Is James Hardie Siding Worth It? An Austin Contractor's Honest Answer

What James Hardie siding is

James Hardie makes fiber cement siding: boards made from cement, sand and wood fibers. It looks like painted wood lap siding, but it doesn't rot, warp or melt the way wood and vinyl can. HardiePlank lap siding is the most common style on Austin homes.

Why it holds up so well in Central Texas

• It handles the heat. Vinyl can sag, warp or fade under months of 100-degree sun. Fiber cement stays straight and holds paint well.
• Rot and termites aren't a problem. Wood siding and trim that stay damp after storms soak up water and rot, and termites go after wood. Fiber cement gives them nothing to eat.
• It stands up to hail and storms. Fiber cement is thick and rigid, so it takes hail and wind-blown debris much better than thin vinyl panels.
• It's noncombustible. Fiber cement won't catch fire, which matters more every year as Texas summers get drier.
• It's backed by long warranties. James Hardie gives its siding a 30-year limited warranty, and factory-painted ColorPlus boards come with a separate 15-year limited finish warranty. We add our own 5-year labor warranty on every install.

For a side-by-side look, see our Hardie vs. vinyl and wood comparison.

What a good install looks like

The siding is only as good as what goes behind it. Here's what a proper James Hardie install includes:

1. Remove the old siding down to the framing.
2. Replace all of the wall sheathing and repair any rotted framing underneath.
3. Wrap the walls in Hardie weather barrier.
4. Flash every window.
5. Install the new HardiePlank lap siding and trim to James Hardie's installation specs.

This is the part homeowners never see, and it's where cheap jobs cut corners. If rot is covered instead of fixed, it keeps spreading behind your new siding.

The downsides

• It costs more up front than vinyl, for both material and labor. See what siding costs in Austin for a full breakdown.
• It's heavy and needs an experienced crew. Fiber cement has to be cut, nailed and flashed to James Hardie's instructions, or the warranty can be voided. Hire an installer who works with it all the time.
• Painted boards need repainting eventually. Field-painted boards need a fresh coat down the road; ColorPlus factory finish goes 15+ years without repainting.

So, is it worth it?

James Hardie siding is worth it if you:

• Plan to stay in your home more than a few years
• Are tired of repainting and patching rotted wood
• Want siding that stands up to Texas heat, hail and storms
• Want to raise curb appeal and resale value

If only a few boards are damaged, siding repair may be all you need. We'll look at your home and tell you whether repair or full replacement makes more sense for you.