Fiber Cement Siding

HardiePlank lap siding is the workhorse — horizontal lap profile, available in smooth and CedarMill (textured) finish, widths from 5.25" to 12". The default fiber cement profile for most NJ homes. Looks like painted cedar from the street, performs better than cedar in every measure.

HardieShingle is the shake-style profile for gables, dormers, and accent walls. Available as Straight Edge Panel (uniform shingle appearance) or Staggered Edge Panel (more random natural-looking layout). Common spec on Colonial-style homes where the main walls are HardiePlank lap and the gables are HardieShingle shake.

HardiePanel vertical siding is for board-and-batten and panel installations. Used on modern farmhouse, contemporary, and modern transitional designs. Often combined with HardiePlank lap on the lower portion of elevations.

HardieTrim and HardieSoffit complete the system — manufacturer-matched trim board and soffit panel that coordinate with the panel color. Trim color can match panel or contrast (e.g., white trim on a Iron Gray plank install).

The combination of profiles allows custom designs that mimic high-end painted wood architecture at fiber cement durability and warranty. Common spec on luxury and historic-district homes.

James Hardie ColorPlus Technology is factory-applied paint with a 15-year finish warranty. The paint is applied to the panel before it leaves the factory, in a controlled environment with multiple coats, and is engineered specifically for fiber cement substrate.

Field-painted Hardie is an option but the paint warranty is then on the painter, not on James Hardie. The 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty is one of the main reasons to specify Hardie in the first place — it eliminates the repaint cycle that wood siding requires every 7-10 years.

ColorPlus is available in roughly 20 standard colors plus a custom-color program. Standard colors include Arctic White, Cobble Stone, Khaki Brown, Iron Gray, Boothbay Blue, and similar muted painted-wood palette colors.

Color selection matters less than with vinyl because fiber cement doesn't warp under solar heat absorption. Dark colors hold up nearly as well as light colors on Hardie — a flexibility vinyl doesn't have.

Touch-up paint is included with every install — matched to the ColorPlus color so any field cuts, fastener heads, or installation marks can be touched up to color-match the panel.

Manufacturer-certified installation. The 50-year material warranty and 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty are only valid with James Hardie Elite or Preferred Contractor installation. Non-certified installs void warranty coverage.

Proper sheathing. Hardie is heavier than vinyl (about 2 lb/sq ft vs 0.5 lb/sq ft for vinyl). Wall sheathing must be sound and properly nailed. We inspect sheathing during tear-off and quote any sheathing repair before continuing.

Housewrap behind Hardie. Tyvek HomeWrap or equivalent installed over sheathing before Hardie panel install. Provides secondary moisture barrier and air seal.

Fastener placement and spacing. Hardie requires hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel siding nails, placed 1" minimum from panel edges and ends, with 1.25" minimum overlap on lap installations. Spacing varies by panel width and wind zone. Production-crew installs often violate fastener placement, voiding the warranty.

Carbide-tipped tools. Standard circular saw blades and miter saw blades destroy themselves on Hardie's silica content. Carbide-tipped blades or score-and-snap cutters are required.

Sealants and joints. Vertical joints get back-flashed with Z-flashing or sealed with manufacturer-approved sealant. Butt joints between planks get sealant. Horizontal laps don't require sealant — proper overlap is the seal.