Vinyl has been popular for years, and for good reasons: low cost, low maintenance, plenty of colors. If that is the whole brief, vinyl is a fair choice. If fire resistance, pest resistance and holding its shape through a Long Island winter are also on the list, the comparison changes.
We quote both. This page is the honest version of the difference.
Elite Preferred is James Hardie’s top contractor designation. Every Good Guys installer is Hardie Alliance certified.
Maintenance Soap and water, once a year
Typical vinyl siding runs between 0.040 and 0.046 of an inch. HardiePlank runs 5/16 of an inch. That is the difference between a facing and a cladding, and it is why fiber cement hangs flat across a long wall instead of rippling.
0.3125 of an inch of fiber cement. Holds a fastener, hangs flat, and does not oil-can across a long elevation.
Between 0.040 and 0.046 of an inch of PVC. Light, cheap to ship, and dependent on the wall behind it for everything.
These are the three materials quoted on nearly every exterior job we bid on Long Island.
| Over 20 years | James Hardie® | Vinyl | Wood / composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 5/16 in (0.3125 in) | 0.040 – 0.046 in | Varies |
| Exposed to direct flame | Non-combustible, will not ignite | Can melt and distort | Combustible |
| Fire rating | Class A, ASTM E84, flame spread index 0 | Not rated | Not rated |
| Extreme heat and sun | Unaffected | Can warp and distort | Can dry, split and cup |
| Termites and woodpeckers | Cannot be chewed through | Can be penetrated | A feeding opportunity |
| Rot and moisture | Resists | Resists | Susceptible |
| Movement with temperature | Dimensionally stable | Expands and contracts | Swells, cups, warps |
| Routine care | Wash once a year | Power wash | Paint or seal, plus touch-ups |
| Finish warranty | 15 yr ColorPlus®, paint and labor | Varies by manufacturer | Repaint on your own dime |
| Product warranty | 30 yr limited, transferable | Varies by manufacturer | Varies by manufacturer |
| Matched to local climate | HardieZone®, HZ5 for New York | No | No |
| Up-front cost | Higher | Lower | Varies |
Vinyl is cheaper to buy and cheaper to install, and on a rental, a flip, or a house you are selling inside a few years, that is a legitimate reason to choose it. It also needs no painting, ever.
What it cannot do is hold its shape under heat, resist flame, stop a woodpecker, or carry a finish warranty that covers labor. If none of those matter to you, we will quote you vinyl and do a good job of it.
Our year is genuinely hard on an exterior. Winter runs below freezing, summer can exceed 98 degrees, and blizzards and nor'easters drive rain sideways into every joint and penetration on the house.
James Hardie is one of the few exterior products engineered by climate rather than sold as one national product. New York sits in HardieZone HZ5, made for freeze-thaw cycling, wet winters and wind-driven rain. Ordering the wrong zone is a quiet way to lose a warranty.
Vinyl costs less to buy and install, and we will tell you that plainly. The case for fiber cement is what happens over twenty years: it does not melt or warp in heat, it is non-combustible, nothing chews it, and the finish carries a 15-year warranty covering paint and labor. If you are selling in three years, vinyl is a reasonable call. If you are staying, it usually is not.
Typical vinyl siding runs roughly 0.040 to 0.046 of an inch. HardiePlank is 5/16 of an inch, which is 0.3125 of an inch, or roughly seven times thicker. That is why it hangs flat, holds a fastener, and does not ripple across a long wall.
Heat and direct sunlight can warp and distort vinyl, and a neighbor's low-E window reflection is a known cause of melted vinyl siding. Fiber cement does not soften with heat.
Fiber cement. Our year runs from below freezing to the high 90s, with nor'easters and blizzard winds in between. James Hardie engineers board by climate zone; New York is HZ5, made for freeze-thaw cycling, wet winters and wind-driven rain. Vinyl is not climate-matched.
No, and nobody reputable should. The old cladding comes off so the sheathing can be inspected, flashed and wrapped properly. Anything else is hiding whatever is underneath.
We will quote the exterior properly and tell you what each material actually costs you over twenty years, not just on install day.