CHECK OUR 5 STAR TESTIMONIALS

SIDING WASHINGTON IS A KEY PROVIDER OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL HOME EXTERIOR REPLACEMENTS, INSTALLATIONS, AND PANELING IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. AREA. WE INSTALL ALUMINUM, JAMES HARDIE, CEDAR, AND VINYL SIDING AT LOW PRICES WITH HIGH-QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WORKMANSHIP.

Logo Logo

Fiber Cement Siding | James Hardie Siding

In the same way that tissues are often called Kleenex, fiber cement siding is often referred to as “James Hardie” or “Hardie” siding. The material, composed of natural wood fibers and cement, was first brought to market by its inventor, James Hardie, in the 1970s. It was a rapid success. Contractors, home owners, and corporate builders were all lauding its durability and pleasing aesthetic. Striking a happy balance, fiber cement siding combines the easy-to-clean utility of vinyl siding with the beautiful appearance of natural wood paneling.

HISTORY AND MANUFACTURING OF FIBER CEMENT SIDING

Fiber cement siding is, as its name suggests, composed of natural wood fibers and cement. These two key ingredients are combined with sand, water, and adhesive to form the final mixture. Every brand has a different formula for their fiber cement product line, with the largest point of difference being the adhesive used. Rolled out and pressed into shape–be it panels, bricks, faux stone, or something else–the material is then baked in a high-heat oven, depleting it of moisture. When the process is complete, some twenty-four to forty-eight hours after it began, the result is a highly durable product perfect for residential and commercial exteriors. Most manufacturers provide a significant warranty on the products–the average number landing somewhere around twenty-five years.

Fiber cement is often referred to by the product’s original brand name, James Hardie. Mr. Hardie developed the product in the 1970s, introducing it to impressive market success. His company grew in size and began to dominate the market. Competitors began to pop up, having developed their own version of the material. While there are more brands on the market today, James Hardie is still the most popular. Their engineers have had a number of decades to improve upon the product. The Hardie siding offered today is lighter and easier to work with than the original, and comes in a number of models designed to withstand a number of different climates.

ADVANTAGES OF FIBER CEMENT SIDING (HARDIE SIDING)

Fiber cement is a very popular material among homeowners, contractors, and commercial builders. The product offers a unique set of traits, combining the best aspects of other siding materials.

Here are just a few of fiber cement’s many benefits:

Pleasing and Adaptable Appearance
Fiber cement is something of an all-purpose material and can be customized to meet your style needs. It is offered in a wide range of colors and can be manufactured in the likeness of stone, brick, natural wood, and other exterior products.

Highly Durable
Properly installed fiber cement siding is practically invulnerable to common exterior material issues. Taking on the characteristics of cement, Hardie planks are unaffected by moisture and highly resistant to impact, rarely denting or breaking.

Rot and Pest Resistant
Fiber cement’s biggest competitor for the top spot in the siding world is natural wood paneling. While wood is beautiful, it is also highly susceptible to termites, rot, and other forms of deterioration and decay. Hardie siding, on the other hand, never rots and cannot be consumed by pests. This feature is particularly advantageous in wet and shady regions of the country.

Stable Structure
As a concrete product, fiber cement is not susceptible to structural alteration at the behest of changing weather. It is a highly stable material and, as a result, paint applied to its surface will stay put for a significant number of years. This stability also means that when the product does need to be repainted, the boards do not need to be scraped or sanded beforehand. Since the boards have not bent or stretched, new paint can simply be applied over the previous layer.

Fire Resistant
Another advantage of fiber cement is that it is non-flammable. This feature provides home and business owners with a sense of personal safety and financial security, knowing that their investment will be protected from fire. Fiber cement siding is such an effective safety measure that some insurance companies will even offer discounts on fire insurance when it is installed.

Offered Primed and/or Pre-Painted
James Hardie siding, and its competing fiber cement manufacturers, offer their products in a variety of primed and pre-painted colors. Most all manufacturers offer the home and business owners who select this option a sizable warranty. While the length of the guarantee does vary from producer to producer, most are somewhere around 15 years. Pre-treated, primed, and painted materials do cost more upfront, but factory color is extremely long lasting and typically earns its keep over the years.

James Hardie Colors available:

Arctic White
Woodstock Brown
Navajo Beige
Cobble Stone
Traditional Red
Autumn Tan
Monterey Taupe
Heathered Moss
Boothbay Blue
Countrylane Red
Sandstone Beige
Khaki Brown
Timber Bark
Mountain Sage
Evening Blue
Iron Gray
Chestnut Brown
Aged Pewter
Sail Cloth
Gray Slate
Rich Espresso
Light Mist
Night Gray
Pearl Gray

Manufacturer’s Warranty
James Hardie, as well as most other fiber cement manufacturers, offer their clients a guarantee on their products. These warranties can last as long as thirty to fifty years, providing peace of mind to homeowners for decades to come.

FIBER CEMENT SIDING INSTALLATION

Fiber cement is a remarkably low-maintenance product and brings an instant upgrade to the appearance of any building. If you are on the lookout for an inexpensive, high-quality, low-maintenance material for your exterior, James Hardie siding is a great option.

Fiber cement siding is quite easy to take care of, but its initial installation is something of a complex process. Industry experts recommend that the material only be installed by well-trained contractors. If installed incorrectly, Hardie paneling will decay at a much quicker rate than it should, and in some cases, improperly installed siding can render home insurance policies completely void.

Siding Washington is a highly-experienced, well-reputed company that is fully licensed in Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas. Give us a call. We would love to work with you and are confident that we can help you realize the full potential of your home or commercial building through the installation of fiber cement siding.

Call for a free estimate on your home or building: +1 202-335-0304
Or E-mail: info@SidingWashington.com

Our testimonials

"What a great job!"

I am so, so glad that we picked Siding Washington to redo our home exterior. They put such effort and precision into the work, and it really shows! The owners were friendly and easy to work with, always making sure that my wife and I were up to date on the project’s progress. Our home was, I think, particularly difficult to redo. Our house is very close to our neighbor’s and it was a tight fit for the new boards. It didn’t seem to be a problem for the Siding Washington crew, though. The house looks wonderful, and they stayed on schedule and within our budget. I couldn’t be happier!

Tegan J.

"Thank you, Siding Washington!"

Our old siding had been installed well over thirty-five years ago and was looking very shabby. Out home was in desperate need of a facelift, and Siding in Washington was able to provide just that. I did a good bit of research on siding contractors in the area before setting on this company. They gave me the best quote and they were so friendly and easy to work with. Their crew was out to our house the day after I decided to hire them, which was very impressive. They had reasonable rates and skilled workers. I am very pleased with the results. Thanks to everyone at Siding Washington.

Sonya K.

"Great group of experts"

Siding Washington has the best customer service I have ever encountered in the construction industry. The owner was fantastic and extremely patient, helping me go over all of my options. I was on a tight budget, so we brainstormed all the ways we could get the job done without a lot of cash. In the end, we decided to replace two of the most damaged walls right now and get the others in a year or two, once I’ve replenished my renovation fund. It was a great experience, I loved working with all of the people I met, and I would absolutely work with them again. I highly recommend Siding in Washington!

Priya C.

"Impressive work"

Siding Washington came out and tore down our old siding, replacing it with brand new James Hardie panels. They were very patient with us as we made up our minds about the product, style, color, and texture. When we finally decided on our particular combination, the owner was quick and wonderful with the response. We had a crew out at our house within hours. They were great people, very polite, and always cleaned up the site before they left for the day.

Tyler G.