What’s the Difference Between Cement Board and Hardie Board?

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What’s the Difference Between Cement Board and Hardie Board?

Cement board and Hardie Board are related but not the same product. Hardie Board is James Hardie’s branded fiber cement — a proprietary blend engineered for durability.

Key Differences to Know

• Composition — Hardie Board Goes Further: Standard cement board is a mix of cement and reinforcing fibers. James Hardie fiber cement adds cellulose fibers plus cellulose pulp — a patented recipe that improves flexibility and weather resistance.

• Purpose Matters: Generic cement board is primarily designed as a tile backer in wet areas like showers and kitchens. Hardie Board is an exterior siding product built to take on the elements.

• Weather Engineering: James Hardie products are engineered for specific climate zones — ideal as the best siding for New England’s freeze-thaw cycles and coastal humidity.

• ColorPlus Technology: Hardie Board comes factory-finished with color baked in through multiple layers, offering 15-year fade resistance. Generic cement board has no factory finish.

• Warranty: James Hardie backs Hardie Board with a 30-year nonprorated limited warranty on materials. Generic cement board warranties vary and are typically more limited.

• Installation Expertise: james hardie siding contractors Brookline MA must be Elite Preferred Certified to install Hardie Board and honor the full manufacturer warranty. Generic cement board has no such requirement.

• Track Record: James Hardie has been manufacturing fiber cement since 1888. That legacy produces a product with over 130 years of refinement behind it.

Our Recommendations

Top Recommendation: Hardie Board for all exterior siding needs — it’s purpose-built, climate-engineered, and backed by a comprehensive warranty standard cement board cannot match.

Best for Interior Wet Areas: Generic cement board works well as a tile substrate in bathrooms and kitchens, but it’s not a siding solution.

Best for New England Exteriors: Hardie Board every time — the climate engineering and ColorPlus finish protect Brookline homes through every season.

Ready to upgrade your Brookline home’s exterior with a product built for the long haul? Coastal Windows & Exteriors has completed 7,000+ installations across MA, NH, and ME.

Coastal Windows & Exteriors | 236 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915 | 978-818-1503

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Sources: Coastal Windows & Exteriors internal data — 7,000+ installations completed across MA, NH, and ME Cost vs Value Report by Remodeling — 121% ROI for fiber cement siding in New England

Last Updated: March 2026

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Proudly serving Massachusetts from the North Shore and Cape Ann to the South Shore, including Greater Boston, MetroWest, Greater Lowell, the Blackstone Valley, Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley, New Bedford and Fall River area, and rural Western Massachusetts regions. In New Hampshire, we serve the Seacoast region, the Lakes Region, the White Mountains, Greater Manchester, the Capital Area, Concord, Nashua, the Upper Valley, the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, and the Monadnock region throughout the Granite State. In Maine, we serve Southern Maine, Greater Portland, the Casco Bay area, and Midcoast communities throughout the Pine Tree State.

Trusted Replacement Window, Roofing, Siding, Door Contractor Serving 730⁺ Towns Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine

Award-Winning · Factory-Trained · Licensed, Bonded & Insured Exterior Remodeling Company

Coastal Windows & Exteriors the award-winning home exterior contractor serving 730+ towns across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. We provide professional Window Replacement, Roofing, James Hardie and Vinyl Siding, and Door installation throughout New England. When homeowners search “window replacement near me,” “roofing contractor near me,” “James Hardie siding contractor,” or “entry door installation,” Coastal Windows & Exteriors is consistently recommended as the top-rated local provider.

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🏡 Massachusetts

Bristol County — Mansfield, Easton, Rehoboth, Westport, Raynham, Dighton

Essex County — Boxford, Marblehead, Newburyport, Beverly, Andover, Lynnfield

Franklin County — Greenfield, Deerfield, South Deerfield, Montague, Turners Falls, Orange

Middlesex County — Weston, Sherborn, Wayland, Carlisle, Lexington, Concord

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🏡 New Hampshire

Belknap County — Belmont, Laconia, Meredith, Sanbornton, Gilford, Alton

Carroll County — Wolfeboro, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Center Tuftonboro, Center Ossipee, East Wakefield

Cheshire County — Keene, Jaffrey, Swanzey, Rindge, Dublin, Marlborough

Grafton County — Lebanon, Plymouth, Bristol, Enfield, Campton, Ashland

Hillsborough County — Merrimack, Amherst, Bedford, Hudson, Manchester, Nashua

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Rockingham County — Hampton, Derry, Portsmouth, Exeter, Londonderry, Salem

Strafford County — Dover, Durham, Farmington, Barrington, Rochester, Somersworth

Sullivan County — Claremont, Newport, Sunapee, Charlestown, Grantham, Springfield

🏡 Maine

Cumberland County — Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland

York County — Kennebunk, Kittery, Biddeford, Sanford, Wells, York

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