Kansas City Homeowner’s Guide to James Hardie Siding

What are the advantages of James Hardie Siding?

James Hardie fiber cement siding is made of Portland cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers These ingredients work together to create exceptional durability: the water dissolves the wood fibers and activates the cement, the wood pulp boosts pliability, and finally, the Portland cement creates exceptional strength. The benefits of James Hardie siding include: 

• Low maintenance – The only maintenance that James Hardie requires is a twice-a-year wash with a garden hose and a medium bristle nylon brush
• Durable – Fiber cement siding is built to withstand UV rays, strong winds, hailstorms, and is moisture resistant. 
• Wide range of colors – James Hardie fiber cement has an array of hues from which to choose 

Due to its strength, James Hardie’s fiber cement siding is also both pest resistant and noncombustible. With James Hardie’s HardieZone System, you’ll get siding with specific performance attributes that are customized for the climate in which you live. 

This science-based approach includes eight climatic variables that affect the long-term performance of siding. That means your James Hardie siding will be especially able to withstand extreme weather changes, which makes it ideal for Kansas City’s frequent storms, hot summers, icy winters, and strong winds.  And if you’re still not convinced? James Hardie’s warranty should provide you with peace of mind. When Safe Harbors Exteriors’ specially trained contractors install your James Hardie siding, you receive a 30-year non-prorated, transferable warranty. 

ColorPlus and James Hardie Siding Color Options

One of the best things about James Hardie fiber cement siding is the many colors and style options it affords to homeowners, including James Hardie’s exclusive ColorPlus Technology, a fade-resistant finish which is baked on in the factory, its primed collection, its Dream Collection, and it’s Statement Collection. 

Here are some of the advantages of the different James Hardie products: 

• ColorPlus Technology – Fade and chip-resistant with a finish that lasts up to 15 years 
• Primed Siding – Arrives primed and painted for a faster installation 
• Dream Collection – More than 700 ColorPlus custom finishes that complement the array of Hardie board styles 
• Statement Collection – Kansas City’s most popular ColorPlus Technology colors, locally stocked and readily available.  

With so many siding colors to choose from, are you wondering how you’ll be able to settle on a shade? James Hardie’s new Color Tool allows you to visualize what your home will look like with any dream siding and trim combination that your imagination can conjure up! And all before a single paint drop touches your home’s façade.

How Much Does James Hardie Siding Cost?

If you’ve read this far, you understand what makes James Hardie siding so desirable and well-regarded among homeowners, builders, and designers. Expense is a consideration for any home improvement, so your next question is likely, “How much will it cost me to have James Hardie siding installed on my Kansas City home?” 

James Hardie siding is not the cheapest choice. Its proprietary blend of ingredients and specialized creation process is what creates an exceptionally strong product that won’t require frequent repairs. Adding James Hardie siding to your home translates to a remarkable return on investment; 91% of builders agree that fiber cement siding increases a home’s appraisal value. With its 30-year non-pro-rated warranty, you’ll have peace of mind that James Hardie is a trustworthy manufacturer. 

Here are some factors that can affect the cost: 

• Location – prices vary per region and you are likely to pay more in a higher income area
• Project size – although you can expect a lower price per square foot for a larger home, you will also pay more overall 
• Contractor selection – installing James Hardie siding requires special expertise so choose a company with the knowledge and tools to provide the craftsmanship you want 
• Optional features – trims, textures, and colors, or fade-resistant ColorPlus Technology siding can all make a difference in your price per square foot 
• Special circumstances – the current condition of your home’s exterior can impact the price of installation

Looking for a rough estimate? Generally, you can expect to pay approximately $12 to $15 per square foot to have new James Hardie siding installed on your home’s exterior. For a 2,000 square foot home, the total cost would be $24,000 to $30,000^*.

^*Cost is a rough estimate only. Contact Safe Harbor for a quote on your specific project.

What to look for in a Certified James Hardie Contractor

When you choose Safe Harbor Exteriors for your Kansas City home, you’ll enjoy exceptional customer service, skilled craftsmanship, and a Certified James Hardie Contractor. We earned that label by undertaking exhaustive training to ensure your warranty is protected! We were also required to receive a homeowner “Likely to Recommend” score of at least 90% with GuildQuality, a third-party customer satisfaction surveying service. 

Here are some other things to consider when deciding on a siding company: 

• Referrals – Ask your neighbors, friends, and co-workers for referrals
• Experience and knowledge – Look for a contractor that has experience with the type of project you need completed and find out how many years they’ve been working with it
• Project team – Who will be doing the actual labor? Are they employees or subcontractors?
• Project approach – Does the company have a proven process? 
• Attentiveness – Does the sales team listen to your needs and desires? 
• Research your builders – Inquire about contractors with a local Consumer Affairs Office or Better Business Bureau
• Check licenses and insurance coverage – Be certain the contractor you are considering is licensed and insured