HardiePlank vs. Cedar Shingle

HardiePlank

• Manufactured by the James Hardie company, HardiePlank lap siding is part of the HardieZone System, providing the right siding for the buyer's particular climate. Available in a wide selection of textures, HardiePlank siding features climate engineering for your location. Your siding purchase includes a 30-year limited warranty, transferable to the new owners if you sell the property. While HardiePlank siding costs more than vinyl siding, it's not as expensive as brick or synthetic stucco and is about the same price as hardboard siding. Paint HardiePlank siding or choose its ColorPlus version.

Silica

• HardiePlank siding contains crystalline silica, considered to be carcinogenic to workers heavily exposed to it, and also the cause of the lung disease silicosis to those breathing large amounts of its dust. For this reason, workers should take extra precautions during installation. This includes working in well-ventilated areas, cutting the material with the company's HardieBlade or fiber cement shears, wearing federally-approved dust masks while working and following the manufacturer's instructions for exposure limitation. When cleaning, don't sweep, but use High Efficiency Particulate Air vacuums or a wet cleaning method.

Red Cedar Shingles

• Popular for generations, red cedar shingles contain high amounts of tannic acid, which aids in preserving this tough wood. Over time, red cedar shingles turn dark as they weather. However, harsh climates such as northern seasides eventually turn this siding black and patchy. Unlike HardiePlank, installation of cedar shingles doesn't require special health precautions for dust inhalation. Installers must follow normal safety procedures when cutting and sawing the material.

White Cedar Shingles

• Unlike red cedar, white cedar shingles weather to a silvery appearance. Not as hardy as red cedar and containing less tannin, white cedar is also less expensive. Its grain is wider than the red variety. Both types of cedar require staining with bleaching oil before installation to increase the material's useful life. Consisting of bleach crystals and linseed oil, this protective coating keeps fungus and molds at bay.