Compare & Contrast

James Hardie fiber cement board siding is waterproof and can withstand extremely strong winds, rain, hail and sea air. It is also extremely fire resistant. If you install James Hardie fiber cement siding on your home, you can expect it to last the entire lifetime of your home.

James Hardie Siding VS. Vinyl Siding

Flame Resistance

James Hardie siding is noncombustible. Approved for fire-rated construction.

Vinyl siding will melt or burn when exposed to a significant source of heat or flame.

Fade Resistance

The ColorPlus Technology factory applied, baked on finish provides up to 30% better fade resistance than competitive products.*

Vinyl Siding color can’t be changed and is susceptible to fading. And vinyl siding is difficult to get a perfect match when repairs are needed.

Weather Resistance

Resists rotting, warping, cracking, hail, and high winds up to 150 mph.

Vinyl can be damaged by hail, limbs, and other flying debris.

One of the best parts about James Hardie fiber cement siding, is that it is low maintenance. Unlike wood or vinyl siding, Hardie siding will resist mold and mildew. When dealing with wood or vinyl siding, you may need to clean the exterior of your home every couple months to avoid the growth of mold and mildew.

James Hardie fiber cement board siding comes two ways either pre-primed and ready to paint or pre-colored and baked into the material with our colorPlus technology. So you can find pre-painted or pre-colored cement board siding. This saves time of having to paint the cement board siding after it is installed. If you decide to not get the pre-painted colorplus and you chose to have the boards painted a different color, the Hardie paint is likely to never peel or chip from the surface of the fiber cement board.

Cement is able to stay submerged in water yet keep its shape and strength, without bending, sagging, molding or falling apart.

  • Longevity — Hardie board siding comes with a 30-year, limited transferable warranty. This board is also rot and insect resistant.
  • Appearance— You can utilize Hardie board siding to mimic just about any other type of siding, including wood lap boards, cedar shingles and wood shake.
  • Fire Resistance— A technical services manager (Freddy Scharf) for James Hardie, states that fiber cement siding “is comprised of more than 90% sand and cement, making it inherently resistant to flames.”
  • Storm Resistance— This siding will resist crazy storms and is very wind resistant.