Questions on siding products

[Tom7227]

I put Alcoa steel siding on my home 19 years ago and there has been pretty significant failure of the paint as it is peeling off in potato chip like pieces. I found out that there is a place that is dealing with warranty claims and I have filed one. The offer they came back with seems like a low ball to me.

The original install involved 21 square of siding. I went to Menards and got prices for steel, vinyl, cement board and a PPG manufactured composite wood material. The desk guy told me to add about 10% for accessory items such as corners, window trim and such. Prices ranged from around $1,700 for vinyl to $3,400 for the fiber cement board.

Does anyone have a working knowledge of what installation costs would be for these various materials? Rough numbers are fine and I certainly am not asking someone to commit to do the project for the number given.

The cement board seems to make the most sense to me simply because it seems like something that should last for a long time. I am aware of the issues concerning installation and the need to take extra steps and have experienced people do the work. One obvious drawback is that I don't think the material has been around for a long time so I don't know if the idea that it will last 25-30 years is valid. I also don't know if there is any significant difference in manufacturers. James Hardie is the one most touted but that could be simply because they spend the most on promotion.

I appreciate any insight I can get on this. I thought I had a lifetime exterior last time. I don't want to have to go through this again 2- years from now.

Tom

[King Canada]

Consider painting the steel.

[no bait nate]

I have personally installed all of the above. In my professional opinion vinyl is cheap in cost and quality. Steel is the next step up and much more durable compared to vinyl, but maintenance and replacement of any damaged siding is tougher.

In the last 4 years I have installed mostly James Hardie. It is very good quality siding and the advancements they make year to year in other products keep them at the top. They make great quality soffit and facia materials and various different corner and trim boards as well. It will cost more for the install because the labor is a bit more intensive and the right tools are needed to do the job correctly and efficiently by a contractor. The product holds up great if installed correctly, with the right clearances in areas of moisture. It presents a very clean and sharp look once it's all painted and finished, but will require some maintenance and painting over the years to come. Best bet for your money.

Another option is LP Smartside. I have only installed one job with this material but I thought it seemed like a great product. It is a compressed wood siding that comes primed with all edges primed. It does need to be primed on any cut edges and requires the correct clearences also in areas of moisture also. It seemed like a good product from my experience but time will tell how it holds up in MN. Give the nice clean look when painted and finished also like the Hardie, but with a slight decrease in price.

Price will differ between contractors for installation and price of materials. Pretty tough to say without getting a few bids and making the decisions on what is best for your home. Good luck, and as stated before, you can always repaint the steel if you don't want to pull the trigger on new.

[cavalierowner]

I have always been a big fan of fiber cement siding, specifically James Hardie. If I recall they were the first ones out with fiber cement siding (but I could be wrong) so that may be the reason they are the best known. I put Hardie on my house about 6 years ago and it still looks like the day it was installed. Hardie was also the only manufacturer I would specify when I was working as an architect.

Just as an aside, several years ago I was talking to Sherwin Williams tech support about their best paint system for fiber cement siding. They said they recommended a primer for all fiber cement siding even when it was factory primed EXCEPT Hardie! SW said Hardie was the only manufacturer that had a primer they thought was good enough to not have to prime again. I thought that said a lot about Hardie and why I became a fan of Hardie.

[MN_Jay]

The offer they came back with seems like a low ball to me.

Whenever dealing with warranties with anything almost 20 years old, whether it be siding, roof, whatever - they will depreciate the material out so bad that your actual dollars will be a small percentage of what the actual re-siding will cost. I'd be surprised if you even get 25%. It's not right but that's the way they operate.

[titelines]

Don't have a ton of experience, but can say that we had our 1.5 car garage stripped last summer and put it back together with James Hardie siding. We did a lot of research and the product really impressed us. My wife specs it out all the time for her clients as well.

We had Twin City Siding Professionals do our job, and were very impressed with them. Total cost was about 9k for everything (materials, labor, tear off, haul away etc.). They almost always have a 50% off materials deal or something going on. We did their 12 month-same-as-cash, so were able to pay it off without incurring any interest. We have a 1.5 story cape cod, they eyeballed it and said it would be around 16k to do the whole house in James Hardie. We're planning on doing that in the next couple years.

[K_Josh87]

JAMES HARDI, enough said.

[Spike76]

Anything you want on outside of house, put in a bucket of water for a couple of months and see how it holds up. For D.I.Y. ers I wouldn't use cement board.

[chad austin]

Does anyone have a working knowledge of what installation costs would be for these various materials? Rough numbers are fine and I certainly am not asking someone to commit to do the project for the number given.

[goose89]

Every time I look at their HSOforum the installation instructions also change, first it was flash behind all seams and do not caulk, then it was flash & caulk, and it has changed quite a few times.

Ploy to get around warranty issues since improper installation voids the warranty. I like the looks and potential durabitily of the product myself, but have issues with the company and the flip-flopping on install instructions.

[chad austin]

They are also on the hook in Australia for knowingly selling their product with asbestos after Australia banned the use of it in building products in the late 70's early 80's.

[rundrave]

I currently have vinyl siding and currently am in the process of building a new detached garage. I am not doing my new garage in vinyl so I am choosing to replaced the existing vinyl on our home.

I am at the point where I have narrowed my decision down to LP Smartside or Hardie cement board siding.

The LP is slightly cheaper (about $1500) and that is what my installer is pushing for no specific reason.

I have had 5 different estimates and I never got consistent info between anyone of them. The guy I chose to go with was the only one that I got referrals for and I trust the sources.

What is my best option as far as quality and how long it will last between these 2 products? Are they both going to last me 30, 50 years or will one last longer than the other?

Any thoughts or recommendations to go with a pre-painted or paint after installing? Some guys push the pre painted as they say its more consistent and an even finish but it costs an additional $2500. Others suggested painting after so I can get caulk to match and its cheaper.

Will pre painted paint applied at the factory last longer than paint applied manually after installing?

[Tom7227]

You may have better luck starting a new thread with your questions. This one has been pretty dead for quite a while.