James Hardie siding, made of fiber cement, has many excellent qualities over vinyl siding. It is the best choice for long-term durability, beautiful curb appeal, and home safety. Below are details on how James Hardie siding compares to vinyl siding. We know you will be impressed!*
Up to 5x thicker than vinyl, James Hardie siding, such as Hardie Plank Lap Siding, provides authentic shadow lines and wood grain texture, which vinyl siding lacks.
Hardie siding resists damage from wind, rain, freezing temperatures and hail. Vinyl is more susceptible to damage from hail and may crack or buckle when exposed to extreme temperatures.**
James Hardie siding is noncombustible and resists damage from extreme heat. Vinyl can warp and even melt when exposed to flame, grills, and solar heat reflecting off Low-E windows.***
Hardie's ColorPlus technology ensures long-term consistency in color, compared to vinyl, whose color can change due to weather exposure.**
James Hardie vs. Wood Siding
James Hardie siding is finished with ColorPlus Technology, uniquely formulated to resist moisture damage, have exceptional paint adhesion, and extended maintenance cycles. Wood shrinks and swells when exposed to moisture, causing paint to crack and peal.
Unlike wood, which is susceptible to damage from everything from woodpeckers to termites, James Hardie cement fiber siding holds absolutely no appeal to pests, making it 100% pest-proof.
Simply put, James Hardie siding will not burn. It is endorsed by fire departments nationwide. Wood will burn when exposed to a significant source of heat or flame. Both samples on the left were exposed to a blowtorch for 90 seconds.
Engineered for extreme climates, James Hardie siding will withstand the cold temperatures of the North and the humidity and blistering sun of the South. Wood siding will swell and warp over time when exposed to weather changes.
*Visual representations based on James Hardie research and testing. **Within a controlled lab environment, samples were exposed to QUV testing for 2000 hours under ASTM G154-12a, an equivalent of 2 years of natural exposure. ***James Hardie siding sample was exposed to a blowtorch for 90 seconds. Vinyl siding was exposed to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 seconds.
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