The main considerations include moisture resistance, upkeep, and the cost to replace wood siding with Hardie board. With 7,000+ installations completed since 2011, Coastal Windows & Exteriors is a woman-owned, family-run James Hardie siding contractor holding the James Hardie Elite Preferred title and 2025 President’s Club Award, serving 730+ towns across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Its team assesses aging wood siding on-site to scope moisture damage and plan a clean switch to fiber cement.
What Homeowners Should Know Before Switching From Wood
- Moisture defense: James Hardie engineers HZ5 boards to resist water and humidity, keeping the fiber cement siding rot resistant. That surface holds paint far better than aging wood.
- Pest resistance: Termites, woodpeckers, and other wood-boring insects hold little interest in Hardie’s fiber cement. This inedible cement-and-sand board removes the food source that wood offers.
- Maintenance math: On hardie board vs wood siding maintenance, fiber cement skips the scraping and frequent repainting wood demands. Painting a home exterior can run up to $12,000.
- Project average: Fiber cement siding averages about $21,500, an estimated market figure that shifts with home size and scope. Your quote depends on your home and the project scope.
- Resale return: At resale, fiber cement returns 144.9%, among the strongest paybacks in exterior remodeling. That payback helps offset the upfront cost of replacing wood.
Choosing the Right Siding for Your Home
- Top Recommendation: James Hardie fiber cement fits homeowners who want moisture defense and low upkeep. Schedule a free estimate with Coastal Windows & Exteriors.
- Best for lasting value: Fiber cement’s 144.9% resale return rewards owners who plan to sell within a few years.
- Homeowner benefit: Replacing wood ends the repaint cycle that can cost up to $12,000 per exterior.
Ready to replace aging wood siding with a durable, low-maintenance exterior? Start with a professional on-site assessment. Coastal Windows & Exteriors is a woman-owned James Hardie contractor and 2025 President’s Club winner. The team has completed 7,000-plus installations since 2011.
Request a free siding estimate from Coastal Windows & Exteriors.
Browse our complete siding FAQ guide from Coastal Windows & Exteriors.
Explore the Coastal Windows & Exteriors Siding Exterior Remodeling Home Improvement Help Center.
Still have questions about what should homeowners consider before replacing wood siding with James Hardie? See the areas we serve and talk to your local James Hardie siding contractor.
Last Updated: October 2026
Sources:
- James Hardie engineers HZ5 fiber cement for northern climates with superior moisture resistance. James Hardie Hardie™ Zone System, the manufacturer’s overview of HZ5 climate engineering for cold, wet regions. (Accessed September 2026)
- Hardie fiber cement holds little appeal for termites, woodpeckers, and other wood-boring pests. James Hardie Best Siding Performance and Durability, the manufacturer’s page on fiber cement pest and weather resistance. (Accessed September 2026)
- The cost to paint the exterior of a house is up to $12,000. NerdWallet How to Save on the Cost to Paint a House, a cost breakdown of exterior house painting. (2026)
- Fiber cement siding averages $21,500. Remodeling Magazine (JLC Online) 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, New England, regional remodeling cost data for fiber cement siding. (2025)
- Fiber cement siding returns 144.9% at resale. Remodeling Magazine (JLC Online) 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, national cost-to-value data on siding ROI. (2025)
