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James Hardie FAQs

Old-School Craftsmanship, With A Modern Touch!

Utah Homeowners’ Most Frequently Asked
Questions About James Hardie Siding

Don’t See Your Question? Contact
The Experts At RGS Exteriors

What Is Fiber Cement Siding?

Fiber cement siding consists of cement, wood pulp and other fibrous materials, and binding agents (mostly water). Once mixed, and when most of the moisture is removed, the material is pressed and cut into panels.

Then the new panels are heated in kilns to create a strong, fire-resistant, and long-lasting siding for residential and commercial uses.

Can A DIY Homeowner Install James Hardie Siding?

James Hardie siding comes with a huge 130-page installation guide, so the process is fairly complicated and exacting. There are also several specialized tools required for properly installing their siding system.

Our installers go through intensive training followed by close on-the-job oversight before they are ready to tackle the job on their own.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, for a DIY homeowner to avoid making a mistake while installing James Hardie siding and accidentally voiding the product warranty.

Does James Hardie Siding Offer Style Options?

James Hardie siding comes in several styles, such as:

  • Textured Panels
  • Vertical Slats
  • Lap Siding
  • Shingles

Within those options are further choices such as smooth or textured, and straight or staggered edges.

Beyond the shape of the panels, you also have many color options and, if you are willing to wait a bit, you can special order from hundreds of color choices.

You can also mix panel types and colors for an extra bit of POP for your home.

Do James Hardie Panels Fade Over Time?

James Hardie bakes in their colors at the factory to give them the ability to shrug off the effects of UV radiation. They back this process with a 15-year color warranty. Their paint process has more quality control tolerances than an automobile paint finish!

Panels installed today will look virtually the same 20 years down the road.

How Does James Hardie Siding Match Up With Other Materials?

James Hardie siding has the same lifespan as brick, so no other low-maintenance alternative offers the same performance as their fiber cement siding.

While a good material at the high-end product lines, vinyl is far from fire-resistant and invariably fades over time.

Wood shake will last as long as James Hardie, but it requires extensive annual maintenance to keep it from rotting.

Other manufactured panel products are not as durable as James Hardie and come with long lists of exceptions and prohibitions that make their warranties difficult to honor.

Does James Hardie Siding Require Much Maintenance?

Homeowners with James Hardie siding on their homes need to spend only one or two days a year spraying their siding down with a garden hose.

That’s it.

No searching for the right brush to use.

No harsh chemicals.

Just a little water and maybe two hours of effort each year will keep your siding in tip-top shape.

Is James Hardie Siding A Good Value?

While requiring a larger investment than other siding options, James Hardie siding still offers you the most bang for your buck.

Between the exceptionally low maintenance costs, the elimination of the need to periodically repaint, and the exceptional 30-Year Warranty, James Hardie provides the greatest value over the long run.

What Happens During The Initial Consultation?

When our consultant comes to your home, they come ready to listen. Their job is to find out exactly what you are trying to solve and your goals for the project.

Then, they will inspect your siding to ensure there aren’t unknown issues causing your concerns and take measurements.

Once they have determined everything you need to meet your stated goals, they will present you with their solution and a quote.

Our quotes are not designed to begin a game of discount roulette, but rather to offer you the best value for the work you need.

If you need time to think it over, that’s fine, as the quote is good for the next 30 days.

Our goal is to enable you to educate you about your issue so you can make an informed decision, not pressure you into signing with gimmicks and “one-day-only” sales pitches.

Our average visit is around one hour or less, though some situations require extensive inspections, which may extend the visit.

Are Your Consultations Free?

Our home consultations are free of charge, and we will schedule them around your needs.

We consider these initial visits to be fact-finding missions for both parties, so charging you for the pleasure just doesn’t make sense to us.

How Do I Know If I Live In Your Service Area?

We serve homeowners throughout the Wasatch Front area.

If you still aren’t certain that we serve your area, you can check our Service Area Page to make certain, or you can always contact our offices to speak to one of our representatives.