Wood Siding vs. James Hardie Siding

 Both wood siding and fiber cement siding are popular materials to use on the exterior of your home. Although both are popular, they are both quite different.

When it comes to weather protection fiber cement siding such as James Hardie siding wins. Wood siding is great for insulation but as it gets older it will split, crack and splinter. This makes the material a bit more vulnerable to the elements. Hardie siding is built to withstand the outdoor elements including freezing temperatures, blizzards, hail storms, heat, humidity, rain and wind.

Hardie siding is moisture resistant due to the material that it is constructed out of. Hardie siding is a blend of sand, cement, water and cellulose fibers and will not swell, crack or warp from moisture. Wood siding will contract and expand when exposed to moisture. This is what causes it to crack and split which leads to deterioration. Mold, mildew and algae growth is also harbored in the damp wood.

To make a fire outdoors, you usually need wood, so with that being said, wood siding is not fire resistant. There are flame retardants that can be used on wood siding but have to be reapplied in order to be effective. Hardie siding is made from fireproof materials and is fire-resistant to a point. If exposed to a direct flame, it will not ignite or combust.

Wood will also attract a wide variety of pests. Natural wood is loved by termites, woodpeckers, squirrels and many other little critters. Hardie siding however is not a desirable material for any pests. It cannot be eaten or burrowed in.

Natural wood is beautiful and a timeless material to use for the outside of a home, but it does come with a lot of upkeep. It has to be painted or stained and well-maintained. Hardie siding comes with the look of natural wood with ColorPlus Technology. This means the fiber cement has the color baked on and factory-applied so it is resistant to cracking, chipping and fading.

Hardie siding is a perfect choice because it looks like natural wood with all of the benefits of the fiber cement. With Hardie siding you will have a timeless look for all types of designed homes.

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Are Building Material Prices Still Up?

The overall building material prices are down from summer prices except for the prices of ready-mix concrete.  In fact, the price of ready-mix concrete is rapidly rising.  The largest decline seen was in softwood lumber and steel mill prices.  Gypsum prices are still high over 20% from the same time last year.

Prices of building materials saw a 0.3% decrease in September according to the Producer Price Index (PPI). There was also a decline in the PPI for goods input to residential construction (including energy) for the third consecutive month in September.

Gypsum, which is used in drywall, is also an ingredient used in ready-mix concrete.  High demand for cement combined with lower imports of aggregate due to a large quarry shutdown in Mexico have spread thin the supply of domestically produced ready-mix concrete as well as gypsum.   Even though single-family house building is has slowed a little, concrete prices are still rising because it is used for many other applications outside of residential construction. Ready-mix saw a PPI increase of 1.4% this fall which marks the sixth consecutive increase.  This is the largest year-to-date increase in the index’s 34-year history.

Softwood lumber’s  PPI declined 2.9% this fall but the prices are still 14.5% higher than a year ago.  Steel Mill products saw a decrease of 6.7% this fall and have dropped 16.1% over the past four months.  In fact, the index is the lowest it has been since June 2021 which is still double the price that the steel mill was before COVID-19.

Home prices have decreased since last June 2021 2.3% which was reported to be the largest three-month drop since April 2020.  The small decline has happened during high prices on materials though.  In the South, there is a 2.6% increase, a 0.7% decrease in the Northeast, a 0.3% increase in the West and prices stayed the same in the Midwest.

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Cost-Effective Durable Alternatives to Hardwood Floors

 Most everyone loves natural hardwood floors because they can bring beauty and charm to almost any space. The downside is their durability. Pets, kids and everyday wear and tear can wreak havoc on real wood floors. To get them back looking new is a feat within itself. There are several great alternatives that give the same look.

Scratch- and Water-Resilient Substitutes

This option is great for everyday wear and tear, spills, kids and pets. Laminate options not only look good but withstand water damage and scratches because they have extra protection. These floors look and feel like hardwoods but last much longer.

“Laminate’s core is made from wood byproducts,” says Randy Lovelace, executive vice president of sales and merchandising at Southwind Building Products. “It’s environmentally friendly but has extreme wear resistance.”

Long-Lasting Vinyl

Like laminate, vinyl is water-resistant and resists scratches, dents, and fading. Vinyl alternatives are much cheaper than hardwood floors and easier to clean and install. Experts say they can last up to fifty years or more! In fact, vinyl is a top choice for commercial buildings. Vinyl can look like hardwoods and can be installed by gluing down and click-together the pieces.

Waterproof Protection

Over time, hardwood floors can be severely damaged by even small sprinkles of water. Damage can consist of warping, buckling, and staining. Usually when this happens hardwood floors have to be completely replaced. Alternative flooring has several layers of protection which include a UV surface layer so they will not fade, a urethane layer to protect from stains and scratches, a dent-resistant film layer, several waterproof core layers, and an underlayer cushion.

Classic Color Options

Vinyl and Laminate flooring can come in many colors which resemble natural hardwoods.  One of the most remarkable things about today’s wood floor alternatives made of vinyl is their uncanny resemblance to the real thing. The latest products are designed to closely mimic the grains, colors and textures found in natural hardwood flooring.

If you are in the market for new flooring, check these products out. They are easy to install, easy on the pocket and great to look at. A great tip to follow is to find a style and color that compliment your existing home.

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