Ready to add ultimate curb appeal and replace your home's siding? You have many siding options, but few convey the same posh exterior aesthetic as wood siding. Wood siding isn't a popular option now that technology has improved our materials, but the aesthetic of stylish and classic wood siding endures. What's the secret? Fiber cement siding. The benefits of James Hardie siding are many and the downsides are few.
SmardBuild is part of the James Hardie alliance program and one of the few siding contractors for Naperville endorsed to work with this world-class medium. Though James Hardie costs more than vinyl, the many advantages of Hardie board make this product increasingly popular, with more than 15 percent of new homes featuring fiber cement siding and climbing.
What is James Hardie Siding?
James Hardie pioneered fiber cement siding products in the early 1980s. This product has proven a durable, lower-maintenance alternative to wood and vinyl. Fiber-cement siding is made from compressed layers of wood fibers and cement, and the embossed texture gives it the wood-grain look that gives it authentic woodlike nuance. It comes in various colors, or you can paint it to suit your home’s palette. Hardie siding has considerable advantages for your home.
1. Classic Style
James Hardie siding mimics the look of traditional wood siding or cedar shingles, allowing you to keep a classic style or add character to your plain home with a new look that fits with your home’s architecture and era. Your options run from lap siding and vertical siding to shingle siding and panels. Include Hardie trim to finish the look. Any of these can be great options for a historic home or fit in with extremely contemporary styles.
2. Resale Value
Fiber-cement siding has proven to provide a better return on investment than natural wood or engineered planks, largely because savvy buyers understand the benefits of this durable medium. With a whopping 30 years of non-prorated and transferable product warranty, James Hardie offers one of the best warranties available in the business, which offers buyers peace of mind.
Fiber-cement siding is often classified as an upscale project and has a relatively high ROI according to Cost vs. Value figures for Chicago. You can expect to get back most of your initial spend if you sell your home.
3. Great Protection and Durability
Because James Hardie plank siding isn’t wood, it doesn't decay the same way wood does. It’s naturally resistant to fire, insects, and rot. In contrast, vinyl siding feeds flames, and wood siding is a haven for termites and moisture damage.
James Hardie siding can be painted but doesn't need to be. It doesn't need nearly as much upkeep and maintenance as painted wood siding.
4. Weather Resistant
Rough winter weather does a number on home exteriors of all kinds in the greater Chicago and Naperville areas. From rapid temperature changes to wind-blown debris and lots of moisture, wood siding in particular can takes a real beating. Fiber-cement siding is amazingly durable. It reflects minimal hail damage when other types of siding are totaled by the same storm. Hardie siding offers awesome products zoned for our area and the specific weather elements we face in Illinois. Hardie products are performance-matched with specific attributes relative to the climate where the product is being used (HardieZone System).
5. Going Green
James Hardie siding is an environmental plus if you like the look of wood but are concerned about the depletion of our forests. It’s made with cellulose fibers, which don’t come from endangered tree species, and no toxic materials are used in production.
If you're interested in efficient insulation, you'll have to look elsewhere for R-value. The R-value of both vinyl and fiber cement is below one. Very few siding mediums provide meaningful insulation, James Hardie products included.
Looking for James Hardie Siding?
If you’re looking to upgrade your home's exterior you can’t go wrong with James Hardie siding. Houses with Hardieboard feature a classic wood look with less maintenance and better durability. Choose from traditional colors or plan to paint it to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Looking for James Hardie for your home in Naperville or the surrounding area? Contact us to discuss a plan for your home’s exterior using fiber cement siding.
