You’ve come across tons of top-quality siding products and brands while researching for your upcoming siding replacement, and you’ve finally narrowed down your list to two siding products—wood siding and James Hardie fiber cement siding. Sound familiar?
Wood and fiber cement siding are popular siding materials, but they are pretty different, so it’s essential to understand their differences before choosing one over the other. Read the detailed comparison below to decide whether wood or Hardie siding (the leading fiber cement siding brand) suits your siding installation needs!
Weather Protection
Wood Siding
Wood siding provides excellent insulation, but as time passes, it will split, crack, or splinter, reducing its ability to protect against the elements.
Hardie Siding
Hardie siding is Engineered for Climate, which means it is designed to withstand the unique weather conditions in your climate—whether that be freezing temperatures, blizzards, and hailstorms, or heat, humidity, and wind-driven rain.
Moisture Resistance
Wood Siding
Wood siding contracts and expands when exposed to moisture, which can lead to cracking and deterioration as time passes. Moist wood is also a hotbed for mold, mildew, and algae growth, which can later lead to underlying structural damage.
Hardie Siding
Hardie siding is made from an innovative blend of sand, cement, water, and cellulose fibers and is specifically designed to resist swelling, cracking, and warping from moisture damage.
Fire Resistance
Wood Siding
Natural wood is a flammable material, so wood siding is, by nature, not fireproof and will ignite when exposed to a direct flame. It is worth noting that flame retardants can be applied to wood siding to reduce flammability. However, these retardants must be frequently reapplied to be effective and are still not as useful at fending off flames as a fireproof material, like fiber cement.
Hardie Siding
Hardie siding is made from fireproof materials and has exceptional fire resistance. It will not ignite when exposed to a direct flame or contribute fuel to a fire. Homeowners with Hardie siding can rest easy at night, knowing their home is covered with a noncombustible material!
Pest Resistance
Wood Siding
Wood siding attracts all types of critters—woodpeckers love to drum on it, squirrels love to gnaw on it, termites love to eat it, and other insects love to burrow in it. Despite all efforts, deterring pests from natural wood is more challenging than other siding materials, like fiber cement.
Hardie Siding
Pesky pests like insects, birds, and rodents aren’t attracted to fiber cement siding for eating, mating, or nesting—and even if they were, this durable, strong material couldn’t be eaten or burrowed into by any creepy crawlies or critters, anyway.
Lasting Beauty
Wood Siding
Natural wood is a gorgeous, timeless siding material that is especially beloved by historic homeowners. However, wood boards do have to be painted and stained, which leads to high-maintenance upkeep.
Hardie Siding
James Hardie siding is offered in dozens of styles and finishes, including several looks that mimic the appearance of natural wood. These boards are also offered with ColorPlus Technology—a baked-on, factory-applied finish designed to resist cracking, chipping, and fading to keep your siding vibrant and beautiful with minimal upkeep.
Attractive Look of Wood Siding with Durability and Lasting Appeal from Remodeling Concepts
The truth is, you don’t really have to decide between wood and fiber cement siding when you install Hardie siding with Remodeling Concepts. James Hardie’s products offer all the benefits of natural wood siding—like timeless appeal and excellent insulation—while also providing lasting protection from pests, fire, moisture, and the elements. What’s not to love?
If you’re interested in learning more about installing James Hardie siding, read about our siding services to discover the benefits of installing Hardie siding with Remodeling Concepts!
