5 Problems With James Hardie Siding In Central MA
Despite Small Issues, James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding Is Your Ultimate Choice
Nothing is perfect…and that includes James Hardie fiber cement siding. While we often recommend James Hardie fiber cement siding for Central MA homeowners, there are still a few problems that are present.
However, you will find that despite minor issues with James Hardie fiber cement siding, it is still one of the best options for your Central MA home.
If you were to Google “problems with James Hardie fiber cement,” you are going to find there are a few common issues that are talked about.
However, before you let these problems deter you, we want to argue why these problems exist and how they can be easily avoided for your Central MA home.
Problem #1: James Hardie Siding Holds Moisture
A common issue shared among homeowners is that James Hardie fiber cement siding holds onto moisture, which leads to the paint crumbling, sweating, mold growth, and other issues. This is a major issue when James Hardie fiber cement siding is supposed to resist rot, mold, and pests.
Fact: Poor Installation Causes Moisture Buildup
Poor installation is going to cause gaps in the siding, which leads to moisture buildup. At Solid State Construction, we are professionally trained to install James Hardie fiber cement siding to avoid this common problem for homeowners.
Problem #2: James Hardie Is Too Expensive
Many homeowners complain that James Hardie fiber cement siding is too expensive. James Hardie fiber cement siding is around 25% more expensive than vinyl or wood siding options. Compared to other fiber cement sidings on the market, James Hardie is still the more expensive brand.
Fact: James Hardie Is Well Worth The Expense
Despite James Hardie being around 25% more expensive than vinyl or wood siding and other brands of fiber cement siding, it has a significantly longer lifespan.
This means that while you may invest more at the beginning, you will not have to replace your siding as often as if you were to go with other types of siding.
Problem #3: James Hardie Siding Is Not Energy Efficient
Because James Hardie siding is crafted with fiber cement, it is believed that air and heat are lost throughout the home, meaning it’s not energy efficient. The alleged problem is that upon installation, energy bills increase for homeowners.
Fact: Energy Efficiency Is Present
While people think about cement being a conduit, thus not energy efficient, that is not the case with James Hardie fiber cement siding. Hardie siding contains materials meant to contribute to the home’s installation to ensure warm and cool temperatures are locked into the home when needed.
Problem #4: James Hardie Siding Will Need To Be Repainted Often
Many New England homeowners are wary of James Hardie fiber cement siding due to reports of having to repaint the siding planks often, sometimes every year. Understandably, having to paint your fiber siding every year can be a huge maintenance task to undertake.
Fact: Touch Ups Only
For homeowners who have James Hardie fiber cement siding, they will find that touch-ups are going to be more likely than having to repaint every square inch.
Painting all the siding will only occur every 5 to 15 years. Despite James Hardie being factory painted, the paint will fade due to weather. Therefore, touch-ups are more common to occur.
Before you think Hardie siding is not the best option, remember that vinyl siding can never be painted; paint will not adhere to vinyl. Thus, having to replace vinyl siding when it fades results in a higher overall cost.
Problem #5: James Hardie Siding Does Not Help Home Resale Value
This problem is one that almost every homeowner worries about. Because the price of James Hardie fiber cement siding is higher, is it going to help the resale value of your home? Many people claim it does not.
Fact: More Curb Appeal Helps Resale Value
James Hardie siding is beautiful, and it increases curb appeal. More curb appeal is always going to help the resale value. In addition, remember that this siding offers a 30-year warranty, which can transfer to the new homeowners and can also be a selling point.
Is James Hardie The Best Siding For Your Central MA Home?
The problems surrounding James Hardie fiber cement siding are often because of poor installation and misinformation. Rest assured, if you are considering James Hardie siding, you cannot go wrong.
As professional installers of James Hardie fiber cement siding, we know what we are doing. Thus, the problems that happen during installation will not be an issue for your Central MA home.
You can be highly confident in our installation of James Hardie fiber cement siding, as we are one of 20 James Hardie’s President’s Club Members in this country. This means that we have been handpicked as the best siding installation team for the New England area.
We are also James Hardie Elite Preferred, which shows just how many James Hardie installations we do each year. We often do around 72 fiber cement installations every year! While James Hardie siding is intricate to install, we love these intricacies because it gives a beautiful look once completed.
We recommend James Hardie siding to those who come to us needing new siding on their Central MA home. We have confidence in this siding, and we know it will be great for homeowners in our area.
Get A Free Quote For James Hardie Siding
Once you understand that the “problems” people talk about with James Hardie siding are often the results of poor installation and not having the proper knowledge, you may decide that Hardie siding would look great on your home.
Here at Solid State Construction, we offer free quotes on your siding replacement and are more than happy to talk with you about how James Hardie fiber cement siding is a great option for your home.
Contact us or call today at 508-581-3798 to get started on making your Central MA home a home that sports James Hardie fiber cement siding!