James Hardie fiber cement is the long-life premium siding system for Gulf Coast homes. Fire resistant, dimensionally stable in Houston heat, rated for 150 mph winds, and warranted for 30 years on the substrate. We are James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor (top tier certification) which lets us register the strongest warranty and gives us direct factory access for color matching and custom orders. This page covers the four common Hardie products, ColorPlus vs primed-for-paint, and what a proper Hardie install actually includes.
- Cost?
- $9 to $15 per sq ft of wall area installed in Houston.
- Lifespan?
- 30 year substrate warranty, 40 to 50 year real-world service life.
- ColorPlus warranty?
- 15 years on the factory finish, no field painting needed.
- Wind rating?
- 150 mph when installed per Hardie Best Practices.
The four Hardie products we install
HardiePlank lap siding. The default Hardie product. Horizontal lap boards in 5.25 inch, 7.25 inch, and 8.25 inch widths. Smooth, Cedarmill, and Beaded profiles. The classic American residential look.
HardieShingle. Individual or panelized cedar-shake-look shingles. Used for accent gables, dormers, and Cape Cod or coastal aesthetic homes.
HardiePanel vertical. 4 ft x 8 ft or 4 ft x 10 ft sheet siding for board-and-batten and modern vertical applications. Pair with HardieTrim for the batten lines.
HardieTrim and Artisan. Trim boards in 1 inch, 1.5 inch, and custom widths for window and door surrounds, frieze boards, and corner boards. Hardie Artisan is the premium thicker profile for high-end architectural work.
ColorPlus vs primed-for-paint
ColorPlus Technology. Factory-baked multi-coat finish in 30 stock colors. 15 year non-prorated finish warranty. Lower lifetime maintenance cost (no repainting cycle). The right answer for low-maintenance long-term ownership and for any of the 30 stock colors.
Primed-for-paint. Hardie ships primed; we field-paint with Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Duration. Higher quality finish than typical builder-grade ColorPlus when done correctly. Full custom color matching to any swatch. Higher upfront cost when done properly. Repaint cycle 8 to 12 years on quality paint vs 15 plus years on ColorPlus.
What a proper Hardie installation includes
Hardie performs to its warranty when installed per James Hardie Best Practices. Cheap installs cut corners on flashing, kick-outs, and gaps and void the warranty within 5 years. Our standard install includes: house wrap (Tyvek or Hardie Wrap) over the entire wall, flashing tape on every opening, sill flashing under every window, kick-out flashings at every roof-to-wall intersection, blind-nailing through the upper edge of each lap (no face nails), 1/8 inch gap at all butt joints with backer flashing, 1/4 inch clearance from horizontal surfaces (decks, roofs, concrete), and a Hardie-trained crew running the install.
Hardie vs vinyl vs LP SmartSide
Vinyl. Cheapest material, fastest install. Expands and contracts with Houston temperature swings. Wind-driven rain infiltration is common. 15 to 25 year service life. Right for budget-driven projects and rentals.
LP SmartSide (engineered wood). Lower cost than Hardie, easier to install. 30 year warranty. Cuts and nails like wood. Performs well when installed correctly but is more sensitive to ground contact and standing water than Hardie.
Hardie fiber cement. Highest upfront cost in the residential category. Best long-term durability, fire resistance, and warranty backing. The default for premium and long-hold properties.
James Hardie Elite Preferred
Top-tier Hardie contractor certification. Strongest warranty registration.
House wrap and flashing standard
Tyvek or Hardie Wrap on every wall. Not optional.
Kick-out flashings on every roof-to-wall
The single most common Hardie failure point. We do them right.
Blind-nail installation
Hidden nails on every lap. No face-nail dimples to telegraph through paint.
ColorPlus or premium paint
Either factory finish or Sherwin-Williams Emerald field paint.
30 year substrate warranty
Plus 15 year ColorPlus finish warranty when applicable.
