Home-building and renovation processes are riddled with choices, especially when it comes to your home’s exterior.
The list of considerations seems to never end, especially when deciding between Hardie Board siding vs. brick for your choice of aesthetic.
You’re finding that it is not as simple as just choosing either Hardie Board or brick, but you’re considering::
- Cost
- Color
- Style; and
- Textures
Which will provide more curb appeal? What about durability? And affordability?
In this guide, we will help you decide which option — Hardie Board or brick —is the best for your home.
Table of Contents
- Which Is Better: Brick or Hardie Plank?
- Hardie Board vs. Brick: 6 Factors to Compare
- Brick vs. Hardie Board: Pros and Cons
- Elite Home Exteriors: A James Hardie ELITE Preferred Contractor and Installer in Clark County and Portland Metro
Which Is Better: Brick or Hardie Board?
Brick and Hardie Board are two popular choices for home exteriors. Both materials are durable and low-maintenance, but they have different pros and cons that make them better suited for some types of homes than others. It’s best to compare various factors before making your decision.
Hardie Board vs. Brick: 6 Factors to Compare
Not sure which material is right for your home?
Here are six factors to compare before deciding on the best option for you.
#1: Warranty
Having a warranty is an important factor when choosing materials for your home’s exterior because it:
- Gives you peace of mind about your investment; and
- Your materials can be covered for natural causes (i.e., hail damage or termites)
Unfortunately, buyers won’t find warranties on brick installations.
For example, if your brick home gets damaged by hail, you are on your own as far as replacement, repairs, and installation costs.
However, homeowners with properly installed Hardie Board cement siding would find that their homes are protected by a warranty in the case of hail, manufacturing defects, or termite damage.
Other James Hardie’s warranty details include:
- 30 years for HardieShingle® siding,HardiePanel® vertical, HardiePlank® lap, and HardieSoffit®
- 15 years for HardieTrim® boards; and
- 10 years for seam tape, HardieWrap® weather barrier, Flashing, and Flex flashing products
When it comes to the exterior of your home, don’t settle for anything less than the best.
With our team of expert installers at Elite Home Exteriors, you can rest assured that your Hardie Board siding will last for at least two generations to come.
#2: Maintenance and Repair
If you are choosing between Hardie Board or brick install for your home, you need to consider the differences in maintenance and repair.
When Hardie Board is installed correctly, it will last for decades with little or no maintenance needed.
Brick is a natural building material that is also relatively maintenance-free.
But the truth is, if brick maintenance is needed, it can be:
- Difficult to repair; and
- Expensive to hire a professional
Repairing mortar joints on a brick wall isn’t hard.
However, matching existing mortar color can sometimes be difficult if you want your repairs to look natural with the rest of your home.
#3: Installation
Installation of Hardie Board and brick are both time-consuming, but there are some differences.
Brick is more difficult to install than Hardie Board because it:
- Can be a messy and time-consuming process; and
- Needs mortar to be applied during the installation process
On the other hand, Hardie Board is easier to install than brick because it:
- Needs less time and labor for installation
- Can be easier to cut cleanly with a saw or jigsaw
- Is a patented product with a specific installation process
Get the best installation for your James Hardie siding from Elite Home Exteriors.
We’re an ELITE Preferred Contractor with James Hardie, which means our team has many years of training and experience properly installing Hardie Board.
Also, Hardie Board installations with an ELITE Preferred Contractor ensure that your siding is covered by the James Hardie warranty.
If you contract with a company that does not have this distinction, you will not have the security of a warranty and may find yourself paying more out-of-pocket costs for repairs later down the line.
Contact us at Elite Home Exteriors for a free estimate.
#4: Appearance
Brick is a traditional building material that has been used for centuries.
It gives your home a classic look, especially if you choose to match the existing brick on your property or in the neighborhood.
Hardie Board siding is more modern and contemporary, but it can also be stained or painted to create a custom look that matches other aspects of your home’s design.
Both materials are beautiful, so choosing between them depends on how much you want the new exterior walls of your home to stand out from what’s around them.
#5: Durability
Brick and Hardie Board are both durable, but brick can have mortar problems, such as:
- Cracking
- Warping
- Disintegration; and
- Blistering
Brick is made from clay and water, while Hardie Board is made from cement and fiberglass — making bricks are more susceptible to cracking and crumbling than cement-based Hardie Board.
#6: Cost
The cost of a brick wall is going to be higher because you will have to hire a mason who knows how to install brick correctly and safely.
The cost of installing brick can add up in terms of …
- Materials
- Time; and
- Labor
… which increases the price of your project overall.
What’s the difference in cost when considering Hardie Board vs. brick prices?
The average costs for installing Hardie Board and brick in 2022 are as follows:
| Installation Costs | Costs per Square Foot | |
|
Fiber Cement (including Hardie Board) |
$6,000 to $20,000 |
$5 to $13.50 |
| Brick | $8,900 to $25,000 |
$9 to $28 |
With Hardie Board, there isn’t much guesswork involved when determining how much material or labor will cost since there’s no need for masonry work here.
Do your research and shop around.
But it is important to note: You can lose money hiring an inexperienced contractor over an ELITE Preferred Contractor because James Hardie only honors warranties for proper installations.
Brick vs. Hardie Board: Pros and Cons
Both Hardie Board and Brick are durable and low-maintenance, but they have different pros and cons that make them better suited for some types of homes than others.
Let’s compare brick vs. Hardie Board below.
Brick Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Durable and sturdy material for exterior home installations
- Great choice if you want to add some personality to your home; and
- Can be used in many different styles, from rustic to contemporary
Cons:
- Expensive to install
- No warranty with installation; and
- Can crack or fall out of place if the house shifts
Hardie Board Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- Rot resistance
- Stain resistance
- Termite resistance
- Mold resistance
- Fire resistance
- Low-maintenance
- Little to no maintenance
- Durability to withstand harsh climate
- Backed by a 30-year limited warranty; and
- Will not rot, warp, or crack when exposed to moisture
Cons:
- More expensive than brick
- Not recommended for areas that get a lot of humidity; and
- Need to find a professional who is trained to repair it if it is damaged
Elite Home Exteriors: A James Hardie ELITE Preferred Contractor and Installer in Clark County and Portland Metro
When you’re looking for a professional Hardie Board installer, you want a contractor who will work with you to make sure that the process of installing James Hardie siding is done right.
At Elite Home Exteriors, our professional team:
- Walks you through each step of the process
- Answers your questions about materials; and
- Makes sure your expectations are met
As a James Hardie ELITE Preferred Contractor, we are certified to install James Hardie products the right way — which ensures your installation is covered by the James Hardie warranty.
Our team is licensed, insured, and has the expertise to ensure that your project lives up to your expectations.
We know what it takes to get it right the first time.
We’ve worked with hundreds of homeowners like yourself who wanted to upgrade their homes by adding new James Hardie exterior siding — you can trust us to do a proper and professional installation.
Contact us today by clicking below.