What is the James Hardie® Alternative to Wood Siding?

A good alternative to wood siding must be low-maintenance and long-lasting; it must be rigid while maintaining some flexibility to withstand environmental challenges; finally, it should be affordable. If you are scratching your head now, wondering where to find a product like that, you have come to the right place.

Hardie® siding is an innovative alternative to wood. It is a fiber cement material made of cellulose, sand, water, and cement. Fiber cement siding is a stable material, meaning it does not move as the weather changes, so it can easily protect your house from extreme weather like hail.

What Makes James Hardie® Siding Superior to Wood?

While wood siding is the most common choice in America, Hardie® Plank siding has been holding its own for over 100 years. Its low maintenance design, strength, and ability to hold paint longer exemplifies why 5.5 million homeowners chose James Hardie® fiber cement over wood.

Paint resilience aside, James Hardie® Siding does not fall victim to damage from weather such as rotting, warping, and cracking; they can even resist winds up to 150 mph. Additionally, because it is a wood alternative to siding, it resists decay caused by pests. Unfortunately, wood-based siding cannot say the same. Its paint begins to shrink and crack after a few years, and pests can cozy up inside your home’s structure. Ultimately, you lose more money.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages of Hardie® Plank siding are vast– let’s look at the top 3!

Life Expectancy

Hardie® Siding is durable. Made from sand and cement, they can withstand extreme weather conditions and storms. Other kinds of siding have several issues that keep the material from reaching its potential. Hardie® siding also has performance additives that make them resistant to fire and mold, so they can withstand any climate. Hardie® Plank Siding is a long-term solution to weather damage and wear-n-tear, lasting 40 to 50 years when maintained properly– 20 years longer than homes with wood siding.

Easy Maintenance

You must complete several maintenance tasks with wood siding but not Hardie® Plank Siding. The best thing you can do to care for your fiber cement siding is to soft wash it once a year. Maintaining it this way will prevent dirt and grime from building up as well as protect the paint.

Repairs and replacements are also low because the fibrous materials do not distort like other materials. Hardie® also uses design techniques that effectively keep woodpeckers, termites, and other pests away. Instead of invading your home, invasive species turn away and look for a more habitable environment.

Best-in-Class Installation

Our Hardie® experts in Central Virginia specialize in installing James Hardie® Plank Siding. As a homeowner, we understand nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of your home, which is why we follow the James Hardie® installation method vigorously and to the letter for our entire line of products. When you choose James Hardie®, you choose meticulous work, quality installation, and 100% satisfaction.

Wood Siding Alternatives

When it comes to Hardie® Plank Siding as an alternative for wood plank siding, there is something for everyone– no matter what you need. We offer everything from beaded to vertical siding in as many as 700 colors. 

Next, we will examine what kind of siding is available in the Hardie® Plank product line.

Hardie® Plank Beaded Siding

This is the ultimate choice for Richmond and Central Virginia homeowners– highly sought-after Hardie® Plank Beaded Siding. With its unbeatable combination of strength, beauty, and long-lasting durability, this siding is the perfect replacement to maintain your home’s classic colonial beaded look. And here’s the best part – all our products come with a 30-year non-prorated transferable limited warranty, giving you peace of mind.

Hardie® Plank Lap Siding

Experience the unbeatable durability and stunning beauty of Hardie® Plank Lap Siding. It was designed to brave even the most unpredictable weather. As the favored choice in Richmond, VA, for weather protection, our panels combine unmatched defenses for your home without sacrificing your aesthetic dreams. Say farewell to the issues cedar siding faces– welcome superior strength in wood siding alternatives!

Hardie® Panel Vertical Siding

Get the vertical plank look you dream of with Hardie® Panel Vertical Siding, or create a stunning board-and-batten aesthetic by combining it with the ever-versatile Hardie® Trim. Not only is our panel flexible, but it’s also incredibly durable, making it the perfect choice for your home.

Hardie® Panel Vertical Siding comes pre-primed with PrimePlus® sealer and primer, ensuring even coverage, resistance to fungus and mildew, and a smooth surface for easy painting. Furthermore, we want to ensure you have complete peace of mind, so we offer a 30-year warranty.

Hardie® Shingle Siding

Hardie® Shingle siding offers a wide range of decorative styles and finishes for you to choose from. It can act as your home’s primary siding option or complement other James Hardie® siding products. By combining shingles with siding panels featuring different decorative styles, installation in larger areas becomes faster, more convenient, and tailored to your personal taste. Individual shingles are available in different widths, colors, and styles for smaller spaces, giving you more control over the finished product and providing an authentic handcrafted appearance.

Hardie® Fiber Cement Soffit Panels

Instantly enhance your home with James Hardie’s pre-cut soffit panels. These panels come vented or non-vented and boast a range of colors and sizes. However, our exclusive PrimePlus® sealing and priming methods are what really set them apart. This unique process creates a perfect surface for paint and protects against fungus and mildew, even in damp climates. Plus, you can count on our 30-year warranty for added peace of mind. Experience the elegance and reliability of Hardie® Soffit panels, now offered with ColorPlus® technology.

Protection that is Stronger & Lasts Longer

Better Service from Blue Ridge Exteriors

Severe weather is an undeniable reality of life; unfortunately, it takes a toll on your home. If you are still using wooden siding, you are, at the least, leaving your home open to wear-n-tear; at its worst, your siding is at risk of bowing, cracking, warping, or breaking off. This damage leaves the structure of your home open to water damage and other effects that will be costly in the long run. Still, you don’t have to worry. If you have noticed peeling paint or chipped panels, it may be time to upgrade your siding to a wood alternative– it may be time to call Blue Ridge Exteriors.

At Blue Ridge Exteriors, we help you rejuvenate your home’s appearance and enhance its curb appeal. Our unmatched siding services in Richmond, Glenn Allen, and Midlothian, Virginia, speak for themselves. Our team is focused on delivering the highest quality results in the quickest amount of time. We mainly do that by exclusively offering the number one siding choice in America, James Hardie® siding. 

Hardie® Plank Siding is not only attractive and durable, but it’s built to withstand the test of time. With various prefinished colors and siding styles, finding the perfect look for your home is easier than ever. 

Upgrading your siding can be a big job with lots of choices. That is why our team of experts collaborates with you through the entire process, from selecting the siding’s shape, size, and color to ensuring the systematic installation that leaves your home looking its absolute best for many years. Rest assured that our team of Richmond, Virginia, siding experts are fully committed to delivering exceptional results by meticulously attending to every detail. We take pride in our work and guarantee a job well done, providing you with the utmost satisfaction.

Siding Alternatives for More Confidence at Home

James Hardie® Home Siding offers numerous advantages. It is durable, water-resistant, low-maintenance, cost-effective, and highly customizable. Several styles of siding are available, including Plank Beaded Siding, Plank Lap Siding, Panel Vertical Siding, Shingle Siding, and Soffit Fiber Cement Panels– so you can be sure we have something for everyone. 

With an experienced team of contractors at Blue Ridge Exteriors ready to help answer any questions you have about Hardie® Home Siding, there’s no need to wait any longer to switch from wood! Trust us, just like countless other homeowners in Central Virginia, we want to reinvigorate your home aesthetic and protection.

Contact us today and let the experts lend a helping hand so you can begin enjoying all the benefits of Hardie® Home Siding as soon as possible.