Pennsylvania winters can be brutal. Winter weather advisories due to heavy snowfall are not uncommon. Several inches of snow can pile up, and relentless cold weather events can bombard the region for several weeks at a time. Snow and sleet create even more treacherous conditions, leaving highways restricted to slow-moving traffic.
Snow emergencies can be declared, power outages can pop up, and schools and businesses may need to work remotely. Even after storms pass through, with low temperatures, their impact remains.
When planning for winter weather, consider your home’s siding, and how well it is prepared to protect your home in the midst of winter storms.
Prepare Your Home for Winter with Durable Siding
There are lots of ways to prepare for winter, but one of the most important is to verify your biggest investment is strengthened and fortified with the optimal siding material. If your current siding is old, faulty, faded, cracked, loose, or showing signs of rot, mold, mildew, or moisture intrusion—it’s time to get replacement siding.
Here are some facts on siding material options to help you decide which product is best for your Pennsylvania home.
How does vinyl siding hold up against harsh weather?
If you have vinyl siding (which is plastic), know that this slim layer of covering for your home is 80% thinner than fiber cement siding, so your protection is not as insulating or as reliable during winter storms.
When it comes to performance, vinyl does everything from melting in a fire (or from the sun’s reflection off Low-E glass windows) to incurring hail damage that can make it crack, buckle, or sag. With its limited ability to stand up to harsh weather, high winds, and impact from wind-blown debris—over time, vinyl is sent to the landfill and replaced with stronger siding.
Can wood siding adequately protect my Pennsylvania home from severe winter weather?
Wood siding fuels fires, and easily incurs moisture damage. Rain, hail, snow, and sleet can all take their toll on wood siding. Once it is compromised and water penetrates it, wood rot, mold, mildew, and even termite damage can occur. Fiber cement siding protects your home better than wood from freezing conditions and moisture, as well as heat and humidity. Over time, wood tends to split, crack, and deteriorate while fiber cement siding resists weather damage and stays intact over the years (decades!).
What is the most durable exterior siding?
Fiber cement siding provides long-lasting protection for your home exterior. Its durable makeup fortifies your home against hail, sleet, snow, rain, and severe winter weather.
Made of cement, sand, and cellulose, this robust combination stands up to the weather and doesn’t withdraw from its important job of protecting your home—even during winter storms.
What is the best siding for cold climates?
James Hardie—the premier manufacturer for fiber cement siding—is engineered to stand up to severe weather. This hardworking product is built to perform even during harsh winters.
After studying the long-term impact of climates throughout the United States, the HardieZone system was developed. To ensure you get the best siding product for the Pennsylvania weather, choose James Hardie’s HZ5 product that was specifically designed to resist wet and freezing conditions like we have here in Pennsylvania.
What type of siding lasts the longest?
James Hardie fiber cement siding, also known as Hardie Board, Hardie siding, and Hardie Plank, is so well made that it lasts up to 50 years! Its outstanding 30-year transferable, non-prorated warranty is proof that the manufacturer stands behind this siding product that is built to last. Simply have your siding installed by a James Hardie Preferred contractor (like us), and your warranty will be honored.
What is the best siding for overall quality?
Hardie siding shows its true colors when put to the test. It has received the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Hardie Plank was rigorously tested at the Good Housekeeping Institute for its response to high winds, moisture, and more. This third-party testing gives you peace of mind in your siding investment.
As the most popular siding product in our country, over 8,000,000 homes in America are protected by durable Hardie siding. It was engineered to stand up against moisture intrusion, rot, pest infestation, fire, and even damaging UV rays. Homeowners value its curb appeal, long-lasting makeup, ability to withstand storms, insulation properties, and beauty.
Hardie not only offers multiple siding styles, but also designer-picked color combinations so you get the best look for your home.
Fortify Your Home Exterior with James Hardie Siding
When it comes to safeguarding your home against the winter weather, Hardie siding gives you optimal protection for your biggest investment. But choosing the top siding material made by a manufacturer with a stellar track record is only part of the equation. It’s vital that you have your siding installed by a contractor who will do it right the first time.
At Distinctive Homes, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners in Chester County gain the lasting value and peace of mind that comes with expert installation of James Hardie siding.
- As a James Hardie Preferred contractor, we install your siding according to the high standards of the manufacturer.
- We are trained by the Hardie company to install it properly, so you get the best long-term performance out of your siding replacement.
- Our third-generation team of professionals is ready to serve you.
- We’ll make sure you get the most applicable and affordable siding solution for your needs.
- Our in-house financing options make your home upgrades convenient and affordable. And our full range of services offered means you get the best value all under one roof.
Take a moment to learn more about how our siding replacement services can transform your home exterior.