james-hardieYour home’s siding doesn’t necessarily survive for the life of the structure. More often, it can use a good update every 20 years or so.

In other words, you’d be smart to update your siding and protect your home’s efficiency and the interior on a timely basis. And you’d probably want to choose the best siding there is.

The best siding on the market today is made by James Hardie. At Home Design Exteriors, we’ve been performing home improvement and remodeling services for a long time, and we’ve never seen an option we like better than James Hardie.

We say it’s the highest-quality brand you can find, and the nation pretty much agrees. James Hardie was ranked the number-one brand in the U.S., and millions have had it installed on their homes.

If the top ranking in the country isn’t enough to convince you that James Hardie will deliver the best results for your home every time, here are ten reasons that might.

  1. Weather Resistance

Weather in Colorado is unpredictable at best. Winters usually come with heavy snowfalls and hailstorms, and the spring and fall feature plenty of wind and rain.

You want to know your house can stand up to any kind of beating the weather can give it. The fiber-cement exterior of James Hardie siding is five times thicker than vinyl siding, which means it will handle hail, winds up to 150 miles per hour, and heavy snow without getting damaged.

It’s also highly resistant to water, which is vital. Water is one of the most destructive elements for a home structure; it can cause mold, rot, standing moisture, and warping. The thick, tight seals of James Hardie ensure you’ll have no water leaks that will result in damage.

  1. Insect- and Pest-Proof

Wood and vinyl siding provides a nice finish, but that combination tends to bring major pest problems. Some insects eat wood, and others can chew right through it, which lets pests inside where they can reside and cause damage to the structure of your home.

Once a hole is made, even if it’s tiny, hundreds of insects and a variety of pests will come marching into their “new home.” The thickness of the fiber cement material and the tight seals of James Hardie siding make it almost impossible for insects, rodents, and even woodpeckers to penetrate. This means you’ll have no more unwanted guests inside your house.

  1. More Durable

As mentioned earlier, the fiber-cement material used in James Hardie siding is five times thicker than typical vinyl. It’s non-combustible, weather safe, melt- and rot-resistant, and backed by a 30-year warranty … all of which promises it will be the most durable siding choice available.

  1. Homegrown in the U.S.A.homegrown

James Hardie is a supporter of the American economy because it builds its product right here in the United States. There are 10 regional facilities scattered across the nation where the company uses only the highest quality of products and workmanship.

When you purchase James Hardie siding for your installation, you can rest assured that you’re helping your local economy and supporting the employment of your fellow Americans.

  1. A Beautiful, Varied Look

When they hear that everyone in the nation loves James Hardie siding, some homeowners worry that their home’s exterior will look exactly the same as everyone else’s.

It’s hard to display your creativity and individual style when you copy a nationwide trend. But that needn’t be a concern with James Hardie siding. There are three unique styles to choose from to suit your home:

  • Lap Siding: This is the most popular choice. It’s a horizontal option that’s made to look like wood and comes in any color.
  • Shingles: Get the same look as cedar shingles without the downsides of wood. This is made of a configuration of fiber cement shingles for a more rustic, traditional look.
  • Vertical Siding: As the name suggests, the wood-patterned, fiber-cement siding panels are installed vertically instead of horizontally to generate a board-and-batten look. This is also a popular complementary choice for homes that sport partial stone siding.

In addition, if you aren’t happy with the color of your siding after it’s been installed, it’s just as easy to paint as wood. It’s even better than painting wood, because wood siding needs to be repainted every three to seven years, but the HardiePlank paint with ColorPlus Technology used on James Hardie siding has a multi-coat, fade-resistant, baked-on finish that boasts a warranty of 15 years.

  1. Low Maintenance

Once you’ve achieved the wood-resembling appearance you desire, there will be very little to care for afterwards. The paint will last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, and the weather-resistant, durable quality means you’ll rarely need to deal with damage.

Also, since the warranty lasts 30 years, you probably won’t have to deal with any maintenance yourself. If there’s ever a problem, you can simply call a James Hardie certified contractor and that firm do the repairs free of charge, as long as they fall under the parameters of the warranty.

  1. Protection from Rot, Moisture, and Mold

Both vinyl and wood siding are infamous for suffering rot, moisture, and mold problems. Wood is extremely vulnerable to issues with water, because it allows rot, moisture, and mold to infiltrate it.

Vinyl is mostly a decorative addition to your wood siding, so it’s loosely attached to the home. This makes it easy for water to get inside and wreak havoc.

Because James Hardie siding is so durable and securely attached to the frame of your home, it doesn’t allow water leaks that will damage the safety and stability of the structure.

  1. Helps the Environment

Sustainability is a huge plus in homes today. James Hardies seeks to help the environment, not harm it.

The company’s fiber-cement siding is made from wood pulp, cement, sand, and water. The ingredients are low in toxicity, and can be recycled up to four times.

The siding also helps you manage the energy efficiency of your home. Because of its thick, durable seal, it doesn’t allow air to leak into the house, which will reduce the energy consumption of your HVAC system.

As a result of all these factors, James Hardie siding has been approved for use in LEED-rated buildings.

  1. High Return on Investment

All these elements make James Hardie one of the best returns on investment you can make when you build or remodel a home. This adds curb appeal, raises property values, increases sustainability, requires very little maintenance, and won’t cost you a fortune to install.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2013 Cost vs. Value Report, the use of fiber-cement siding offers a 23 percent better return than adding a bathroom, and your siding project will cost less by tens of thousands of dollars to complete.

  1. Installed by Certified Contractorscertified

James Hardie knows the company has a great product. But a great product in the hands of a bad contractor is not a great product, but bad one.

That’s why James Hardie doesn’t authorize anyone to carry and install its siding unless they have been certified to do so. The contractors must take a course that ensures the quality of installation so recipients are satisfied every time.

The contractors at Home Design Exteriors have been certified to carry and install James Hardie siding. Not only are we James Hardie-approved, but we’re also the most experienced in the Colorado Springs area.

The number-one brand of home siding in America has trusted us with its amazing product, and you should too. For a free quote on a James Hardie siding installation, contact us today!