Cedar Siding vs. Hardie® Board: Which is Better?

Is it time to refresh the siding on your home? You might wonder about the difference between cedar siding and the newly popular Hardie® Board (also known as HardiePlank). Both have pros and cons regarding aesthetics and performance, but you want to know the difference in price. 

Cedar siding has an average price range of $23,544 to $42,837 compared to HardieBoard’s $12,000 to $22,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home, but that doesn’t mean that HardieBoard is the instant choice. Prices will vary depending on house size and a few aesthetic decisions, but there’s far more to consider between these two materials. 

If you’re stuck wondering which option is best for your home, keep reading. In this guide, we’ll discuss all you need to know about cedar siding and HardieBoard so you can consult a professional to make a confident decision. 

Key takeaways 

• Cedar siding has a natural beauty that HardieBoard can’t match, though HardieBoard has customizable options.

• HardieBoard is constructed with durable materials that give it a longer lifespan than cedar siding by several decades. 

• Cedar siding costs more to install, but HardieBoard also requires professional installation.

• Cedar siding has more maintenance needs than HardieBoard. 

Comparing cedar siding and Hardie® Board siding 

Cedar siding

Hardie® Board siding

Average installation price: $23,544–$42,837 Contains a natural beauty from real wood grain Requires more maintenance to preserve material Can last up to 40+ years with proper routine maintenance Needs to be treated and stained routinely to protect it from moisture and cracking More appealing to pests like termites Is fire-resistant only if two inches thick and treated with a fire retardant product

Average installation price: $12,000–$22,000 Comes with lots of texture, design, and color options Requires little maintenance  Has an incredible lifespan of 70+ years with proper maintenance Will need to be repainted every few years Resistant to fire, moisture, and pests More expensive than other siding materials like vinyl

When it comes to siding for your home, there are always two options: wood or siding planks. Cedar is popular for homeowners who crave a beautiful, natural wood grain design along their home’s exterior, but siding has always been a more cost-effective option. Comparing cedar siding to HardieBoard can be challenging since they both come with their pros and cons and are more high-quality than other wood or siding options, so you first must consider if you want a wood look or siding look.

In terms of performance, HardieBoard siding seems to outperform cedar siding in all areas outside of aesthetics. Cedar siding does have a stunning look that HardieBoard can’t replicate, but there’s a lot of upkeep involved with the natural wood that HardieBoard doesn’t require. For instance, HardieBoard is an incredibly durable material that is already resistant to fire, pests, and moisture. Cedar siding needs to be specifically treated to resist those elements, and even when the wood is treated, it’s not 100% effective. With wood like cedar, you still risk wood rot from moisture buildup, being invaded by pests like termites, and being easier to catch on fire. 

While HardieBoard doesn’t have the natural beauty of real wood grain, there are still plenty of design options. You’ll also get quality siding that’s cheaper to install and will last decades longer if appropriately treated (which, compared to cedar siding, isn’t much).

Cedar siding pros and cons

If you’re a fan of natural, rustic-looking houses that remind you of a cozy cabin tucked in the woods, go for cedar. Although cedar siding has higher upfront costs than HardieBoard and requires more routine maintenance like re-staining and treating, cleaning, and inspecting, you can’t beat the gorgeous look of real wood. Compared to other wood siding options, cedar has excellent insulating properties that lower your energy bills and reduce noises from the outside. The only downside to remember is that cedar wood is more susceptible to fires and pests and will have to be treated more often to keep the planks less susceptible. 

Hardie® Board siding pros and cons

If you want a siding material that’s super strong and will last you years, then HardieBoard is the better investment. Of course, it can’t replicate the natural beauty of wood look, but the planks have several design options that allow you to customize the overall design. You may also find that the superior strength of the planks that come from the premium materials is made out to be a better choice for you since HardieBoard is known to last up to 70 years or more if treated properly.

To keep your HardieBoard in good condition, you can pressure wash the siding at least once a year and repaint or stain the boards every few years to cover up any chips. However, one downside is that HardieBoard has a more intricate installation process that takes longer than others, so it will need to be installed by a contractor.

Is Hardie® Board siding or cedar siding better for your home? 

Choosing between cedar siding and HardieBoard is a challenging feat. Knowing which one is better for your home depends on considering a few factors and personal preferences, such as the following:

• Costs: If cost is a top priority, HardieBoard is the better option. It is cheaper to install than cedar wood siding and lasts longer, so it’s a wiser investment. 

• Design style: If aesthetics is your top priority and you love the natural look of wood, then you’ll want to go with cedar. Cedar siding has a totally unique design that can’t be replicated in HardieBoard siding. 

• Longevity: Longevity is crucial for the siding material you choose, so you don’t have to fork out more money to replace the siding that was just installed. HardieBoard has a much longer lifespan than cedar siding, by several years, so if you want a siding material that will last longer without needing replacement, HardieBoard is the better pick. 

• Maintenance: No siding material is maintenance-free, but HardieBoard is as close as possible. Compared to cedar wood, HardieBoard requires lower maintenance because it’s not as susceptible to water, fire, weather, and pests.

Picking the best siding for your home 

As you can see, picking a siding material for your home requires a lot of thought, but it also requires the help of a professional contractor instead of going DIY. Siding is crucial for your home since it defends your house against harsh weather, so it has to be installed properly and suitable for your environment. To better understand what material suits your home, consider consulting with several contractors in your area to make the best pick.  

Cedar siding vs. Hardie® Board FAQ 

HardieBoard, developed by manufacturer James Hardie, is a popular home siding product because of its incredible durability, premium materials, and variety in textures and aesthetics. This siding plank is built with a mix of Portland cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers, making it resistant to moisture, fire, and pests. Compared to other plank brands, it looks like regular siding, but it holds up better because of the materials that increase its longevity.

Cedar siding is straight, real wood siding that provides a natural look of the grain within the planks. No other materials are added to the construction of this material. However, when treated and stained correctly, it’s still highly durable to ensure it holds up to moisture and outside weather conditions.

In our opinion, HardieBoard beats cedar siding for a variety of reasons. While it’s true that cedar siding has a natural beauty that HardieBoard can’t regenerate, HardieBoard siding still comes with a load of design options that will suit your aesthetics and exterior style. But more than design, HardieBoard is not susceptible to outdoor inclements like cedar siding is. Cedar siding must be treated routinely to allow it to withstand weather and pests, whereas HardieBoard is already ready to last as soon as it’s installed. HardieBoard also has a longer lifespan than cedar siding, which can be a better perk than the true beauty aesthetics of cedar siding.

Wood siding is typically more expensive to install than HardieBoard and requires more maintenance. Because of the higher upfront costs and back-end costs to preserve cedar siding, you may find the HardieBoard a better investment in the long run.

Though HardieBoard is a popular choice amongst homeowners, the siding does come with a few drawbacks. For starters, it’s a more costly choice than other siding options like vinyl, but because of how long HardieBoard lasts, it might be a better financial option. Other negatives to HardieBoard are that it has to be professionally installed so that the material doesn’t crack (which can drive up costs). There are still maintenance requirements like pressure washing once a year and repainting every few years to cover up any chips.

HardieBoard can last homeowners up to 50 years or more with proper care and maintenance. The good news is that each purchase comes with a 30-year warranty, but as long as you treat the material right and maintain the quality, you can expect the siding to last longer than expected.