James Hardie siding: Cost-effective protection from pests, wind, rot

Fiber cement siding—and especially James Hardie siding—has many protective, sustainability and weatherproofing benefits for both commercial and residential applications. It is more resistant to rot, pests and wind than many other siding options. And Hardie siding is quite affordable. 

If you’re considering a fiber cement siding repair, installation or replacement, here’s what you should know:

Protective elements of Hardie siding

As far as extreme weather goes, St. Louis sees it all—from below-zero temperatures to sweltering summer heat to severe storms and high winds. James Hardie siding protects against all of these conditions. Hardie siding is even reasonably priced—it is less expensive than wood siding or synthetic stucco, and more resistant to rot and pests.

Their fiber cement siding systems are comprised of wood pulp, fly ash, Portland cement and water, which acts as a solvent—these materials, when mixed together, make a siding material so resilient that you can sometimes even get a break on your home or facility insurance.

Hardie siding is not only noncombustible as measured by ASTM E136, it also can withstand winds up to 130 mph and the high UV radiation of St. Louis summers. Hardiplank siding also won’t become brittle or break after a freeze-thaw cycle.

Sustainability benefits of fiber cement siding

Green building is becoming increasingly important for both commercial and residential applications. James Hardie siding is designed for sustainability—it is UL GREENGUARD certified and can even contribute toward LEED v4 certification, which is more geared toward the use of green materials than previous iterations. Hardiplank siding is even guaranteed to eliminate VOC’s during it’s 15-year finish warranty, which is good for the environment.

James Hardie siding installation best practices

Using industry best practices for fiber cement siding installation is key to its long-term success. That’s why choosing the right siding contractor is so important. A qualified siding contractor adds value by using the right flashing type—”Z” flashing for deck seams and 1-2” flashing for roof seams—and utilizing the right installation techniques. Hardiplank siding, for example, should only be installed using rust-proof steel nails, and should not come in contact with the ground.

Any experienced siding contractor will know these—and other—installation best practices that can significantly increase the service life of your siding system.

And not much maintenance is required—you should keep up with coatings about every 15-25 years, and wash the exterior of your facility or home every year or so. Your siding contractor will help you develop a preventative maintenance plan based on your siding material and structural needs.

The added value of a quality James Hardie siding contractor

When you’re thinking about installing or replacing your siding, be sure to schedule a consultation with Wildwood Roofing & Construction. We’re St. Louis’ experts on roofing and siding. We have the care and precision to replace siding on homes, and the bandwidth and diligence to take on large-scale commercial projects. Home- and facility-owners around St. Louis trust us to protect their assets.

Here’s why.

We’re passionate about what we do. We live for the feeling of seeing a job well done. This means using knowing the proper siding installation techniques better than anyone else. It means being up-to-date on fire safety codes, St. Louis City and County building codes and international standards. Our goal is to deliver siding solutions that meet your facility or home’s needs. And we do it seamlessly.

We operate by a higher standard. Other guys? They want to get the job done. We want to get it done right—on time and on budget. When we give you a quote for your James Hardie siding, we’ll stick to it. Same with the timeline. We want the finished product to be something we’re proud of and you’re happy with. Maybe that’s why we’re proud of every commercial and residential siding project we’ve ever completed.

So schedule a risk-free siding consultation and learn what sets us apart.

Drop us a line to tell us your project goals. We’ll tell you how we can exceed them.