it? Are there better options that require less upkeep and initial investment? To help you choose the right siding for your home, we’ll answer these questions and more.
What Is Hardie Board?
The James Hardie company uses its own special recipe to create Hardie products, including HardiePlank, HardiePanel, and HardieBoard. But what is Hardie board really made from? Key ingredients are listed as:
- Sand
- Water
- Cellulose fibers (made from wood pulp)
- Portland cement (which is a mix of clay, gypsum, and limestone)
- Proprietary additives that enhance performance
Hardie’s cement board production involves mixing these materials and shaping them into planks and panels you can use to side your home. While the James Hardie brand experimented with “fibro-cement” products as early as 1903, it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that the company developed the fiber cement products we recognize today.
The Rise to Popularity
Wood and vinyl siding were popular for much of the 20th century thanks to their low cost and perceived durability. However, both materials have inherent flaws, which is why fiber cement siding has seen a slow but steady rise in popularity in recent years. Of all the brands that offer fiber cement board, James Hardie is among the most common.
Hardie exterior siding products are often celebrated for their durability and versatility. While it has multiple drawbacks, this material solves some of the problems you’d experience with wood or vinyl siding. It’s also available in a wide variety of styles and textures, including Hardie’s signature wood-look siding.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Fiber Cement Siding?
James Hardie siding continues to rise in popularity because it offers numerous advantages over more traditional materials like wood and vinyl. However, no siding material is perfect, and fiber cement siding does have some disadvantages. Next, we’ll take an in-depth look at the pros and cons of fiber cement.
Advantages of Fiber Cement
The biggest advantage that fiber cement siding has over more traditional materials like wood or vinyl is durability.
- Less likely to rot: Whereas wood is prone to rot, fiber cement’s composition makes it more resistant to moisture damage.
- Doesn’t attract pests: Pests like termites and woodpeckers can easily damage wood, but not fiber cement.
- Better fire protection: Unlike wood and vinyl siding, fiber cement siding is non-combustible, meaning it offers greater fire protection.
- Resists damage: Vinyl siding is a thin, brittle material that takes damage easily, but fiber cement is much tougher, making it better equipped to withstand high winds, hail, impact damage, and other issues caused by extreme weather.
- Lasts longer: Fiber cement’s durability gives it a much longer lifespan than wood or vinyl: Up to 50 years compared to a maximum of 40 for wood and 30 for vinyl.
Hardie siding also offers a wide variety of textures and design options, helping you achieve a great look. Their most popular product is their wood-look siding, which features natural-looking grooves and graining pressed into the board itself. The shaping process adds variation and organic imperfections so that no two boards are identical.
Drawbacks of Fiber Cement
While Hardie siding is popular, it’s not inherently perfect. For starters, fiber cement siding, including Hardie siding, is heavy — and that’s thanks to its fiber cement composition.
While cost may not be a dealbreaker for some, consider the following:
- Heavy materials are more costly to ship, which will raise your project cost.
- It’s also harder to work with, which raises labor costs.
- Some homes may require structural reinforcement to support the weight of fiber cement, which means an even higher price tag.
Another big disadvantage is the warranty on fiber cement siding — so, what is Hardie board’s policy like? The warranty itself is great and will cover a wide range of issues, but it’s only honored when the proper installation process is followed. Fiber cement siding installation is more complex than other types of siding, so DIYers and your average handyman are off the table unless you want to void your coverage.
Other disadvantages to fiber cement siding include:
- Upkeep: Like wood, fiber cement siding needs to be repainted regularly (every five to 10 years for wood, and every 10 to 15 years for fiber cement) to keep it looking great and to keep the material sealed against moisture.
- Aging: While it’s more moisture-resistant than wood, fiber cement can start to flake around the edges if moisture gets past the paint layer.
These drawbacks aren’t always dealbreakers — but they do mean that you should explore as many siding options as possible so you can choose what makes the most sense for you and your home.
Common Questions About Fiber Cement Siding
If you’re researching Hardie Siding or fiber cement siding from other brands, you’re probably trying to look at the bigger picture to figure out if it makes sense for your home. That means going beyond the basic definition, advantages, disadvantages, and questions like “What is Hardie board made of?” and into real-world concerns homeowners have when they begin a siding project.
Below, we’ll delve into some of the top questions people ask about fiber cement siding.
What Are the Top Concerns Homeowners Have With Fiber Cement Siding?
The biggest concern that many homeowners have is whether Hardie siding and similar products live up to the hype. In most cases, they do because they offer a level of durability and fire resistance that vinyl and wood siding struggle to match.
That said, fiber cement siding isn’t a magic shield. It can still be damaged if you fall behind on maintenance or if moisture gets behind the siding, and the warranty is easy to void with improper installation. It’s also extremely heavy, which affects everything from shipping and labor to potentially even the structure of your home.
In other words, Hardie siding and fiber cement siding products in general are strong performers — but they come with tradeoffs that matter when comparing siding options.
Is Fiber Cement Siding Expensive?
For a basic installation, fiber-cement siding prices fall in the middle range. Here’s a breakdown that compares average material costs for several popular materials:
- TruLog Steel Siding: $4.25 to $8.25 per square foot
- Vinyl Siding: $4.50 to $8.20 per square foot
- Hardie Siding: $4.70 to $8.50 per square foot
- Wood Siding: $6.90 to $13.90 per square foot
Unless you need to ship Hardie siding long distances, which can drive up the cost, the price of the material itself is comparable to TruLog steel siding and vinyl siding, and much more cost-effective than wood siding.
However, those prices don’t account for labor and installation costs, which usually fall into the following ranges for basic installation:
- TruLog Steel Siding: $5 to $8 per square foot
- Vinyl Siding: $4 to $8 per square foot
- Hardie Siding: $5 to $9 per square foot
- Wood Siding: $7 to $14 per square foot
Again, fiber cement siding isn’t the least or most expensive option. That said, fiber cement siding is by far the heaviest option. If your home needs additional structural support to handle the weight, your costs could soar well beyond these.
What Maintenance Does Hardie Siding Require?
Compared to wood siding, Hardie siding and other fiber cement products are generally considered low maintenance because you don’t have to worry as much about wood-destroying pests and moisture damage.
Hardie siding isn’t without maintenance costs, though. Expect to do the following to keep fiber cement siding in top shape:
- Cleaning: Clean it once or twice a year with low-pressure water, mild detergent, and a soft, non-metal brush.
- Resealing: If you have vertical siding like the board and batten style, inspect the caulk that seals the battens over the seams between boards. If you notice signs of aging, it’s essential to replace it so moisture doesn’t seep behind the siding.
- Refinishing: Inspect around edges once or twice a year to ensure that the finish isn’t chipping. If you notice damage, it’s time to refinish to prevent moisture infiltration.
- Repainting: Repaint the siding every 10 to 15 years to update faded finishes and keep the fiber cement beneath sealed against moisture.
While that’s a relatively low amount of maintenance compared to a siding material like wood, which requires more frequent repaintings plus regular repairs to correct wood rot and pest damage, other types of siding require even less maintenance.
TruLog steel siding, for example, requires virtually no maintenance apart from periodically rinsing away dust and dirt with a garden hose.
What Are the Challenges Involved in Installing Fiber Cement Siding?
Weight is a major challenge when installing fiber cement siding because it makes the material much more difficult to handle. Your home may also need additional structural support to carry the load.
Additionally, professional installers use specialized tools, such as masonry-grade bits, hole saws, and saws. Even when working outdoors, it’s smart to wear a respirator because the material produces a lot of silica dust when cut.
On top of concerns about voiding the warranty, these are all good reasons to hire a professional to install fiber cement siding rather than going the DIY route.
How Does Fiber Cement Siding Compare to Other Types of Siding?
Hardie siding is one of the best-known names in siding, but it’s still just one option among many. Vinyl, wood, and steel are all popular choices, too. But which is the best siding for your home? We’ll compare these three siding replacement options to fiber cement below.
How Does Vinyl Siding Compare to Hardie Siding?
Vinyl siding is often attractive to homeowners who want a lower upfront cost and easy installation. It’s lightweight, widely available, and familiar to most contractors. It’s also inherently moisture-resistant, making it appealing for budget-conscious homeowners who want greater moisture protection than wood or fiber cement can offer.
The downside is that, compared to other siding types, including Hardie siding, vinyl lacks toughness. It cracks, warps, and punctures easily in harsh weather conditions, and it’s prone to fading from UV exposure. In hot climates, some homeowners have even reported melted siding.
While it is possible to paint vinyl siding, it’s not generally recommended. That gives fiber cement siding another advantage because it requires regular repainting. Paint shades will fade in sunlight, too, but the need to repaint to keep the material sealed means you’ll get more time enjoying fresh color on your home’s exterior.
How Does Wood Siding Compare to Hardie Siding?
Traditional wood siding still has plenty of fans among homeowners because it delivers warmth, natural texture, and undeniable aesthetic appeal.
However, wood comes with tons of potential problems. It’s prone to rot, discoloration, pest damage, and more. Wood also requires a lot of maintenance. Expect to inspect yearly for rot and pest damage, replace lumber as needed, and repaint the entire exterior every 5 to 10 years. In fire-prone areas, you may even be required to treat it with fire-retardant chemicals.
Hardie siding’s signature product is wood-look siding designed to mimic the look and feel of real wood. While you may not be able to get natural wood finishes with fiber cement siding, you can still enjoy a realistic wood grain texture. Since it’s stronger against moisture, noncombustible, pest-resistant, and requires less maintenance, Hardie siding delivers a similar look to wood with a whole lot fewer headaches.
How Does TruLog Steel Siding Compare to Hardie Siding?
Compared with fiber-cement siding, TruLog steel emerges as the clear winner. It features a heavy-duty cold-rolled steel base with a galvanized coating, which keeps it lightweight and easy to install while also delivering more durability than any other type of siding. It won’t warp or crack, it’s impervious to moisture, it’s noncombustible, and pests won’t touch it. At worst, you may get a few dents during a severe hailstorm — and these are usually easy to repair.
On top of that, TruLog steel comes with a protective UV coating on the finish to prevent chipping or fading. With a 70-year lifespan, that’s decades of beautiful color without ever needing to repaint or refinish the siding.
Another thing homeowners love about TruLog steel siding is that, unlike Hardie siding, TruLog offers beautifully realistic wood tones and textures that work well for traditional architectural styles. Our siding is available in board and batten, log, and lap siding styles. Everything comes in a range of stylish solid colors as well as a selection of hyper-realistic wood-look finishes.
Discover the Benefits of a Better Siding Material
Homeowners looking for durable, affordable siding products have a few options to choose from. While James Hardie fiber cement siding can be a good option, TruLog steel siding is even better. It offers unmatched durability, improved weather resistance, an incredibly realistic natural wood look, and many other advantages.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Try our Visualizer tool to see how each of our colors and styles looks on your home, then order samples of your favorite selections so that you can see the TruLog difference in person.
