What Is Fiber Cement Siding?

Worn down siding can compromise your home’s integrity with moisture penetration, wood rot, and eventually structural damage. You may be wondering what type of siding is right for your home. Siding materials vary, so gaining knowledge about your options before choosing which to invest in will pay off in the long run.

At American Way Exteriors, we understand homeowners can feel concerned when their siding declines. Let's take a closer look at one option that many Ohio homeowners ask about: fiber cement siding.

Fiber cement siding’s makeup

Known for its durability, fiber cement siding is made of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. It comes in multiple colors and styles, has fabulous resilience, and features an outstanding warranty. James Hardie is the most popular brand of Hardie Board siding, and in fact has become synonymous with fiber cement siding. Here are some benefits to installing this outstanding siding:

1. Unmatched beauty

Fiber cement siding enhances your home’s overall look as it adds eye-catching curb appeal to your dwelling. It’s thick, so it can mimic the look of real wood, but it lasts longer than wood and needs only minimal maintenance. So if you love the look of wood, but don’t want to invest your time and money in its upkeep, then fiber cement siding is for you.

2. Industry favorite

James Hardie siding graces the home exteriors of over 8,000,000 homes in America alone. Its track record of long-lasting, high performance is well known and trusted.

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3. Minimal maintenance

The requirements to uphold the beauty of fiber cement siding are minimal: simply wash it with a garden hose and a medium bristle nylon brush twice a year. It may need to be repainted at some point, but not for 15 years or so after installation. In fact, the baked-on color of James Hardie fiber cement siding comes with a 15-year warranty, and resists fading.

4. Extreme durability

Harsh weather can erode the beauty of some home exteriors, but not so when your home is covered in fiber cement siding. Its makeup creates strength that stands up to the elements without moisture penetration, rotting, or warping. Hardie board siding upholds its gorgeous look while resisting damage from rapid changes in weather or temperature extremes. You’ll be amazed at how it holds up to high winds and severe storms.

5. Customizable options

Your home should be a distinct reflection of your personality and style. Choosing the perfect look for your fiber cement siding comes easy with multiple styles and colors from which to choose. Here are some favorites from the James Hardie line:

• HardiePlank Lap Siding—Get top-selling HardiePlank lap siding for timeless design, gorgeous texture, and custom color.
• HardieShingle Siding—Enjoy the look of cedar combined with the strength of James Hardie siding.
• HardiePanel Vertical Siding—Vertical siding with simple lines perfectly balance a contemporary or modern home’s look.
• HardieTrim—Accent your home’s front door and windows with colorful, attractive trim that makes your home stand out.
• HardieSoffit—Fortify the space between your home’s eaves and exterior walls to protect your house from costly moisture penetration and unwanted pests.

6. Non-combustible

Your family’s safety is of utmost importance, and James Hardie fiber cement siding delivers when it comes to ensuring safety in case of a fire. It’s heat resistant and fire resistant, giving you peace of mind that (unlike wood siding) it won’t contribute to a fire.

7. Pest resistant

There’s no need to worry about the possibility of stink bugs or pests with fiber cement siding. While other siding materials such as wood can attract them, fiber cement siding offers you protection from them.

8. Woodpecker resistant

The damage woodpeckers can do to a house with wood siding can cost homeowners in time and money for needed repairs. Fiber cement siding resists woodpecker damage, saving you hassles.

9. Third-party tested

James Hardie fiber cement siding was awarded the highly esteemed Good Housekeeping Seal, ensuring its extreme value to homeowners. This desirable honor was given after rigorous testing by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. State-of-the-art equipment was used to test HardiePlank lap siding for its ability to resist moisture retention, endure weather, resist fires, resist fading, and more.

10. Color that keeps

James Hardie gives homeowners two options when it comes to applying color to your siding: ColorPlus® technology provides you with factory baked-on color. Choose from a variety of baked-on hues in the James Hardie line for enduring color that’s UV resistant and doesn’t fade.

The second option is to purchase James Hardie siding that’s pre-primed at the factory itself. If you want unlimited color options, this may be an ideal choice for your home.

11. Outstanding warranty

When you invest in James Hardie siding products, you invest in your future because this durable siding lasts decades! It will save you time and money to have enduring fiber cement siding covering your home. It comes with the best warranty in the industry: a 30-year, non-prorated warranty. When your new fiber cement siding is installed by a James Hardie preferred contractor, your warranty is honored.

12. Boost resale value

Your home’s overall value will increase as you install James Hardie fiber cement siding. Its enduring beauty and performance make your home stand out, and help attract home buyers.

Siding that lasts from a home exterior contractor you can trust

Get dependable siding that stands up Ohio’s harshest elements. At American Way Exteriors, we specialize in James Hardie siding installation. In fact, we are the only James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor in the area, and we follow the strict standards established by the James Hardie company, ensuring your exceptional warranty will be honored.

Get inspired by reading what others are saying about our siding installation. As a veteran owned company, community is important to us, so we focus on giving back to the community and serving our veterans. Contact us for a free estimate.