You may have heard some of the negative rumors going around about so-called James Hardie siding problems. But before you bang the gavel on the case, make sure you have all of the information. The fact is, Hardie siding is a premium product for a reason, but some people seem to have an ax to grind.
What Are Some Claimed Issues?
It’s said that there are three sides to every story: yours, theirs, and the truth. Detractors have lists and claims, but all of them can be debunked with the rest of the story and a little straight shootin’ about the pros and cons of Hardie siding.
Some of the claims are as follows:
- High maintenance
- Inefficient
- Overly expensive
- Installation problems
People even claim that James Hardie siding doesn’t look as nice as other options, but that’s up to you, not them. The truth is, every siding type has its pros and cons.
Why Isn’t Hardie Siding as Bad as Detractors Claim It to Be?
Here’s where we get to the rest of the story.
The fact of the matter is that Hardie siding is an engineered product that, since it uses a lot of natural materials, is more environmentally friendly than some other options.
It also comes from the factory pre-painted, so it’s ready to go. The siding is extremely durable — since it’s basically made from concrete — and because it’s textured to look like wood, it has buckets of charm once it’s installed.
This siding looks great on everything from mid-century modern to craftsman architectural styles and all styles in between. You can get it in just about any color you like. Additionally, if you don’t like any of Hardie’s factory colors, you can simply have it painted.
Painted Siding
While we’re talking about paint, let’s address the elephant in the room. The detractors say that one of Hardie’s drawbacks or weaknesses is the fact that it’s a painted material, and they allege that you’ll have to have it repainted frequently.
The fact is, you’ll either have to or want to paint your house from time to time anyway, regardless of what material is used. All siding weathers and suffers wear from exposure, which means it’s going to need to either be replaced or painted in order to maintain its visual and structural integrity.
But, at least with James Hardie products, the baked-on color comes with a 15-year warranty.
Professional, Experienced Contractors Prevent Most James Hardie Problems
If your siding pro is a James Hardie Preferred Contractor, you won’t have any problems with James Hardie siding. Most of the time, so-called “Hardie problems” are the simple result of contractors either cutting corners or not following instructions:
- Hardie must be stored indoors and under cover until the installation
- Plank joints must be backed with Hardie-provided, metal, color-matched flashing
- Plank-to-trim joints must be gapped ⅛” and caulked with an approved caulking
- Flat trim should be attached with engineered tabs, not face nailed
- Hardie siding should always be 8” from soft surfaces (lawn, soil, etc.)
- There is a Hardie-approved touchup method and toolset that is often not used
- Cut dust must be removed immediately after cutting
- Hardie siding requires a definite nail type, location, depth, and pattern
If your siding contractor doesn’t know how to install your James Hardie siding correctly, it simply means they’re the wrong contractor for the job.
The so-called “James Hardie problems” can be avoided by sticking exclusively with James Hardie Preferred Contractors. They know the product and its limitations and are familiar with how it was designed to be installed.
You wouldn’t drive your car if a tire technician had installed your tires incorrectly, would you? No — they’re not designed to be used that way.
If a product gets used in a way it wasn’t designed for, that’s the installer’s fault, not the manufacturer’s. Either way, it becomes your problem, so it’s a great idea to do your homework and hire a James Hardie Preferred Contractor.
Every Siding Option Has Pros and Cons
Here’s the deal: it’s not that other siding options are bad. But it also sure isn’t true that James Hardie “problems” are as cut-and-dried as some might say. Let’s have a look at the inefficiency allegation, for instance. Typical R values (insulation values) of popular siding materials are as follows:
- Wood Shingle: 0.87
- “Colonial” Profile MDF: 0.81
- Non-Insulated Aluminum, Steel, or Vinyl: 0.61
- Masonry: 0.44
- Hardie: 0.35
All of these siding materials have R values of less than 1. To put that into perspective, the standard 2 x 4 stud wall’s R-value is about 13, all things considered (there are many layers of materials in the average wall).
If your walls are constructed with 2 x 6 framing, the R-value jumps to about 20. The point is — siding makes little difference when it comes to the insulation efficiency of your home.
What makes the biggest difference is how well a siding system is able to keep moisture out of the wall cavities of your home, and if Hardie is correctly installed and well-maintained, its performance is second to none.
Maintenance Issues?
It is true that Hardie siding needs a little more attention than vinyl. Vinyl shouldn’t be caulked, but Hardie should, and caulking needs to be inspected or touched up about every five years.
Hardie doesn’t expand and contract nearly as much as vinyl does. That expansion is why the nail holes on vinyl siding are slotted. These slots allow for up to ⅜” of expansion and contraction (which is why vinyl joints are overlapped — so they can slide over and under each other).
But if you think there are maintenance problems with James Hardie siding, it’s nothing compared to the painting and caulking you’ll need to do on wood siding.
What Should You Do?
In the end, it all comes down to the look you want for your home. One of the best things about Hardie siding is its look. It doesn’t have overlapping seams, and it doesn’t need to be covered with a batten every sixteen feet like MDF. It looks just right.
If James Hardie siding is right for you, call Stucco Today.
