Also known as fiber cement siding, fiber board shingles are more than just a passing trend.
Over the past decade, fiber cement siding has been written about quite a bit by the popular shelter magazines. One such publication, Remodeling Magazine, has included James Hardie’s HardieBoard siding in its Cost vs. Value Report. They say fiber board is considered one of the best investments a homeowner can make toward resale value, yet surprisingly few people know about it.
With so many more homeowners staying where they are and waiting to sell, and home refinancing rates at record lows, more people are remodeling to improve resale value. They are thinking outside of the box when it comes to exterior siding and finding that HardieBoard siding has much better cur appeal than vinyl. That said, there are still skeptics out there who want more information.
While it may be popular in areas where severe weather is common, fiber board isn’t found in every part of the country. For some reason, it has really taken off in many parts of the Southwest, which may explain why this Ohio siding contractor is more of it. This rise in popularity may be due to the attractive texture of the shingles, but it is also quite a bit sturdier than vinyl. The appearance is richer and it fits better into many designers’ visions for the aesthetics of a new home. There is no doubt James Hardie siding is gaining converts like never before.
Fiber board siding has been around forever, and it’s always been billed as being long lasting, low maintenance, and worth the investment, which may explain why it has been catching on.
James Hardie Siding: The Pros
Also known as fiber cement siding, fiber board shingles are more than just a passing trend. They are a permanent product that is both beautiful and affordable. Of all the “pros” to fiber cement boards, longevity is probably the most important. The material is completely resistant to insects and rot, and it can even withstand the punishing winds and salt spray that affects homes near the shoreline. James Hardie siding has a fifty year limited warranty that is fully transferable.
With James Hardie fiber board siding, your color choices are limitless, and the boards can be made to resemble a variety of exterior textures. Architects love the flexibility of fiber board because it can be made to look like cedar shingles, wood shake and wooden lap boards.
In addition to its beauty and durability, fiber cement is also very fire resistant. This is because it is composed of more than 90 percent sand and cement.
James Hardie Siding: The Cons
While there is very little not to like about HardieBoard, there are a few things that make it more complicated than vinyl. For one, it is heavier and therefore more difficult to install than traditional vinyl siding. It also requires painting from time to time. Overall, fiber board will require a larger labor force, making it costlier to install. Compared to vinyl siding, which weighs 60 to 70 pounds per square (100 square feet), fiber cement siding is much heavier at 300 pounds per square. It also costs about 40 percent more than traditional vinyl, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.
How long will fiber board last?
If you install a cement board siding product on your home, you can expect it to last a lifetime, and sometimes longer. This has become a major selling point for the product because it increases the resale value of the home, but there are other reasons that homeowners choose cement board. First of all, it is very low maintenance. Unlike a lot of other popular siding materials, it resists mold and mildew, and doesn’t have to be cleaned any more often than vinyl or wood.
As more Ohio residents look to James Hardie siding to give their home a brand new look, they are finding Dependable Construction to be the most experienced team of local fiber board installers. The Heart House team is also the only preferred installer of James Hardie siding in Ohio.
Reach out today to your trusted installers at Dependable Construction to learn more or get your free quote. Call us on 937.318.9572 if you are considering new siding on your property today. You can also check us out on Facebook to see current jobs going on or visit our site DependabilityFirst.com
