Hardie Board Siding Installation

Hardie Board Siding Installation Hempstead - R&M Roofers LLC

Two months ago, Tom from Garden City showed us photos of his neighbor’s house. “See how that looks exactly like real wood, but it never needs painting?” he asked. “That’s what I want on my house.” What he was looking at was HardiePlank siding – the fiber cement boards that have become the gold standard for Long Island homes.

After installing Hardie Board siding on over 200 homes across Nassau County, we can tell you why homeowners are making the switch. It looks incredible, handles our crazy weather better than anything else, and comes with a 30-year warranty that actually means something. But here’s the thing – installation matters more than the product itself. Do it wrong, and you’ll have problems. Do it right, and your house will look amazing for decades.

At R&M Roofers LLC, we’ve been installing Hardie Board siding in Hempstead since 2014. We’re James Hardie certified installers, which means we know exactly how to handle these boards so they perform the way they’re supposed to. Whether you’re building new or replacing old siding, we’ll walk you through every step so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Hardie Board Siding Benefits

Why is everyone switching to Hardie Board? Simple – it solves the problems that make other siding materials frustrating to own. Unlike vinyl, it doesn’t crack in cold weather or warp in summer heat. Unlike wood, it doesn’t rot, attract insects, or need constant maintenance. Unlike aluminum, it doesn’t dent from hail or look dated after a few years.

Here’s what makes Hardie Board different: it’s made from cement, sand, and cellulose fibers that are formed under extreme pressure and heat. The result is a board that’s harder than wood but lighter than brick. It takes paint beautifully and holds color better than any other siding material we install.

The fire resistance is huge for Long Island homeowners. We’ve seen houses in Levittown and West Hempstead where Hardie Board siding helped slow fire spread, giving families more time to get out safely. Your insurance company might even give you a discount for installing it.

But the best part? It looks exactly like real wood siding. We install it on $2 million homes in Garden City and $400,000 Capes in Uniondale, and it looks perfect on both. Most people can’t tell the difference unless they knock on it.

HardiePlank Installation Process

Installing HardiePlank siding isn’t like hanging vinyl panels. These boards are heavy, they create silica dust when cut, and they expand and contract differently than other materials. That’s why James Hardie only warranties installations done by certified contractors who follow their specific procedures.

We start every job by checking your house’s structure and moisture barriers. Hardie Board is heavier than vinyl or aluminum, so we need to make sure your walls can support it properly. We also install proper flashing around windows and doors – this is where most siding failures happen, regardless of the material.

Cutting Hardie Board requires special diamond-tipped saw blades and dust collection equipment. We never use regular wood-cutting blades, and we never dry-cut boards on site. This protects our crew and prevents the silica dust from settling on your property.

Each board gets pre-drilled to prevent cracking, and we use stainless steel nails placed exactly where James Hardie specifies. Too high, too low, or the wrong angle, and the boards can crack or pull loose over time. We’ve fixed too many DIY jobs where homeowners didn’t understand these requirements.

Hardie Board Color Options

One thing that surprises homeowners is how many color options Hardie Board offers. The ColorPlus collection comes pre-painted with a finish that’s baked on at the factory. These colors are guaranteed for 15 years and look better longer than any paint we could apply on site.

Popular colors in Nassau County include Arctic White for colonial homes, Evening Blue for Capes and ranches, and Countrylane Red for Tudor styles. We keep samples of all the standard colors in our showroom, but we recommend seeing them on actual houses before deciding. The same color can look completely different on a Cape versus a colonial.

If you want a custom color, we can paint Hardie Board on site using high-quality acrylic paints. This gives you unlimited color options, but the warranty is different, and you’ll need to repaint eventually like any painted surface.

Hardie Board Trim Installation

The trim work makes or breaks a Hardie Board installation. We use HardieTrim boards for all window casings, corner boards, and decorative elements. This keeps everything consistent and ensures all the materials expand and contract at the same rate.

Mixing materials – like using wood trim with Hardie Board siding – can create problems down the road. Different expansion rates can cause gaps, cracks, and water infiltration. We’ve seen beautiful installations ruined by cheap trim work that failed after a few seasons.

For complex architectural details, we sometimes combine HardieTrim with HardiePanel products. This lets us match existing details on older homes while giving you all the benefits of fiber cement construction. The result looks original but performs like modern siding.

Hardie Shingle Siding

Not every house needs smooth lap siding. For Cape Cods, cottages, and homes with traditional shingle styles, we install HardieShingle siding that captures the look of cedar shakes without the maintenance hassles.

These shingles come in straight edge and staggered edge patterns that mimic hand-split cedar. We’ve installed them on historic homes in Garden City where the planning board required traditional materials, and they approved HardieShingle because it looks so authentic.

Installation is more complex than regular lap siding because each shingle needs individual attention. We stagger the joints, vary the exposure slightly for a natural look, and use special corner treatments that match period construction methods. Done right, it’s impossible to tell from real cedar at street level.

Hardie Board Maintenance

The best thing about Hardie Board siding is how little maintenance it requires. No painting every few years, no replacing rotted boards, no worry about insect damage or fire spread. But it’s not completely maintenance-free.

We recommend pressure washing once a year to remove dirt and mildew. Use low pressure and work from top to bottom to avoid forcing water behind the boards. Most homeowners can do this themselves, but we offer annual cleaning service if you prefer professional care.

Caulk around windows, doors, and trim should be inspected every few years and touched up as needed. This isn’t unique to Hardie Board – every siding material needs proper caulking to prevent water infiltration.

If individual boards get damaged from impact or severe weather, they can be replaced without disturbing surrounding areas. This is one advantage over stucco or brick where repairs often require extensive work to blend properly.

Installation Timeline

Most Hardie Board siding installations take 3-7 days depending on house size and complexity. We always start by removing old siding and checking the underlying structure. Sometimes we find issues that need addressing before new siding goes up – rotted sheathing, missing insulation, or improper flashing around windows.

Weather affects the schedule more than with vinyl installation because Hardie Board can’t be installed when it’s wet or below 40 degrees. The boards absorb moisture, and the caulks and paints we use need proper conditions to cure correctly.

We schedule installations during dry weather forecasts and have backup plans if conditions change. Your house stays protected throughout the process – we never leave large areas exposed overnight.

Cost Considerations

Hardie Board costs more upfront than vinyl or aluminum siding, but most homeowners find it pays for itself through increased home value and reduced maintenance costs. In Nassau County’s competitive housing market, homes with quality siding materials sell faster and for higher prices.

The 30-year warranty on materials plus our 5-year labor warranty means you’re protected if anything goes wrong. Compare this to vinyl siding that might need replacement in 15-20 years, and the lifetime cost often favors Hardie Board.

Many homeowners finance siding projects through home improvement loans or cash-out refinancing. The increased home value usually covers most or all of the installation cost, making it essentially free upgrades that you get to enjoy while living in the house.

Why Choose R&M Roofers LLC

We became James Hardie certified installers in 2015 because we saw how much better this product performs compared to other siding materials. Since then, we’ve completed over 200 Hardie Board installations across Nassau County, from simple ranch homes to complex custom builds.

Our certification requires ongoing training on new products and installation techniques. James Hardie updates their procedures regularly based on field experience, and certified installers get early access to this information. This means your installation uses the latest best practices for maximum performance.

We guarantee our installation work for 5 years on top of James Hardie’s material warranty. If you have any issues with workmanship, we’ll come back and fix them at no charge. After 12 years serving Long Island homeowners, our reputation depends on doing every job right the first time.

Service Areas

We install Hardie Board siding throughout Hempstead and surrounding Nassau County communities, including Baldwin, Garden City, West Hempstead, Uniondale, Franklin Square, and Levittown. Our crews are experienced with the architectural styles common in each area and can match existing details on older homes.

Getting Your Project Started

Ready to upgrade your home with Hardie Board siding? The first step is a free consultation where we’ll assess your current siding, discuss your goals, and explain your options. We’ll measure your house, show you color samples, and provide a detailed written estimate with no surprises.

Most projects can start within 2-3 weeks of approval, depending on the season and current schedule. We order materials specifically for your job to ensure color consistency and minimize waste.

Call us today at (516) 233-9506 to schedule your free Hardie Board siding consultation. We’ll show you why so many Nassau County homeowners are choosing fiber cement siding for their homes, and how professional installation makes all the difference in long-term performance.

OFFICES

At R & M Roofers LLC, we’re proud to serve homeowners throughout Hempstead and the greater Long Island area. Whether you need a quick roof repair, a full replacement, or exterior upgrades, our team is here to help—professional service, honest pricing, and lasting results.

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