Building or remodeling a home involves countless choices and decisions when it comes to design, budget, and the different materials or products required to make it all a reality. One product line we stand behind is the siding and trim products with ColorPlus® Technology finishes from James Hardie, the world’s leading producer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. 

In this four-part video series, we speak with Brian Horstmann, Director, Sales PNW and Southwest for James Hardie, diving deep into how the brand’s siding products with ColorPlus® Technology finishes are uniquely designed to withstand the test of time, the benefits of using them in your building project, along with installation best practices and cost comparisons. 

Labor and material costs play a big role in most projects, with a common question being whether or not a higher quality—and more expensive—material is worth the extra cost. Here at Dunn Lumber, we always believe in investing in quality products and materials. They will make your job run more smoothly, help create a better end solution, and decrease potential future issues, repairs, or replacements—saving you time, money, and hassle in the future. In today’s episode, Brian breaks down how Hardie® siding materials with ColorPlus® Technology finishes compare cost-wise with other options to answer one simple question: Is Hardie® siding materials with ColorPlus® Technology finishes worth the cost?

Watch our discussion in the video above, or keep reading to get the highlights.

How Hardie® siding materials with ColorPlus® Technology finishes costs compare to standard siding

As a premium product, Hardie® siding with ColorPlus® Technology finishes is more expensive to purchase than standard, un-primed or unpainted siding products. However, you can’t compare products simply on their initial dollar amount alone. When it comes to James Hardie’s siding boards, the primed and painted boards offer more value—and cover more labor steps in one simple product—than standard siding. 

When calculating the long-term cost and value of siding materials, Brian recommends considering the following:

  • Pre-finished vs. pre-primed boards—Pre-finished boards (a board that has been both primed and painted) will naturally cost more than unfinished boards, because you’re getting more features in one convenient product. 
  • The cost of painting—If choosing unfinished or primed siding, you’ll then need to pay for the siding to be painted, which includes both the cost of actual paint and the labor fees to complete the work.
  • Increasing material and labor costs—As we’ve all seen the past few years, both materials and labor fees have risen dramatically. By choosing an all-in-one product to start with, you’re mitigating the need to pay even higher future material or labor fees.
  • The material’s maintenance cycle—The average paint coating lifespan is 7-10 years for standard siding, meaning you’d likely need to repaint it.
  • Included warranties or maintenance service—Premium products may include better warranties, maintenance, or other support services than cheaper products, increasing their value. James Hardie, for instance, offers a 15-year limited warranty on products with its ColorPlus® Technology finish that covers paint and labor, protecting against peeling, cracking, and chipping.

So, let’s look at how all these considerations can come together to figure out a cost comparison between standard siding and Hardie® siding with ColorPlus® Technology finishes. 

According to Brian, average house painting costs across the U.S. currently hover around $8,000-9,000 for a 2,500-square-foot house. As mentioned above, the average paint coating lifespan is 7-10 years. That means, if you live in your home for 15 years, you’ll likely need to repaint your home twice.

In comparison, when choosing Hardie® siding with ColorPlus® Technology finishes, you start out with a quality product that resists chipping and cracking and is specifically engineered to resist fading, therefore requiring less maintenance over a longer time period. Plus, the siding and trim products come with the brand’s 15-year limited warranty, ensuring that you wouldn’t need to start considering maintenance or repainting for at least 15 years—the same amount of time in which you’d likely have to not only originally paint, but repaint standard siding at least once.  

Another perk? While it doesn’t need it often, it’s easy to prep and paint Hardie® siding with ColorPlus® Technology finishes. Once cleaned, you can paint right over Hardie siding without even needing to prime. Not only does this make repainting easier, but also helps reduce costs (No primer! Fewer labor hours!).

This episode focuses on one way Hardie siding provides long term value for homeowners. To learn more, don’t miss the previous episodes in this series, including What is Hardie® Siding with ColorPlus® Technology finishes? and What Are the Benefits of Choosing Hardie® Siding with ColorPlus® Technology Finishes?