5 qualities to look for in a James Hardie siding contractor

After you notice some rot around the edge of your siding, you start looking into a siding replacement. 

You spend hours on the internet, searching how much a siding replacement costs, different types of siding, and what the best types are. 

Finally, you learn about James Hardie siding and decide the investment is worth it for your new siding. 

Because the cost of Hardie siding is on the high end, you want to make sure you choose a contractor that will give you the best outcome that you deserve.

Southwest Exteriors has been an exterior expert in San Antonio for over 30 years. We specialize in and only offer James Hardie siding. Our installers know what makes a high-quality siding replacement and work under Hardie’s best practices. 

Although Hardie is one of the best solutions for a siding replacement, it must be installed correctly by a quality contractor. Otherwise, it will not provide you with the benefits as it should. 

This article will outline five things to look for in a contractor that installs James Hardie siding, like a documented history of their work, education on installation, knowledge of Hardie products, best practices, and the warranty they offer. 

After reading, you will be able to pick out a high-quality Hardie contractor that you can trust. This way, you can avoid a low-quality contractor that may be telling you what you want to hear just to get your business. 

So, what should you look out for to choose the right Hardie contractor? 

1. Documented history of the contractor’s Hardie siding projects

A large part of knowing you can trust your contractor is how long they have been a Hardie installer and seeing real projects they have done. 

When you schedule an appointment with a contractor, part of the consultation should be a presentation of their work. This allows you to see that they know what they are doing. 

Researching the contractor and reading real client reviews is another important aspect to trust them. If it is difficult to find information and reviews on the contractor or most reviews are subpar, this is a red flag. 

Knowing how long the contractor has been established and how long they have been installing Hardie is crucial. 

Seeing the contractor’s previous Hardie projects and learning about their installation processes are two of the most important things to know if they are a quality Hardie installer. 

2. Knowledge of what makes a high-quality Hardie siding replacement

The biggest indicator that a contractor will provide a high-quality siding replacement is if they detail what impacts the overall quality of a siding project. The quality of the siding installation affects the longevity of the project. 

They should also detail their installation processes and explain why they do what they do so you know that they are experienced. 

The contractor should detail all the elements included in the siding replacement. This includes the substrate, flashing elements, trim, soffit, fascia, and products and tools used for the installation.

Knowing what type of nails, caulk, and paint is important to identify a high-quality Hardie project.

A part of the installation is also preparation and what the contractor will do to assure the project was completed correctly. 

Some Hardie contractors hire a certified inspector to look at your completed project and ensure it was completed under Hardie’s best practices. This is a trait of a high-quality contractor.

The devil is always in the details when it comes to a complex home renovation like a siding replacement. Being educated on the little things about the installation process is one of your greatest defense mechanisms to protect yourself from a low-quality siding replacement. 

If a contractor does not talk about the details of their installation processes and the products and materials they use, ask.

For Hardie siding replacements, if the installation is not done properly, the warranty is void. This is why knowing the contractor’s installation practices is so important. 

3. Presentation of knowledge of all Hardie products offered 

Any contractor that offers Hardie products should have extensive knowledge of the company and products that they offer.

Not only should the contractor know about all Hardie products, but have the willingness to share the information with you. 

This is so important that a great contractor will have the mindset of making your dream project come true.

While, of course, they want to be the right contractor for you, they should be able to identify when they might not be the best fit for you. Then, they can direct you to a company that is. 

If a contractor does not want to share all product information with you, they are more than likely only wanting to make the highest profit off of you. This can also be an indicator of a lazy salesperson.

Trusting your contractor and feeling confident they have your best interest is most important.

4. If they mention Hardie’s best practices

James Hardie has multiple guides that detail their best installation practices on all products.

A high-quality contractor that carries Hardie products will work under these best practices. This ensures the highest quality siding project. 

They should be able to detail the best practices and answer any questions you may ask about them. 

If the contractor does not mention Hardie's best practices, ask so that you can know they know about them. 

Some of the best practices include installing the first siding board against a leveled chalk line to ensure it is level and straight, checking the heights of each panel at corners to make sure they match, and storing all products in a flat and dry area prior to installation. 

Furthermore, if they do not mention the best practices, why wouldn’t they? A great contractor working under the Hardie best practices will let you know they do as part of their installation process.

This helps you to trust the contractor and know they will provide you with a high-quality siding replacement. 

5. Informing on their warranty and Hardie’s

The final factor that defines a high-quality Hardie contractor is what kind of warranty they offer and extended knowledge of Hardie's warranties. 

Hardie offers a 30-year warranty for siding boards and a 15-year warranty for trim boards. They will refund or replace any damaged parts for this period of time. 

The warranty a contractor offers is important as well. It is a telling sign of how long they will have your back if something goes wrong with your siding project. 

A quality Hardie contractor should provide the warranty information for you automatically. If a contractor does not mention Hardie’s warranty or their warranty, ask. 

Making sure you choose the right contractor to install your Hardie siding

Now that you know the five qualities every Hardie siding contractor should have, you can find the right contractor for you. 

Knowing exactly what to look for is crucial to choosing a high-quality contractor. You want to make sure you know what you are getting into and what you will get out of your project. Trusting your contractor is one of the most important aspects to getting the project you deserve. 

If you don’t know what to look for in a contractor, you put yourself and your home at risk of being blindsided by a faulty project. 

With Southwest Exteriors, we want you to have all the information you need for your Hardie siding project. Communication is one of the most important principles to us. We never want you to feel in the dark about your project. 

Want to learn about the benefits of James Hardie siding? Check out this article about the material, maintenance, and installation of Hardie siding to learn about its benefits.