Hardie Board vs. Vinyl Siding: Cost, Durability, Pros and Cons
When choosing a siding for your home, there is a balancing act between aesthetics and price. Hardie Board siding and vinyl siding are two popular siding types, each with its own pros and cons.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve laid out a guide with an overview of each material and how they compare. We cover their durability and maintenance, cost differences and how you can decide which is the right siding for your home.
Hardie Board 101
Hardie Boards are fiber cement siding, meaning they are composed of cement, sand, water and cellulose (wood) fibers. Hardie Boards are manufactured by the Jamies Hardie company, making them a specific brand rather than a material. They are designed to mimic the look of wood without all the exact maintenance wood siding would require.
Hardie Boards are thick, with an average thickness between 5/16-inches and ¼-inches. This thickness allows for deep embossing. While embossing looks wood-like, it is very uniform on fiber-cement siding. The uniformity makes it less likely to be mistaken for real wood.
Vinyl Siding 101
Vinyl siding is a plastic exterior siding made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. It is designed often to imitate the look of wood siding without the maintenance of actual wood. PVC is widely popular because it’s lightweight, making it easy to install. It’s also low maintenance compared to other materials.
Vinyl comes in a wide variety of styles, finishes, textures and colors. There are vinyl siding boards that look like cedar wood grain, oak wood grain and more. They can look soft or brushed and mimic cedar-style shakes or shingles.
Vinyl allows for just as much customization and coloring as Hardie Board does, with the ability to pick different thicknesses, color options and paint customizations.
Vinyl siding isn’t as thick as Hardie Boards, with boards ranging between 0.040 and 0.048 inches thick. However, if homeowners want additional thickness, vinyl siding can be backed with foam sheathing or insulation. Once it’s installed, you can’t see with the naked eye just how thick it is. Due to the thinner planks, it's less embossed, so it won’t have as much deep texture.
Cost of Hardie Siding vs. Vinyl
There is a vast difference when looking at the cost of Hardie vs. vinyl siding. Vinyl siding will nearly always be less expensive than Hardie Boards. In terms of the product cost itself and the labor costs associated with installation, vinyl siding will be the more affordable option.
While prices may differ somewhat, here are the average prices for Hardie Plank and vinyl siding:
A single board of Hardie Plank from the Primed Cedarmill Lap Siding series — that is 12 feet long, 8 ¼-inches wide and 5/16-inches thick — is going to cost between $10 and $12. A large Hardie Architectural Panel from the HZ5 series that is 4 feet by 8 feet costs about $43 per panel.
A single panel from your average vinyl siding supplier will cost around $9 for a board that is 150 inches long and 8 inches wide (6 inches longer than the Hardie Plank board above).
Installation and labor costs add to the investment when comparing the cost of James Hardie siding vs vinyl. All costs will vary based on the size of a home, the design, local labor rates, the cost of removing old siding and whether or not it’s a full or partial siding replacement.
Hardie Board siding installation costs between $4.70 and $8.50 per square foot with the national average for Hardie Board installation being $19,350.
On the other hand, vinyl siding installation costs between $2 and $5 per square foot, with an average of around $3.70. Because vinyl siding is faster to install due to its weight, labor costs during installation will be less.
Pros and Cons of Hardie Board
The pros of Hardie Board are durability and longevity, fire resistance, aesthetic appeal and environmental considerations:
Durability and Longevity: Hardie Boards are highly durable, with no appeal to insects, pests or birds. They will crack with a big enough impact but will not rot, warp or melt.
Fire Resistance: Hardie Boards are fire-resistant, meaning flames are likely to spread slower and lead to less property damage.
Aesthetic Appeal: Hardie Boards come in a wide range of styles, colors and textures. They have deep embossing on their thick boards, mimicking the look of wood.
Environmental Considerations: Since Hardie Boards are made of cellulose, sand, water and cement, they are sustainable.
The cons of Hardie Boards are the costs, material weight and maintenance requirements:
Cost: Hardie Boards have a much higher product and installation cost. On average, there is about a $1-$3 per board difference between Hardie Plank and vinyl siding, and labor costs can be doubled.
Heavier Material (More Labor): The main cost difference in labor between Hardie Boards and vinyl is because of the heaviness of fiber cement. It takes longer to install, which adds hours of labor. James Hardie fiber cement weighs about 300 pounds per 100 square feet while vinyl siding weighs 60-70 pounds on average.
Maintenance Requirements: Fiber cement siding requires painting (and repainting over the years) if you decide to go with a primed-to-paint option. It also requires re-caulking to keep out moisture.
Pros and Cons of Vinyl Siding
The pros of vinyl siding are its lower costs, easy installation, low maintenance and wide range of color and style options. The cons of vinyl siding are its susceptibility to cracking and warping, its lower fire resistance and its environmental impact.
Pro: Lower Costs
Vinyl siding has lower initial and installation costs. It’s quicker to install, leading to lower labor costs — and it’s about $2-$3 per plank cheaper than fiber cement.
Pro: Lightweight (Easy Installation)
Because vinyl siding is about half the weight of fiber cement siding, it is much easier to install. With a faster installation time, homeowners can cut back on labor costs.
Pro: Low Maintenance
Vinyl siding is one of the most low-maintenance siding options. All you need is soapy water and a garden hose to keep it looking nice.
Pro: Color and Style Options
Vinyl siding has a plethora of color, style and texture options. No matter what color or aesthetic you choose, there is vinyl siding out there to match.
Con: Potential Cracking and Warping
Because vinyl siding is thinner than Hardie Boards and made of plastic, it is more susceptible to cracking or warping. However, homeowners can lessen the likelihood of cracking or warping with proper installation and maintenance.
Con: Less Fire Resistance Than Fiber Cement
While vinyl siding is more fire resistant than wood, it is not as resistant to fire as fiber cement siding.
Con: Environmental Impact
While vinyl siding has recyclable capabilities, its production is known to release harmful VOCs and greenhouse gasses.
Making the Right Choice: Vinyl Siding vs. Hardie Board
When choosing between vinyl siding and Hardie Board siding, vinyl usually comes out on top due to its budget-friendliness, lower maintenance requirements and range of style, texture and color options.
While Hardie Board is preferable in some cases — like in areas prone to extra-hot or freezing temperatures — it is expensive and requires more extensive routine maintenance.
Check Out Alsco® for Vinyl Siding
For your siding needs, check out Alsco’s vinyl siding. With its contemporary, low-luster finish that blends naturally with any home’s architectural style, our Meridian Vinyl Siding provides a solid foundation for a home’s exterior, giving a clean and vibrant look for ultimate curb appeal.
It offers durability and has the ability to increase a home’s resale value. Maintenance is minimal and repainting is 100% unnecessary. With its unique coloring process that fully penetrates the panel, homeowners don’t have to worry about scratches or fading.
Contact Alsco today to learn more.