When choosing a good type of siding for your home, several factors need to be considered, including its appearance, durability, maintenance, and affordability. Deciding which siding will work best for your home can be challenging.
If you’re looking for the right siding for your home, Wood Siding and Hardie Plank siding are the top two choices. HardiePlank lap siding made from James Hardie has been around for more than 20 years, however, In recent years, Hardie plank siding has become increasingly popular. With the beauty of wood and incredible durability, the Hardie plank offers a great alternative to wood siding. This article will help you know if Hardie plank siding is the right choice for your home and your needs.
Hardie plank siding is made from cement-like materials, with around 5-10% wood fibers. Due to its fiber cement makeup, it is resistant to almost any weather conditions or elements. Furthermore, it is more durable and weather-resistant, which is important in the local climate. The fiber cement will not warp, crack, or swell in the presence of moisture or extreme weather conditions.
Conversely, wood siding requires regular maintenance to remain in good condition. Without proper care, it will rot or crack over time and not withstand the weather. If moisture lingers after heavy rains or snowy winter, wood lap siding becomes weakened quickly. Small amounts of moisture can sometimes cause damage to wood siding. As a result of moisture damage, siding may display warped or rotten panels, making it prone to structural failure.
Extreme weather conditions and seasonal changes can affect all types of siding. However, Hardie Plank Siding will endure the elements for decades, so you can trust it to protect your house from the elements. If you live along the Gulf Coast, you can even rely on this product to withstand hurricane-force winds.
In contrast, wood-based products expand and contract during climate change, causing swelling and edge checking. Additionally, wood siding is easy to moisten. Consequently, wood siding has a short lifespan.
HardiePlank and Wood Siding offer flexibility in their design and appearance. There are textures of HardiePlank siding that can mimic the appearance of the wood grain. Depending on the finish, it can have a modern or rustic appearance. HardiePlank Siding offers a solid and attractive alternative to wood siding.
By contrast, wood siding will give your home a natural appeal. However, Hardie plank siding is a good choice since you can choose from a wide range of styles and colors without the hassles and maintenance of wood.
Compared to wood siding, Hardie board siding is also an environmentally-friendly choice. You can depend on it to last a very long time (30 years or longer). Therefore, you won’t have to replace siding every ten years (with most types of Wood Siding), reducing landfill waste.
Also, since HardiePlank siding is made of fiber cement, this helps to reduce the amount of trees that need to be cut down for manufacturing siding, while it may not matter a whole lot if you decide to choose wood siding, by choosing to install HardiePlank, that can equate to less trees being cut down in the long run.
HardiePlank siding consists primarily of inflammable materials. Extreme heat or directed flames will very little damage to it (as seen in the video above). James Hardie’s siding is 90% cement and sand. Because of this, it has exceptional fire resistance. Throughout the country, HardiePlank Siding is recognized for its fire resistance. You may even receive a discount on your Homeowner’s insurance! Just make to sure to consult with your insurance agent.
HardiePlank siding is resistant to rot and pest infestation. Termites and vermin can’t prosper in fiber cement siding. It is resistant to pests like termites and carpenter ants. In addition, the woodpecker-resistant material will keep you from having to deal with termite damage.
On the contrary, most wood is ravaged by insects (especially when it gets moist and rotted), which slowly degrade the entire section of siding and even perhaps the framing in the walls.
There are different types of Wood Siding that can widely vary in cost, for example Cedar Wood siding can tend to be more expensive to buy compared to Engineered Wood Siding LP Smartside. HardiePlank siding by itself isn’t much more expensive than Wood Siding to buy.
What makes HardiePlank more expensive than Wood Siding is the installation costs. Since HardiePlank Siding is heavier and harder to install, not just any installer can install HardiePlank. If you’re deciding to install HardiePlank on your home, you need to make sure that the siding contractor is experienced in installing HardiePlank.
James Hardie Siding requires very little maintenance. You only have to clean it occasionally with a water hose. You can paint it a different color if you wish, but it is not crucial to maintain it. With good quality paint such as Sherwin Williams on HardiePlank, you’ll easily get more than 10 years of great looks and durability with this type of siding.
On the other hand, Wood siding ages naturally; it needs maintenance to avoid rot and deterioration. Wood Siding must be regularly painted and preserved to withstand the weather and time. You should paint or stain your wood siding every three to seven years.
Fiber cement products come with a warranty covering the substrate alone for 30-50 years. Almost no siding materials last as long as James Hardie’s plank siding, which has a 30-year warranty. Having a product that lasts much longer could result in significant savings in the long run. With proper installation and care, your siding may never need to be replaced, leaving you with a warrantied replacement.
In contrast, different types of Wood Siding do not have very good warranties. LP SmartSide, a type of Wood Siding, offers a 5/50 warranty that will cover material/labor costs for the first 5 years, and a portion of the material costs after that period which is very questionable.
Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, siding is also an effective safety measure. Fiber cement siding is becoming a more popular choice for the exterior cladding of houses today. Siding containing cement is indeed extraordinarily durable and safe.
James Hardie HardiePlank siding is extremely strong and can withstand many weights and elements. The company is currently the leading provider of modern and innovative siding solutions.
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