James Hardie VS. Vinyl Siding; The Ultimate Guide on your siding replacement needs. 
As it stands, Vinyl and James Hardie Fiber Cement HardiePlank are both ranked among the top choices in the exterior remodel siding world. So how are you the homeowner supposed to decide?! You are not alone in this dilemma.   While Vinyl siding is budget-friendly and durable, James Hardie siding is low-maintenance, high-quality, and has that lifelong durability. As there are pros & cons to each, let us help you give you the information so you can make an educated decision.

What is Fiber Cement?
Hardie siding is a fiber cement product. A composition of wood pulp, silica sand or ash, Portland cement, and water. The product design contains grooves and grains that mimic the look of cedar planks, shingles, and shake. It can also be designed to mimic the look of stucco. The boards come prepainted or primed, depending on your preference and is usually more than a quarter of an inch thick. James Hardie Fiber cement siding is created using more sustainable materials, and utilizes sustainable practices in the creation of their products with a 25-50 year warranty. 

What is Vinyl?
Vinyl is a plastic siding composed mostly of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. It is designed to mimic wood planks and is extremely lightweight and easy to install. Typically Vinyl siding comes with a 25-year warranty, and is usually .04 to .046 inches thick.
 
Curb Side Appeal-

While the primary purpose of siding is to protect your home from external elements, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be eye appealing! Vinyl and James Hardie mimic the look of wood planks, for that luxurious feel. With Vinyl and James Hardie comes a variety of colors, and styles that fits your wants and needs. 

Durability-
As they are both very durable, surpassing wood lap siding (which needs to be painted regularly) And cedar shake (which needs regular treatment). Both HardiePlank and vinyl siding are both rot resistant, and have little to zero appeal destructive insects, mainly termites and carpenter ants. Birds that eat insects are rarely interested in either product because neither product harbors the insects that appeal to woodpeckers. James Hardie fiber cement siding is fire-resistant, and warp resistant. Although, extremely forceful impacts can cause it to crack. While Vinyl siding is more suspectable to warping and cracking. It can be damaged when impacted by a lawnmower’s debris due to its thinness, or even melt under great heat. Something as simply as a BBQ too close can damage the product, or even the reflections from the sun. But with proper care and attention, both options will protect your home for many years. However, both forms of siding require PROPER installation for durability. Which is why, hiring a licensed contractor is important.

Maintance-
Hardie board and vinyl require far less maintenance than other forms of siding. Vinyl siding has an advantage because it never needs to be painted, and cleaning is as easy as using a garden hose to wash off any dust and dirt. While James Hardie requires painting and re-caulking every five to ten years to prevent deterioration. Vinyl is less likely to need routine upkeep. However, the durability of James Hardie fiber cement siding means it will need fewer replacements. 

Efficiency-
When its all said and done, the quality of your siding can help save you money on your monthly energy bill, but only with good insulation. Now both are great options, and energy efficient. However James Hardie has an R-Value of 3, while typical Vinyl has an R-Value of 2. 

Cost&Conclusion-
In so many categories, fiber-cement might prove to be a better choice if not for one thing: affordability. Vinyl siding is a more affordable choice, due to the fact vinyl is much easier to cut, work with, and install. While James Hardie is not far behind, the Fiber cement siding advantages come with a higher cost. As its composition makes it more difficult to install. It can also be more time-consuming process. Which results in a more time-consuming and laborious process that in turn can be a little more costly. However, the lack of repairs needed, and the ROI should be considered in offsetting the upfront cost. But in the end, this is your home, and we are happy to help with whatever you choose! 

  Thank You,

           Project Manager

       Commun Construction LLC