Siding is a home exterior’s best friend, and James Hardie is the industry’s best-selling brand. Learn how many key factors contribute to their popularity.
We mentioned in a previous blog how the U.S. demand for siding is booming. The market is projected to top $126 billion in the next few years! More homeowners than ever are looking to make siding part of their property, and every supplier in the market must excel to compete.
Today’s leading siding brand is James Hardie, which provides fiber cement siding that they invented over 30 years ago. It’s a name synonymous with siding mostly thanks to the fact that it’s a versatile, striking, and tough product that’s been an American staple for decades. The many choices available fall under three main sub-categories:
- HardiePanel: A flexible vertical siding option that provides a wide choice of colors and shapes.
- HardieShingle: An elegant option providing the appearance of cedar shingle siding with none of the upkeep stress. Available in straight edge and staggered edge panels.
- HardiePlank Lap Siding: This is the number one brand in the country. It provides horizontal siding options with all the color, versatility, and durability that define the Hardie range.
Why is James Hardie siding popular?
The benefits of this brand could take up a blog by themselves! James Hardie siding ticks every box a homeowner could want by beautifying their property, boosting curb appeal and resale value, and even protecting the health and safety of everyone inside. These advantages include:
1. It’s engineered perfectly for New Jersey
Perhaps the most important perk is that James Hardie siding is specifically designed for the changeable New Jersey climate. It creates a strong shield against the elements and stands up more effectively against extremes of heat and cold. This alone puts it at the front of the siding line.
2. Improved home safety and savings
James Hardie siding also boosts the safety profile of any home it covers. The product is 100% non-combustible, which powerfully protects a home against fire damage — it’s rated Class A in fire resistance tests. This could also lower home coverage premiums because it’s viewed as a precautionary measure by insurance companies. Be sure to let your insurance company know if you’ve fitted James Hardie siding.
3. Hardie siding means healthier homeowners
The brand’s durability against the elements means that moisture won’t be able to enter your home (provided it is fitted by professionals, of course). This prevents the buildup of mold and mildew, which only require a small amount of water to begin breeding. Once they do, there are serious health hazards for occupants ranging from sensory irritation to respiratory difficulties.
4. It’s a great pest deterrent
Flames won’t consume a James Hardie-sided home, and other kinds of consumption are also off the menu. Traditionally ravenous pests like termites, woodworm, and woodpeckers are all out of luck — the wood in Hardie products is infused with cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, which means it won’t become a meal.
5. A natural choice in two ways
James Hardie siding can provide the natural visual aesthetic of wood with none of the maintenance headaches. The limited wood elements the siding contains are taken from sustainable sources that won’t be depleted, and the kind of asbestos and plastics-related environmental issues that used to plague siding are history thanks to James Hardie’s innovation.
6. Boosts curb appeal
Cosmetically speaking, James Hardie doesn’t trade in good lucks for tough performance. The brand is highly flexible in terms of cutting and shaping, and it comes in a variety of deeply set colors. Painting fiber cement provides results as long-lastingly attractive as the siding itself. Multiple coats are baked in to give it a lovely, crisp finish that resists cracking and chipping.
It also has a 30% slower fade rate than other brands thanks to built-in resistance to UV rays. The brand’s exclusive ColorPlus Technology really puts it in a class of its own for vibrant and enduring appearance. Why not experiment with James Hardie’s exterior color visualizer to see which shade fits you best?
7. Excellent warranty
The color treatment of James Hardie siding carries a 15-year guarantee and the siding itself comes with a 30-year warranty.
8. Increases resale value
Many homeowners may decide to pass on new siding due to expense. They would be missing out if they did! Homeowners saw a return of investment of around $17,000 when selling a home with new siding, and the James Hardie brand can make a property look its best.
All these advantages have combined to put James Hardie on track for big things this year. The brand is expected to sell more fiber cement siding in the U.S. than every other vinyl company combined. This is just one of the differences James Hardie provides in comparison to its plastic competition.
How does James Hardie differ from vinyl siding?
James Hardie siding is five times the thickness of vinyl, which makes it seriously tough stuff. This thicker profile also allows for deeper grooving in the siding’s finish — a very attractive look for some homeowners due to the heavier shadows it creates. Fiber cement also mimics the appearance of wood far more effectively than vinyl can.
Vinyl siding is not resistant to fire, either. James Hardie siding complies with ASTM E316 as a non-combustible cladding, which is a grading recognized by fire departments. By comparison, Vinyl siding has been known to warp and melt from the reflection of windowpanes alone.
The James Hardie company is an innovator as well as a supplier. It has invested more than $100 million in researching and developing siding that combats these kinds of problems while continuing to improve its products.
This innovative approach beats vinyl because it gives James Hardie a proprietary composition method called HZ5 (HardieZone 5). This is specially designed to handle the repeated contraction/expansion stresses of the freeze/thaw cycle in certain parts of the United States. Anyone living in New Jersey knows that’s one cycle we get plenty of, and vinyl siding does not handle it well compared to Hardie Plank.
Can anyone install James Hardie siding?
The brand takes customer satisfaction very seriously. This is why they have a list of preferred contractors, all of whom have James Hardie’s stamp of approval for standards of workmanship and customer care. Blue Nail Roofing is a member of this very select group.
As a member of the James Hardie Contractor Alliance, the Blue Nail team is able to provide siding installation to the highest standard with extended warranties. James Hardie doesn’t just take our word that we did a good job, either. They collect data on every job done via a third-party customer satisfaction survey.
James Hardie also makes sure their contractors tick all of the following boxes before they can be awarded the status of a preferred contractor:
- Compliance with installation best practices
- Professional sales approach
- Satisfactory credit report
- State licensed
- Liability insurance up to $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Workman’s compensation insurance wherever it’s required under law
- Satisfactory background checks with at least six past clients
It takes a contractor with a superior level of craftsmanship and commitment to meet these standards. An unapproved contractor may attempt to install James Hardie siding for you but that’s taking a big risk. Having planks installed by just anybody can be bad for the siding and trim. Improper shaping, handling, and installation can expose people and property to costly harm that pros know how to avoid.
How much does James Hardie siding cost?
Some sources will quote it at between $5 and $10 per square foot, while others will tell you it’s more in the $6 to $13 range. The fact is that these ballpark figures are only there to give homeowner’s a rough budgetary picture, at best.
The final cost depends on several factors, including the size of the home, labor costs, and the homeowner’s desired texture and color preferences. A home may also have existing siding, which the contractor will have to remove at a cost before adding the new materials.
The only way to start budgeting with confidence is to speak with an experienced siding contractor. They can assess the property as it is and share your vision of what it can become. Blue Nail Roofing is happy to provide a free consultation where you can discuss your plans with us and get a transparent quote you can count on.
Blue Nail is the most dedicated James Hardie contractor in NJ
Our entire mission at Blue Nail is to provide beautiful and functional siding that everyone can understand and afford. We offer financing options that stretch as far as 120 months, and which don’t punish qualified homeowners for prepayment.
Our status as one of James Hardie’s preferred contractors gives us priceless practical experience with the brand that translates into a higher quality installation. You can count on us for excellence whether you choose HardiePlank lap siding, vertical siding, or HardieShingle siding.
Our expert team is here to answer any questions you have if you’re thinking of replacing your siding or just need advice on the subject. We’ll clarify the whole siding process from start to finish and help you decide which course of action is right for you and your home. Drop by our contact page to get in touch!
