Is vinyl siding a good investment for your home in St. Louis? We’re going to examine the value of adding new vinyl as a replacement siding option for existing homes. It’s not the worst home improvement you can make, but Hawthorn Home Exteriors would like to show why you can get a better value with the superior James Hardie Siding.
What is Vinyl Siding & Why Do Folks Buy It?
Vinyl is a popular bargain value siding material that’s easy to install with decent durability and protection. On a molecular level, it’s the same plastic substance that plumbers often use for pipes: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). It’s a synthetic material and works okay, but, as you might expect, plastic doesn’t last forever.
There are several well-known drawbacks to using vinyl for siding:
- They suffer dents more easily than other materials.
- The paint fades after a while.
- Vinyl doesn’t withstand moisture that well.
- They can crack, warp, or even melt.
- Frankly, there are better-looking materials on the market.
With that in mind, is there a better siding investment than using traditional materials like vinyl or wood?
Are There Better Alternatives to Vinyl Siding?
Yes, we believe that most homeowners would enjoy a much better return on their investment if they select James Hardie Siding, a sturdier and more appealing material. That material is something industry professionals call “fiber cement siding,” which is a synthetic substance composed of Portland cement, water, sand, and cellulose fibers.
It became popular in the 1980s as a premium alternative to vinyl, which struggles more against the elements. If you’re after some heavy-duty siding that can handle high heat, snow, ice, hail, wind, and projectile objects, then we recommend James Hardie Siding over vinyl or wood.
A Few Reasons Why James Hardie Siding is a Better Investment
Here, we’ll condense a short list of the many reasons to opt for James Hardie Siding over vinyl and wood alternatives.
- It doesn’t succumb to biological problems like mold, algae, or wood root, even after years of exposure to humid climates.
- Have you ever had woodpeckers tear up your vinyl or wood siding? Well, neither birds nor any breed of termite, can consume fiber cement siding.
- James Hardie Siding looks absolutely amazing. Yes, it’s a somewhat expensive investment, but the quality difference is exponentially better than even the newer vinyl varieties. You’ll get your money’s worth, even if you want to sell your home further down the road.
- The durability and longevity are so much better than vinyl, which is only one-fifth as thick as fiber-cement siding.
- You won’t have to worry about UV-ray damage during the harsh summers in St. Louis.
- There’s a solid 30-year manufacturer warranty on this product. Plus, the potential life expectancy is more like half a century.
If you’d like to dig even deeper into this topic, check out all the benefits of James Hardie Siding for St. Louis homeowners.
Hawthorn Home Exteriors: St. Louis’ Best Contractor for James Hardie Siding
Now that you know our pick for the best siding brand, we’d like to offer our services if you wish to replace your home’s siding. Fiber-cement siding is your best investment, but be careful about who you choose to install it. Hawthorn Home Exteriors has all our technicians undergo training with James Hardie’s Side Master Installer Academy because the sizing and configuration are substantially different.
We decided long ago that we wanted to corner the market for premium siding in Greater St. Louis. This is exactly what we’ve done, and we can’t wait to put our skills to the test with outstanding installation service for your home.
You can contact us anytime to ask questions about vinyl siding, James Hardie Siding, or any of our other installation services.
