There’s nothing more disappointing than watching your home’s beautiful exterior succumb to the elements and become dull, faded, or chalky over time. Unfortunately, fading is a common problem with many siding materials, especially vinyl, and can be challenging to reverse.  

However, you don’t have to live with faded siding forever. Let’s take a look at why your siding becomes dull, and why investing in James Hardie fiber cement is the perfect solution for eye-catching, vibrant siding with long-lasting curb appeal.   

What Causes Siding to Fade?

Many popular siding materials, especially vinyl, are prone to fading from the elements. The leading cause of faded vinyl siding is oxidation—the process of oxygen mixing with the chemicals in the siding material. 

Oxidation makes your siding appear dull, faded, and is often accompanied by a white, chalky substance, and usually causes the siding to become brittle and breakable. These factors may cause or expedite the oxidation process:

Sunlight

Prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays is the leading cause of faded siding. As with a suntan, your vinyl siding will fade (or “burn”) more quickly in the areas that receive the most direct sunlight, which can cause patchy, uneven fading on your exterior. 

Kansas City receives 215 days of sunlight each year—ten days over the nationwide average of 205 days. Though you can protect your siding from the sun with trees, shrubs, or other shade structures, it’s impossible to completely prevent your vinyl siding from receiving any sun exposure over time.

Rain

Powerful rainstorms and prolonged exposure to moisture can cause your siding to fade. Rain strips the protective layers (like paint) off your siding, causing your boards to lose color. 

Although uncommon, acid rain also can accelerate the fading process of vinyl siding. The acidic particles in acid rain cause your siding’s paint to deteriorate more quickly than regular rain.

Snow

Snowstorms make your home susceptible to fading from both sunlight and moisture. 

Snowdrifts situated around your house after a storm can reflect the sun’s rays, causing them to hit your vinyl siding directly. Additionally, when melted snow encounters your siding, the moisture will cause your paint to deteriorate. These two factors can cause your siding to become dull, faded, and chalky.

What Makes James Hardie the Superior Siding for Fade Resistance?

James Hardie siding offers the perfect exterior solution for vibrant color and long-lasting curb appeal, unlike vinyl siding and other materials prone to fading. 

Here’s a look at the exceptional features James Hardie offers to combat fading and keep your siding looking great for decades:

ColorPlus Technology

ColorPlus® Technology is a proprietary finish you can apply to all your James Hardie products for a durable, low-maintenance, long-lasting appearance that resists fading from the elements.

During the application process, multiple baked-on coats of paint are applied to each of your siding boards in a controlled factory setting so the elements won’t interfere with the paint as its drying. The result is a vibrant exterior with consistent coverage that resists chipping, peeling, cracking, and fading for decades to come.

The ColorPlus Technology palette includes dozens of stunning shades in The Statement Collection®, like Arctic White, Gray Slate, and Boothbay Blue, so you can feel confident you’re choosing a timeless shade that will boost your home’s curb appeal. You can also choose from hundreds of baked-on shades in The Dream Collection® if you already have a specific shade in mind that will look great with your current exterior.

HardieZone System

The HardieZone® System is another feature James Hardie offers to ensure their siding is durable and fadeproof in all climates.

All Hardie siding products are made to withstand extreme weather, like wind-driven rain, hurricanes, hailstorms, ultraviolet rays, and more. However, James Hardie ensures their fiber cement products are Engineered for Climate® using the HardieZone System—meaning the siding installed on your home is engineered to withstand the weather conditions in your climate.

Kansas City falls in HZ5®, so the products applied to your home will be made to withstand seasonal temperature changes and year-round precipitation. These products resist moisture intrusion and can withstand wet, freezing conditions to prevent shrinking, swelling, and cracking siding.

Since rain and snow can both cause your siding to fade, the HardieZone System is a great way to ensure your siding looks bright and vibrant—even during intense winter storms!

Durable Material

Fiber cement siding is made from a durable blend of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers—all recycled or sustainable materials.

Unlike vinyl siding, a synthetic manmade product, fiber cement is much less likely to become dull, faded, or brittle from the oxidation process due to its natural composition.

Extended Warranties

James Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology comes with a 15-year limited warranty covering paint and labor, protecting your siding against fading, chipping, peeling, and cracking. 

Additionally, when you work with an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor like StateLine Exteriors, your siding will receive an exclusive 30-year product warranty from James Hardie!

Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Fade-Resistant James Hardie Siding

Although there are a few ways to brighten up faded siding, once the fading has occurred—it’s difficult (and time-consuming!) to reverse.

Replacing your dull, chalky siding with beautiful, long-lasting fiber cement siding is the best way to brighten your home’s exterior with fadeproof color that will last for decades to come. As Kansas City’s #1 James Hardie siding contractor, you can be confident we’ll install your siding right the first time, so you can enjoy the benefits of your industry-leading warranties.

Discover the many colors and styles to choose from and the benefits you can enjoy when installing James Hardie siding on your Kansas City home!