Calgary has been hit with hailstorms the recent years and homeowner are questioning their siding more than ever. There are houses in North Calgary who have literally had their vinyl siding replaced twice in 5 years. Home & auto insurance premiums keep going up and it’s exhausting. Calgarians want to stop this as its exhausting with the frequent hailstorms.
Vinyl siding is being dropped and replaced with fiber cement siding (90% James Hardie products) and stucco as a secondary, cheaper option. Consequently, many questions are being asked about in terms of cost upgrade from vinyl siding, warranty, colours etc.
We’ll answer which is which, features and cost.
First thing first, let’s see how they look, so you know which one are we talking about.
Before & after photo of a house upgrading from vinyl to James HardiePlank Lap siding:
Before & after photo of a house upgrading from vinyl to James Hardie Trim Batten Boards siding:
James Hardie Plank Lap siding: Pros, cons, cost, installation & maintenance
Pros that’ll make you install HardiePlank:
Exceptionally durable (made from portland cement, sand, water and cellulose fibers).
According to James Hardie warranty this plank won’t crack, split, edge check or warp as a result of water damage, heat or freezing temperatures in Calgary (for the nerds out there, this is tested with ASTM C1185 standard).
This JH plank also resists damage from hail, a significant metric for homes in Calgary!
If during this period the product is damaged by hail, woodpeckers, termites, or other wood-boring insects, or is defective in material or workmanship, James Hardie will, at its discretion:
- Issue a refund for the defective portion of the product
- Replace the defective portion of the product
- Reimburse the covered person for up to twice the original retail cost of the defective portion
The warranty also explicitly states the JH plank won’t be damaged by termites, wood-boring insects and woodpeckers. This is a huge advantage as woodpeckers are a protected bird and are spreading havoc with EIFS stucco.
Another reason why JH products are much better than EIFS stucco specifically.
To make things better, JH plank has a flame spread index of zero which basically means it doesn’t contribute to spread of fire.
Warranty length: 30-year non-prorated warranty from manufacturing(labour not included) defects, which is a ton of peace of mind. The only greater warranty I can think of, is that of metal siding installations (can go up to 40-years).
Important for new home home builders: For new houses that haven’t settled yet, the JH Plank warranty won’t cover damage from settlement or structural movement.
Last but not least, is the ColourPlus Technology by the manufacturer himself. This paint technology resists fading and champions consisted coverage.
Cons that aren’t enough to keep you away from JH Plank:
Installation constraints: because JH Plank isn’t cheap, homeowners often opt for less experienced installers for a cheaper rate. We strongly advise Calgarians not to do so! It’s not worth it.
While the 30-year warranty is extensive, it specifically states that “JAMES HARDIE WILL NOT REFUND OR PAY ANY COSTS IN CONNECTION WITH LABOUR OR ACCESSORY MATERIALS.”, so be wary!
Pay the extra dollar or two per sqft for the right hardie board installer, and have that piece of mind. CPR Group’s hardie board installation division comes across botched JH plank installation like the siding, fascia and soffit were installed too far apart and a lazy contractors will try to fill excess gap with lots of caulk.
Whenever caulk fails with weathering, water will ingress to sheathing. See below for manufacturer recommended cleaning.
Installation cost of JH Plank:
An average JH Plank wrap for a full house in Calgary is around CA$30,000 – $40,000. That implies materials and labour. It also included the decorative engineered trim around openings (i.e. windows, doors).
In every JH Plank installation, removal of the existing siding should be included in the total rate per sqft. There shouldn’t be an additional line item quote and cost for homeowner in Calgary. At least, that’s how CPR Group quotes JH Plank siding installations.
How to clean/maintain JH Plank:
We read the technical sheets for JH plank so you don’t have too. Here’s what they recommend for maintaining JH Plank siding:
Wash down the exterior surfaces every 6 to 12 months with a garden hose to remove dirt and debris, gently cleaning your siding with a soft brush or wet soft cloth. NOTE: Acid and high pressure washing can damage the fiber cement surface and are not recommended. – Source / JamesHardie.com
Homeowners in Calgary might be tempted to sand-blast or wash down with high-pressure their JH plank siding(might discolorate the siding ).
We don’t recommend that even though this siding is rot and water resistant which is great with our long winters in Calgary. Use gentle water pressure whenever doing so and you should be fine.
Keep in mind to trim any plants, shrubs or trees that are touching the Hardie Plank siding.
With that said, JH Plank similarly with metal siding, is practically maintenance free. Another reason to have this siding on your walls.
James Hardie Board & Batten siding: Pros, cons, cost & installation
Expect the same quality and durability against e.g. hail, with James Hardie Board & Batten identically as with the JH Lap Siding. It comes with more maintenance but we’ll talk about that later.
JH Board & Batten comes with the non-prorated 30 years strong and peace-of-mind warranty against manufacturing defects, and damage such as hail, fire, pest, and weather resistance. It does not cover labour or accessory materials cost.
The finish colour hoards 15 years of warranty coverage period, against colour peeling, cracking and chipping.
The ColorPlus Technology warranty prorates at 6.67% each year in the 2-15yrs period the moment.
Pros & Cons to JH Board & Batten
Pros:
- JH Board & Batten is equally beautiful to JH Plank siding. Your house will stand out in any community in Calgary.
- Durable siding. Made of fiber cement it’s an ideal choice against hail, fire and weather resistant.
- Lower insurance premium. JH Board & Batten is hail resistant and your property will be viewed as less risky from insurance carriers. Call them once you finish installing this type of siding and ask your home insurance to be brought down.
- Increased property value. A house with JH Board & Batten will be more expensive than a house with vinyl siding on.
Cons:
- It’s expensive. JH Board & Batten durability, peace-of-mind and appeal comes at a cost. You’re looking at $13-$15 per sqft to have your property wrapped with board & batten.
- Finding skilled Board & Batten installers in Alberta is hard. Most siding crews in Calgary are into vinyl siding(especially in new construction) and less on the Hardie products.
How to clean/maintain JH Board & Batten in Calgary:
JH Board & Batten is super easy to maintain. Clean board & batten using a non-pressurized garden hose, soft brush or cloth.
Avoid acid or high pressure washing which can damage the fiber cement boards.
Renew caulking every where board and batten meet openings every 15 years.
This is according to James Hardie own instructions, but we’ve found that particularly in Calgary, James Hardie proprietary caulking goes well over 20 years, minimizing caulking maintenance for homeowners.
James Hardie Plank vs Board and Batten
Both, JH Plank vs Board & Batten feature the same 30-year product warranty and optional 15 -year ColourPlus. Both are made from the durable fiber cement material that resists fire, weather damage and pests.
Price wise they’re identical at around $13-$16 per sqft.
Appearance wise, horizontal JH Plank makes homes appear wider. Board and Batten creates a farmhouse look making houses appear more taller.
You can always combine both products. For example, Calgarians opt for Board & Batten for the front elevation and Planks for right, rear and left elevations.
Here’s a before and after photo of how Hardie Planks are used in conjunction with Hardie’s Board & Batten on a new construction duplex:
How to make a warranty claim for James Hardie products:
To make a warranty claim, you must:
- Provide written notice to James Hardie within 90 days of discovering the defect or call 1-888-JHARDIE
- Include photos showing the claimed defect
- Provide proof that you are a covered person as defined in the warranty
- Allow James Hardie or its authorized agent to examine the product before any permanent repairs
So should you opt for Hardie Planks or Board & Batten?
After explaining the pros and cons, cost and maintenance it all comes down to style.
What matters for Calgarians is that you get a worryless siding, free from repairs. These two products are the best siding choice, especially with the hailstorms Calgary receives without compromising appeal.
The closest that compares to fiber cement is stucco but with woodpeckers pecking through stucco causing thousands in damage and the cold weather speeding up wear and tear, fiber cement is definitely no.1 siding choice for Calgarians. An investment that pays off by far.
As per the design it’s a matter of preference as both products are equally appealing. Ask your James Hardie installer in Calgary to bring samples of both so you can get a feeling of the products.
