Pittsburgh Hardie Board Siding

Fiber cement siding is sold under a few different names, but the first, and most widely desired, brand goes by the name of Hardie. For those who live in Pittsburgh, Hardie board siding is an excellent choice when it's time to redo the exterior of a home. It is extremely durable and cost-effective, just the way it was designed to be by Australian James Hardie about a century ago.

Hardie Board Siding in Pittsburgh Weather Conditions
Pittsburgh is literally full of moisture. In the winter, there is snow, sleet, and freezing rain; in the summer, there are thunder showers and the occasional hail stone. The spring and fall each get their fair share of precipitation, as well, and if that's not enough, there's always the rivers, streams, and fog to keep moisture in the picture. For Pittsburgh, Hardie board siding (also known as Hardie plank) is a near perfect fit because, unlike some other cladding materials, it doesn't retain liquid and is virtually unaffected by moisture.

To further make a case for Hardie plank siding, Pittsburgh's annual temperature variations also leave little impression on the material. While some siding expands and contracts as the seasons change (causing them to split, crack, peel, or, in the case of vinyl, become brittle enough in freezing temperatures to break under pressure), there is no weather condition, at any time of year in Pittsburgh, Hardie siding is not prepared to handle.

Other Benefits of Pittsburgh Hardie Siding
If you're looking for a drawback to Hardie plank siding, Pittsburgh residents will have to go pretty far out of their way to find it. It is unappealing to bugs; insects won't eat it or make a home in it. It is very fire resistant, so it's a safe choice, too. It doesn't rot, degrade, split, dent, crack or bow. Plus, for those who are concerned about the high winter energy costs in Pittsburgh, Hardie plank siding is also a good insulator.

Pittsburgh Hardie Board Siding Installation
If there was a drawback to be found for putting Hardie board on your Pittsburgh home, it comes in the installation. Fiber cement siding, though not incredibly difficult to install, really requires a professional hand and a specialized skill set (along with a few special tools). Iron City folks like to get things done on their own, but in this case, the do-it-yourselfers out there are just going to have to take a back seat and let the pros take charge.

Fiber cement requires special attention when it is cut and shaped, as well as when it is installed. It can also take a bit longer to put up than vinyl or aluminum siding (Hardie board averages a little over two weeks to install, while the others can be done in about 2/3 the time).

Pittsburgh Hardie Siding Prices
To cover your home with Hardie board siding, Pittsburgh residents should expect to pay a price similar to that of wood siding, which starts at around $6,000 and goes up from there. This makes fiber cement more expensive than aluminum or vinyl, but less costly than brick or stone. Hardie siding will add value to your home that is comparable to other common siding materials, but is less than that of brick. If you own a brick house, siding in general is a less desirable investment than restoring the brick to good condition.