CertainTeed vs. James Hardie Siding: Which Is Right?
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Get free quotesCertainTeed vs. James Hardie at a glance
| CertainTeed (WeatherBoards) | James Hardie (HardiePlank) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Fiber cement | Fiber cement |
| Warranty | 50-year limited, transferable | 30-year non-prorated substrate + separate 15-year ColorPlus finish/labor warranty |
| Typical installed cost | Comparable to other fiber cement — roughly $7-18/sq ft range for the category | Roughly $7-18/sq ft installed |
| Market position | Major building-products manufacturer (Saint-Gobain) | The best-known and most widely marketed fiber cement brand |
| Factory-finish option | Available depending on product line | ColorPlus factory finish, separately warrantied |
Why this comparison is more apples-to-apples than most
A lot of siding "brand vs. brand" content actually compares different materials wearing brand names — vinyl vs. fiber cement, for instance. This one is genuinely fair: CertainTeed's WeatherBoards and James Hardie's HardiePlank are both fiber cement lap siding, competing directly for the same buyer who's already decided fiber cement is the right material and is now choosing a manufacturer. James Hardie is by far the more recognized name in the category — "Hardie board" has become close to a generic term the way "Kleenex" has for tissues — which matters for resale familiarity even beyond the product's own qualities.
Pro tip from our network contractors
Don't just compare warranty length as a single number — James Hardie's 30-year substrate warranty is structured as non-prorated, paired with a separate 15-year warranty specifically for its ColorPlus factory finish and labor. CertainTeed's 50-year term is a different structure entirely. Ask each installer to walk through exactly what's covered, for how long, and whether it's prorated, rather than assuming the bigger number is automatically the better deal.
How to actually decide
If brand recognition and resale familiarity matter to you, James Hardie's name recognition in the fiber cement category is a real, if soft, factor — many buyers and even inspectors default to describing any fiber cement siding as "Hardie board." If the specific warranty terms and total project cost matter more than brand name, get quotes on both and compare the actual coverage details rather than picking based on recognition alone — both are legitimate, well-established fiber cement products from major manufacturers. See types of siding materials compared if you haven't settled on fiber cement yet, and James Hardie vs. LP SmartSide for how Hardie compares against an engineered-wood alternative.
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Get free quotesFrequently asked questions
Is CertainTeed or James Hardie better fiber cement siding?
Both are legitimate, well-established fiber cement products. James Hardie has stronger brand recognition; CertainTeed's WeatherBoards carries a longer headline warranty term (50 years vs. Hardie's 30-year substrate warranty). Compare the actual warranty structure, not just brand name or years.
Is CertainTeed siding the same material as James Hardie?
CertainTeed's WeatherBoards line is fiber cement, the same base material as James Hardie's HardiePlank — this makes it a genuinely comparable, apples-to-apples choice, unlike comparing fiber cement to vinyl.
Why is James Hardie siding so well known?
James Hardie has marketed fiber cement siding heavily and for a long time, to the point that 'Hardie board' is often used informally to refer to fiber cement siding generally, similar to how some brand names become generic terms for their product category.
What is James Hardie's ColorPlus finish?
ColorPlus is James Hardie's factory-applied finish option, which comes with its own separate 15-year warranty covering the finish and labor, distinct from the 30-year warranty on the fiber cement substrate itself.
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