The James Hardie Appeal

People are driven by their perception of beauty!  Whether it’s artwork, a car, or your home, the perception of beauty plays a part in how we feel about something.  But we also know we need to make financially responsible decisions when it come to big expenditures like our homes.  However, sometimes we have to look a little deeper than the surface before we know the true cost of a home improvement project.  We’ll walk you through three ways James Hardie siding saves you money in the long run.

You and I are probably the same- we can’t help ourselves. Consciously and subconsciously we are consistently opting for the more attractive item.

Just think about it

You’re in a friend’s house and you want a drink of water. You go to the kitchen and start sorting through your cup options. You notice one cup looks a little dinged up around the lid, while the one next to it looks pristine. Which one do you choose? Come on, you know you choose the pristine cup.

James Hardie Siding Saves You Money

Everyone likes new shiny objects versus old, grungy ones.

So, how much of a difference does new siding, specifically Hardie fiber-cement siding, make in increasing home values?

It can be tricky business placing exact metrics on the power of beauty. Nonetheless, the metrics that are available to demonstrate just how powerful beauty is, and what upgrading your curb appeal can do for your home’s value.

Nationwide Analytics on the ROI of various home improvement jobs makes a strong case for why it behooves homeowners to replace the old siding with new and improved Hardie fiber-cement. There are multiple powerful reasons to choose Hardie for the financial benefits. Here are 3 quick reasons.

#1 James Hardie Siding Has Excellent ROI

Siding is ranked among some of the top performers in ROI, when compared to other home improvement projects. Houselogic.com ranks siding in the top 5. The average vinyl siding replacement job costs $13,350, while seeing a $10,000 return, or 75%. The exciting news for you, is that while fiber-cement may cost you somewhere around $18,000 on average, your return could be closer to $15,000, or 83%!

While these numbers are not precise, nearly every website and study I’ve run across have very similar findings.

Does that mean you can expect 83% on your investment in Hardie? Well, maybe… remember, it’s an average, meaning that some homeowners fare worse. But…… some homeowners fare better! Maybe you’re one of the fortunate ones who will recoup more than 83%… the potential is exciting!

Hardie recoups for more largely because of people’s perception that it is a more attractive option.

#2 Siding Replacement Facilitates Energy Efficiency

Do you have cold-air drafts? Is insulation missing in your stud cavities? Do you have mold due to water leakage?

Or, consider the following…

It is common – in fact, prevalent- to find termite damage, critters setting up shop in people’s soffits, floor bonds, stud cavities, and even behind the siding itself. It was not more than a month ago that I was working on a job in South Lyon, Michigan that I probably removed the residue from squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, and who knows what else, in a dozen different locations on the house.

They had chewed through the old, low-quality fiberboard, left entire stud cavities with virtually no insulation, or tiny chewed-up portions. A lot of gross, unpleasant damage had occurred, and the homeowner was paying for it in their energy bills, and the potential future repairs that would occur due to mold and water damage.

Replacing your siding comes with the added benefit of easy access to replacing your sheathing with fresh OSB sheets, with dry and clean insulation, etc. You may find yourself with lower energy bills, and, who knows, maybe you’re able to preemptively fix future water damage and potential mold!!

#3 James Hardie Siding Significantly Reduces Upkeep Costs

Vinyl is obviously a big competitor to Hardie but so is wood. Consumers love to achieve a more authentic look by going with wood-based siding. The downside to wood siding: all the upkeep! It must be stained or painted often, which obviously hits you in the pocketbook. Once Hardie is properly installed, it will likely be many years before any sort of maintenance is necessary, saving you money on a residual basis.

You may want to read about the best siding options for SE Michigan for more information on pros and cons of fiber cement siding.

Contact Allied Construction and Restoration

This doesn’t exhaust all the ways that Hardie siding saves you money, but it’s a good start. If you live in or around Milford, Northville, or another part of Southeast Michigan give us a call at 248-238-8132. We’d love to partner with you in bringing increased beauty and value to your house.