Renovation Roadmap: Advice to Elevate Your Exteriors

When it comes to sprucing up the inside of your home, the possibilities are truly endless, from refurnishing to a bright new wall color. 

But what about the exterior? After all, it’s your home’s first layer of protection from the elements, and the first thing people see upon pulling up to your driveway or strolling past on an afternoon walk. 

Embarking on an exterior makeover is no easy task. Thankfully, James Hardie offers a wide range of exterior solutions that can help you freshen up your home’s look. Their high-performance fiber cement siding is available in a number of different styles that can benefit any homeowner and match any aesthetic or vibe. 

Custom homebuilder Evan Crowe, a member of Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program, regularly incorporates Hardie® siding into his outdoor renovations. 

“James Hardie offers a variety of proven products with fair prices and top notch services to back them up,” he says.

Here, Crowe breaks down four ways that Hardie® siding can extend the life of your home and make it a true reflection of you.

A SAFE SPACE

In order to defend your home from storms, precipitation, exterior fires, and pests, quality siding is a must. Hardie® siding is non-combustible and helps protect your home from fires.

However, the quality of your home’s siding is only as good as the quality of its installation. According to Crowe, improper installation is the most common mistake homeowners make during an exterior makeover.

To avoid this, CroweBuilt Homes works directly with architects to ensure that all exterior upgrades — including siding installation in accordance with written installation instructions — are carried out with respect to the home’s previous architecture. 

“A product that has withstood the test of time is important,” Crowe insists. “But so is selecting a qualified contractor.”

MINIMAL UPKEEP

Protecting your home is an investment, so you want to make sure that you get what you are paying for. The upkeep for quality siding should be simple, so you can spend more time enjoying your home, rather than maintaining it. 

“To take care of your Hardie® siding, inspect your gutters and downspouts regularly,” Crowe advises. “Other than that, I encourage an annual soft wash with mild detergent, to prevent both aesthetic and integrity damage.”

The security of proper installation and a trusted product makes a siding facelift well worth your time and money.

COST-EFFECTIVE PROTECTION

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: you want to do a home renovation, so you start researching the products and businesses that can help you make it happen. You quickly find that your little project comes with a hefty price tag, and before you know it, you’re kicking the can down the road for another year, putting off a project that will not only bring you joy, but also protect and improve the value of your home.

Not only is Hardie® siding fairly priced, but its quality helps you avoid costly repairs down the line. Plus, it comes with a 30-year limited non-prorated substrate warranty. For Crowe, this type of product warranty is non-negotiable. 

“Efforts to protect your home should always bring you peace of mind,” he explains. “Always consider the product warranty before committing to an exterior upgrade like new siding.”

PERSONALIZED CURB APPEAL

Though they require hard work and can sometimes drive us a little nuts, home improvement projects should be fun above all. What could be better than pouring your heart and creativity into your humble abode to make it feel safer and more like you?

Of course, the safety aspect is a bit more serious, but with Hardie® siding, you can also play with your home’s exterior and explore all of your aesthetic sensibilities in order to bring your final vision to life. 

“From trim boards to smooth lap siding to stucco-like panels, James Hardie has a number of authentic, cutting edge products,” Crowe notes. In other words, Hardie® siding offers all homeowners a true upgrade.