James Hardie: The Best Choice in Siding Materials Today

James Hardie is the #1 producer of  premium siding materials, such as fiber cement and fiber gypsum. Founded by James Hardie and Andrew Reid in 1892. Today, James Hardie provides multiple different home options for your siding projects, including their Magnolia home collection, architectural, lap siding, shingle siding, panel vertical, trim boards, soffit panels, and backer boards. No matter the color, style or material, James Hardie has it all. When starting your next siding project, phone Oscar Roofing to help you find the best material for your home and address any issues you may have. We have installed and fixed thousands of exterior siding throughout Bloomington, Indianapolis and surrounding areas. From repairs to complete replacements, we have your back. Contact us today and a representative will meet with you right away, we are at your service.

“After reaching out to multiple contractors, we decided to go with Oscar and his crew. Oscar explained to us that a repair would not be enough since our siding was too damaged, he was able to provide different siding styles and we decided to go with the shingle option. The replacement came out wonderful! Adding a timeless look to our home is a plus. Thanks Oscar for recommending the HardieShingle line.” – Indianapolis resident

Shingle, or shake siding as its sometimes referred, is used to add extra style to a home while requiring little maintenance. When deciding on the perfect siding for your home, you cannot go wrong with the shingle option. Shingle works great with contemporary and rustic styles. With many colors to choose from and the patented ColorPlus Technology®, rest assured that the color will not fade and keep its vibrancy for years to come. Even if exposed to the harshest of weather conditions. In fact, the shingle/shake siding by James Hardie is meant to address and resist damage from the cold, snow ice and extremely hot temperatures. Overall, these benefits are exactly what customers are looking for.

Choose from:

• Straight Edge Panel: Clean-lined for more contemporary designs and rustic styles. Choose from 15 colors.
• Staggered Edge Panel: More laid back while being inviting. Ideal for ranch style homes and cottages. Choose from 14 colors.

The architectural design is brand new and available or customers in 2022. Featuring fresh, modern looks, these premium designs are ready to address any homeowners looking for new siding look.

Colors include:

• Architectural Fine Sand
• Fine Sand-Grooved
• Mounded Sand
• Sea Grass
• Sculpted Clay

Check out how James Hardie is able to help homeowners find the best products based on the areas they live in. To put it simply, no matter the need or circumstances, there are multiple options or combinations to choose from.

The HardieZone System is able to provide specific products best suited for relative climates. For example, they have eight individual climatic variables and have managed to narrow it down the United States to two zones. The first zone is HZ5, which encompasses the top half of the country. HZ5 is able to withstand freezing cold temperatures such as snow and ice. These type of materials are able to remain their paint, resist moisture and water management. For us in the Midwest, HZ5 is our go to material type. These are also noncombustible.

HZ10 products are meant for the lower half of the country. In areas where there is no snow, there are warmer temperatures all year round and possibly, hurricanes. Able to withstand high hurricane force winds, the salty sea air and humid heats, look for HZ10 material types if you live in areas prone to these kind of temperatures.

30 year-limited warranties are provided for these type of material and there are additional warranty add-ons as well, depending on the material and brand. The complete exteriors include for shingle, panel, lap siding as well as fascia, trim and soffit materials.

Vertical siding is made of short width boards and installed upright, starting from top to bottom on the exterior for the home. Similar to board and batten, yet these can come in different styles. For example, vertical siding can be made from vinyl, fiver cement, wood, aluminum and engineered wood. Let’s take a look at the HardiePanel vertical siding.

These are made of factory-primed fiber-cement and come in different sizes and textures. From smooth to stucco, cedar-mill and sierra 8. Vertical panels are 5/16 inches thick and come in 4×8, 4×9, and 4×10 sizes, so there are many options to choose from, depending on your preference.

• Can be installed over braced wood, furring strips, and steel studs
• This type of siding is specifically made for vertical wall applications only
• For our homes in the Midwest, we recommend a drainage plane with 90% efficiency. For our neighbors out in the west, a water resistance barrier is only needed(due to the dry climate)
• We do not recommend vertical siding for fascia or trim installations
• Vertical siding comes in multiple different colors

• Choose from Select Cedarmill, Smooth, Stucco or Sierra 8.
  • Select Cedarmill: Is effective for natural cedar effect, like wood but will not be prone to moisture damage
  • Smooth: Is for homeowners who are looking for a more sleek design and prefer a modern look
  • Stucco: Fiber cement for the maximum strength, with a more inviting look
  • Sierra 8: The perfect style for people who don’t want to choose between detail or texture, they get both in a beautiful combination

James Hardie’s best selling product. Here’s why:

• Plank lap siding is traditional and timeless, brings these attributes to any home
• The most popular siding type in the U.S.
• Just like any other James Hardie product, comes in numerous color and style options:
  • Select Cedarmill: Want a more rustic, natural appearance? Then select cedarmill is the best product for you.
  • Smooth: For the more modern, polished homeowner. Don’t have an affinity for any of the 15 available options, smooth siding can be primed and painted over
  • Beaded Cedarmill: Want to bring the more coastal look? Then beaded cedarmill is the style for you
  • Beaded Smooth: Bring flair and a more contemporary look with beaded smooth. Choose from the dream collection products or prime it for painting if you choose

In this section, we are looking at how James Hardie benefits our Indianapolis and Bloomington homeowners specifically. As we have stated above, the products come with warranties. Depending on the material and finish, they range from 25 to 50 years.

What is the average cost of replacing your siding? Well the answer depends on the material, of course. For example, the typical cost of HardiePlank siding ranges from $3.50-$5.50 per square foot, just for the material alone. Other factors to take into account are the installation costs, additional accessories, delivery charges and dump fees. With all of this in mind, the price increases to a median of $7.00-$13.00 on average per square foot. So, a two-story home that is around 2,000 square feet will cost around $14,000 – $18,000 on average. This is just an estimate of course, you need to consult with your installer first.

While this sounds like a costly investment, the thing to keep in mind is that you’re buying the top quality and services around. No matter the weather, from rain, snow, high winds to bugs and pests, the siding will withstand it all. Speaking of investments, a brand new siding install increases the cost of your home and helps increase curb appeal. In fact, many remodeling websites hail James Hardie as the top brand to use on your home.

Another reason HardiePlanks and other material install replacements are costly is due to what goes into the installation process. This requires lots of experienced hands. HardiePlanks are heavy, in fact, these tend to weigh around 2.5 pounds per square foot. So, more than one or even two people are needed for the project. Additionally, our installers need specialized training, work with the proper equipment and know how to handle these type of materials. Respirator marks, gloves, eye protection and expensive machinery is needed to cut, prime, seal and fasten HardiePlanks. As you can tell, this is not a fast project, attention to detail and preciseness care is a must. While the pricing of this project is on the higher end, the majority of homeowners have said its well worth it.

The function of backer boards is to provide support tile installations for flooring and walls. Backer boards are the unseen heroes of bathroom projects. Composed of cement and sand, they do not rot, decompose or have components to support mold growth.

Backer boards can be used on:

• Walls and ceilings
• Kitchen backsplash
• Flooring
• Kitchen countertops
• Any area specified as a “wet area”

James Hardie also offers soffits and trim options. As we have stated, soffits are installed on the eaves of the roof(if you stand directly under the entrance of your home and look up, you will see your home’s soffit).

• Smooth and vented options are available to meet your builder’s code requirements.
  • Non-vented Cedarmill: The texture is similar to wood and does not rot or warp. It is extremely durable
  • Vented Cedarmill: The texture also mimics wood, the difference is, there are small vents on half of the product to meet code regulations
  • Vented smooth: The smooth finish gives it a more sleek appearance and the small vents provide excellent ventilation for your roof
  • Non-vented Smooth: Sleek appearance without vent holes. Can be primed for painting if needed

Trim boards or molding pieces, are normally used to cover joints through your windows or doors. These surfaces are able to be covered by trim boards of different sizes, make sure that the gaps are the correct measurements as to not have any issues. Trim boards can be further used with columns, fascia and walls. James Hardie offers fiber cement trim boards for your home’s exterior, these are able to resist cracking, swelling and rotting. Perfect to withstand harsh weather and storms.

Sizes include:

• 4/4 Rustic
• 4/4 Smooth
• 5/4 Rustic
• 5/4 Smooth
• rustic Grain Batten Boards
• Smooth Batten Boards

Per the James Hardie website, all of their products should be cleaned and serviced once to twice per year. Maintenance is key for long lasting siding. If you live in an area where lots of dirt, dust, debris or even mold is prevalent, then we recommend to cleaning your siding more frequently.

Use a garden hose and not a pressure-washer, or if using a pressure-washer, we recommend to use a lower level as to not damage the product. If there is dirt and debris that is hard to remove, use a medium bristle brush and mild liquid soap. A good dish washer soap will work. Its important to not let the soap dry on the surface, remove and thoroughly rinse it all off.

For mold and mildew: If the siding was painted over, Hardie recommends to read over the paint cleaning instructions. Otherwise, use commercial mold remover if there is any present.

Patching Issues: If you encounter dents, cracks and chips, you can use a good quality cement patch to fill in the small spots. Head to your local hardware store and ask which product is best for siding.

Loose Siding: A few loose siding can be placed back by re-nailing or using the correct fasteners. James Hardie offers written installation requirements on their website. If there are multiple loose, then call your general contractor for an inspection. It might be time to replace your siding.

If you made it this far, then you know buying this type of installation is an expense. We want to provide some tips on how to get the bang for your buck. Always, always contact several contractors and receive estimates. Make sure these are local, have good standing and can back their work with solid reviews and customers.

Ask your preferred roofing contractor to break down the prices of labor and material. And depending on the price, ask if they’re able to compromise and provide any sort of discounts at the moment. Lots of companies offer different types of discounts during different times of the month.

While these are just some of the things you can do, remember, installing Hardie boards or any type of their products are worth it in the long run. The pros justify the service price, therefore, its a worthy investment.

Lastly, always ask the contractor who you choose to work with for their labor and manufacture warranties. A reputable contractor and their representatives will always be able to provide these. Additionally, read their reviews and ask for references as well. Remember, Oscar Roofing is a phone call away and our headquarters are located in Bloomington. We also have additional offices in nearby areas.