James Hardie is the name in fiber cement siding, and for good reason. Fiber cement resists rot, fire, insects, and the freeze-thaw cycles that crack and warp lesser materials. But fiber cement is a precise product, and it only delivers on its warranty and its performance when it is installed exactly the way James Hardie specifies. That is why Hardie maintains a Preferred Contractor program, and DreamHome is in it.

This page explains the products we install and why the Preferred designation protects your investment.

What James Hardie Preferred Contractor means

The Preferred Contractor program recognizes installers who are committed to installing James Hardie products to the manufacturer’s standards, maintain proper licensing and insurance, and carry a track record of quality work. Hardie associates its brand with these contractors because the installation is where fiber cement succeeds or fails. Improper fastening, wrong gapping, poor flashing, or incorrect clearance to the ground can void the warranty and shorten the life of an otherwise excellent product.

DreamHome installs to Hardie specification, which is the entire point of using a Preferred Contractor.

HZ5: engineered for our climate

James Hardie engineers its siding for specific climate zones, and our region falls in the HZ5 zone, the formulation built for areas that experience freezing temperatures, seasonal moisture, and storms. HZ5 fiber cement is designed to resist the moisture absorption and freeze-thaw stress that defines a Mid-Atlantic winter. Installing the correct climate formulation is not optional, and a Preferred Contractor knows to specify it.

ColorPlus Technology

Hardie’s ColorPlus Technology is a factory-applied, multi-coat baked finish, not site-applied paint. The color is cured onto the board under controlled conditions, which gives it superior resistance to fading and a finish warranty of its own. For you, ColorPlus means the color you choose is the color the house keeps for years, without the repainting cycle that field-painted siding demands. We handle the color selection and order the boards pre-finished.

Why fiber cement, and why installed right

Fiber cement is solid, dense, and engineered, which is why it resists what destroys vinyl and wood: rot, insects, woodpeckers, fire, and cracking in the cold. But every one of those benefits depends on correct installation. The boards have to be fastened correctly, gapped and caulked correctly at the joints, flashed correctly at the openings, and held to the right clearance off the ground and the roof. Get those details wrong and water gets behind the cladding. Get them right, as a Preferred Contractor does, and the siding outlasts the mortgage.

What you get with DreamHome

• Preferred Contractor status. Recognized by James Hardie for installing to specification.
• The right climate formulation. HZ5 fiber cement engineered for Mid-Atlantic freeze-thaw conditions.
• Factory-baked color. ColorPlus Technology with its own finish warranty and a fade-resistant, low-maintenance finish.
• Local accountability. Headquartered at 7420 Fullerton Rd #100, Springfield, VA 22153, licensed Virginia Class A #2705060193 and Maryland MHIC #86964, locally owned since 1999.

Frequently asked questions