Putting new siding on a home can be an expensive proposition, but it's a good idea to choose the best siding you can afford to limit the chances of having to do the whole thing again in the future. One option that's becoming popular is Hardie siding. Hardie siding is known for being able to better mimic the appearance of painted wood siding than vinyl, although it sometimes looks a little too "perfect" to be an exact match.

Pro - Long Life

One of the best things about Hardie siding is that this cement board siding can last for many, many years if it's installed correctly. Depending on the type of siding chosen, the warranty can be for up to 50 years. It's resistant to bugs and insects, doesn't rot, isn't easily damaged by hail or other weather conditions and is resistant to fire. Not many other types of siding can boast this, except perhaps metal siding. Vinyl is easily damaged by weather and not fire-resistant, and wood siding can rot or be damaged by insects.

Cons - High Cost

The main reason some people don't opt for Hardie siding is that it's one of the more expensive options available. If you're replacing the siding on a 2,000 square foot home, it will cost about $9,000 for the material and labor if you opt for vinyl siding, about $10,500 for wood clapboard siding and about $11,500 for Hardie plank siding. This doesn't include the cost of painting or staining the wood siding or painting the Hardie plank siding if you opt for a different color than the standard options.

The higher cost is due to the more intensive installation process. The panels are very heavy and difficult to cut, so it takes more people to install the siding than it does with wood or vinyl siding. Any damage to the surface or the structure of the home also needs to be repaired before installing the siding.

Pro - Low Maintenance

There isn't a lot of maintenance involved with Hardie siding. It is basically cared for like vinyl, just needing a wash with a hose every once in a while. However, the finish is only guaranteed for about 15 years, after which it will need to be painted. This is still less often than you need to paint wood siding. For example, cedar siding needs to be stained or painted every 3 to 5 years and also needs to have shingles repaired or replaced every once in a while, adding to its cost.

Contact your local siding contractor to find out more about this type of siding and whether it would be the right fit for your home. Visit http://www.bluespringssidingandwindows.com to learn more.

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