Although James Hardie (the leading fiber cement siding manufacturer) has been seen as “the superior siding product” for homeowners over the last two decades, it has now become a 3rd or 4th option for most homeowners. Due to James Hardie being a master marketing company and spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year promoting their products, they unfortunately continue to keep a market share.
James Hardie is inferior to composite, steel/metal, and even some vinyl siding options for many reasons:
It needs to be caulked and maintained every few years to prevent gaps in the trim/siding junctions.
It holds water and can rot
It is more likely to chip and crack due to its cement/fibrous composition
It is recommended be painted every 7-10 years to keep a vibrant appearance
The color touch up kits fade at a different rate than the colored panels. Spots will appear as the years go on due to this.
James Hardie fiber cement siding contains silica dust, a known carcinogen. Strict guidelines must be followed in order to meet OHSA safety requirements. (James Hardie used to make their product with asbestos, now silica dust.)
James Hardie has one of the shortest warranty periods, it’s prorated, and has a lot of fine print in their warranty language to be aware of.