Compare Home Siding Options
Is your home’s siding starting to become discolored, damaged, or rotted? These are typically signs that it is time to reside. The question is, what are your options?
Paint: The Quick Fix…
Some people choose the “quick fix” and simply paint their house.
Pros
Cons
- Inexpensive
- Temporary solution to a permanent problem
- Do It Yourself
- Small increase in curb appeal
- Ongoing maintenance
- Temporary solution to a permanent problem
- Leads to chipping, peeling, fading, and cracking of paint over time
- No increase in property value
- Time Consuming
Vinyl: The Inexpensive Way…
Some contractors use low-end replacements like plastic to cover up siding problems.
- Within five years, more than half of vinyl homeowners wish they had selected a different siding product.
- There are often hidden costs to using vinyl siding.
Pros
Cons
- Inexpensive
- Better than doing nothing
- Slight increase in property value
- Somewhat maintenance free
- Possible increase in R Value
- Thin, unnatural imitation wood look with overlapping seams
- Melts or burns when exposed to significant heat or flame
- Brittle when cold, vulnerable to impact damage, expands and contracts, can blow off the home
- Color difference based on lots, color cannot be changed
- Color fades at different rates, replacement won’t match faded color
Steele: The Expensive Way…
- Steele siding can be pretty expensive and isn’t as durable as you might expect.
Pros
Cons
- Possible increase in property value
- Possible increase in curb appeal
- Expensive
- Dents
- Fades
- Oxidizes
- Color differences based on lots
Wood Composite: The Wrong Way…
Some contractors use low-end replacements like wood-composite.
- Highly publicized product failures have made it clear that wood composites are too risky to trust.
- Hardboard class-action lawsuits
Pros
Cons
- Inexpensive
- Increase curb appeal
- Widespread product failures
- Can rot, warp, and buckle
- Absorption of moisture can lead to expansion and contraction, leading to paint cracking and peeling.
- Frequent painting, caulking, and spot repairs requires
- Can be damaged by termites and other pests
- Burns
Cedar: The High Maintenance Way…
Some contractors would recommend high maintenance replacements that aren’t right for your home.
- Because it absorbs water, cedar requires constant, costly maintenance.
- Moisture infiltration causes expansion, contraction, cracking, and cupping.
- These changes cause paint to fail quickly-leading to frequent scraping and repainting.
Pros
Cons
- Look and feel
- Resistance to impact
- Expensive
- Necessary maintenance every 3-5 years
- Diminishing natural resource
- Burns
- Can warp and rot
Stucco: The Difficult Way…
Some contractors would recommend complicated replacements that aren’t right for your home.
- Stucco cracks easily when exposed to the elements, allowing moisture infiltration.
- Maintenance becomes expensive and labor-intensive.
Pros
Cons
- Non-combustible
- Long-life
- Minimal Maintenance
- Expensive
- Changes the architectural details
- Cracking
- Moisture issues
- Long Installation Time
- Attracts wood peckers
Total Replacement: The Best Way
- With James Hardie siding, there’s finally a solution that delivers the rick, traditional character or wood—without the back (or wallet) breaking maintenance.
- Delivers all the aesthetic and performance benefits your family is looking for, without the compromise.
What is Fiber Cement Siding?
- Fiber cement siding is a mixture of sand, cement, cellulose wood fibers, and water.
- When combined, these materials make for a highly durable alternative to vinyl or hardboard siding products.
Fiber Cement Siding Benefits
- Naturally fire-resistant (rated non-combustible)
- Naturally moisture and water resistant
- Good impact resistance
- Full line of soffit and trim products available
- Green & Sustainable
- Potential insurance discounts
Fiber Cement Vs. The Competition
| Attribution | Fiber Cement | Wood Based Siding | Vinyl Siding |
| Non-combustible | X | ||
| 50 Year Warranty | X | ||
| Rot Resistant | X | X | |
| Impervious to Termites | X | X | |
| Non-Toxic to Inhabitants | X | X | |
| Resistant to Warping and Shrinkage | X | ||
| Will Not Melt with Exposure to Heat Source | X | X | |
| Highly Durable and Resistant to Minor Impact | X | ||
| Resistant to Wind, Rain, Hail, Snow, and Sun | X | ||
| Real Wood Grain Look and Feel | X | X | |
| Easily Painted | X | ||
| Environmentally Friendly | X | X | |
| Qualified Post-Purchase Consumer Satisfaction | X |
Price Comparison
