Anacortes Exterior Two Fiber Cement Products, Not the Same Siding
If you've been quoting siding jobs in Skagit County, you've probably heard both names: James Hardie and Cemplank. Both are fiber cement products, both get marketed as low-maintenance alternatives to wood, and on a spec sheet they can look similar enough that homeowners assume they're interchangeable. They aren't, and the differences matter more here than in a lot of the country because of what Anacortes weather actually does to a house.
We install James Hardie exclusively. Not because Cemplank is a bad product in some general sense — fiber cement as a category is a real improvement over wood and vinyl — but because of specific, practical differences in how each company builds, finishes, and stands behind its siding. Here's the honest comparison.
What Cemplank Gets Right
Cemplank is manufactured by a large international building materials company, and it's a genuine fiber cement product: cellulose fiber, sand, and Portland cement pressed into planks and panels. That means it shares the core advantages of the category over vinyl or wood:
- It's non-combustible, which matters for fire-rated assemblies and insurance considerations.
- It doesn't rot, and it resists the woodpeckers, carpenter ants, and moisture-loving pests that go after cedar siding in this area.
- It holds paint and factory finishes far longer than wood.
- It's typically priced a step below James Hardie, which makes it attractive on tighter budgets.
For a straightforward, moderate climate, Cemplank can be a reasonable siding choice. Our reservations are specific to what happens when that siding spends thirty years exposed to Pacific Northwest weather.
Where the Two Companies Diverge
Climate-Engineered Product Lines
James Hardie builds separate product formulations for different climate zones — HZ5 for the wetter, colder regions like ours, versus HZ10 for hot, dry climates. The plank composition, moisture resistance, and installation specs are tuned to the region before the product ever ships. Cemplank does not offer that same regional engineering. On a coastal Skagit County property dealing with salt air, driving rain off the Sound, and a long moss season, a product engineered specifically for wet-climate performance is not a marketing detail — it's the difference between siding that sheds moisture cleanly for decades and siding that's working harder than it was designed to.
Factory Finish and Color Warranty
James Hardie's ColorPlus finish is baked on in a controlled factory process with a separate, transferable finish warranty on top of the substrate warranty. Cemplank's factory-finished options exist, but the finish warranty structure and the depth of color/finish options available to installers in our market aren't at the same level. In a climate where UV exposure is actually moderate but moisture and mildew pressure are constant, finish adhesion and touch-up performance over time is where cheaper fiber cement often starts to show its age first — chalking, fading unevenly, or needing repaint years before a ColorPlus-finished board would.
Local Supply Chain and Installer Support
James Hardie has invested heavily in regional distribution, contractor training, and installer certification programs. That matters on the ground: consistent batch quality, better lead times, and a manufacturer that will actually engage if there's a product defect claim. Cemplank's distribution and contractor support network in the Pacific Northwest is thinner, which shows up as longer waits on backorders and less local recourse if something goes wrong.
Warranty Structure
Both companies offer warranties on their siding, but James Hardie's transferable, non-prorated warranty terms are more homeowner-friendly, especially for anyone who might sell the house within the warranty period. A warranty that loses value the moment you sell isn't much of a warranty for resale purposes — and most Anacortes homeowners aren't planning to live in a house for the full 30-plus years a well-installed fiber cement siding job should last.
Why This Matters More in Anacortes Than Elsewhere
None of these differences would be a big deal in a dry inland climate where siding just has to look decent and shed occasional rain. That's not the environment here. Skagit County homes take on salt-laden air off Fidalgo Bay, sustained wind-driven rain through the fall and winter, and months of damp, low-sun conditions that keep moss and algae established on north-facing walls. Siding here isn't just a finish material — it's a moisture management system that has to perform every single day of the year, not just look good on installation day.
That's the standard we hold every job to, and it's why we made the decision years ago to install only James Hardie. We'd rather turn down a lower-cost bid than put a product on a home that we think will underperform in this specific climate.
Our Recommendation
If a contractor quotes you Cemplank at a lower price, that's a legitimate product and a legitimate business decision on their part — we're not here to tell you it will fail. We're telling you why we, specifically, don't install it: we've standardized on the fiber cement system engineered and warrantied for exactly the conditions your house sits in.
If you're weighing siding options for a home in Anacortes or anywhere in Skagit County, we're happy to walk through the real trade-offs in person. Request a free, no-pressure estimate below and we'll give you a straight answer on what your house needs.