Historic buildings connect communities to their local cultural heritage. Like a story that gets passed down through generations, these spaces remind us where we came from, how far we’ve come, and the values we’ve retained as our society evolves. But the 21st century presents some unique obstacles to historic preservation that require forward-thinking solutions. James Hardie is proud to play a role in historic preservation efforts that are cognizant of these modern challenges.

Hardie® siding products have the aesthetic versatility needed to maintain a neighborhood’s historical character while providing the durability needed to withstand the climate threats facing a growing number of homes across the nation. Last year, an update to National Park Service (NPS) guidance on the use of substitute materials when considering fiber cement siding to repair or rehabilitate historic buildings, and historic preservation boards in communities across the country have embraced Hardie siding as a cost-effective, resilient, and sustainable alternative to traditional wood siding materials.

It’s not possible to freeze time. But with the right materials, preservationists can open a window into the past that will last far into the future.

A Storm Chaser’s Home: Armed for the Future with the Charm of the Past

When Josh Morgerman, a professional storm chaser, brought plans to build a home in the historic district of Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, the local Historic Commission approved his plan to use Hardie® siding for the home’s exterior.

“Because of this area being coastal and being susceptible to humidity, wind, hurricanes, termites, rot… the general rule of thumb is that Hardie [siding] is considered a replacement option,” said Matt Stieffel, a Realtor who has served on the Bay Saint Louis Historic Commission for several years. Historic homes clad in wood siding are more vulnerable to damage from moisture. Wood siding also provides fuel for wildfires and attracts pests like woodpeckers and termites.

Hardie fiber cement siding products, on the other hand, are engineered to resist moisture and withstand extreme temperatures. They don’t attract critters and won’t burn when exposed to a direct flame. For certain siding styles, the Commission does prefer original replacement materials at the front of the house. “But if it’s lap [siding] board, then Hardie is 100% viable,” he said. “If it’s painted properly and you use the right grain, it’s really indistinguishable [from wood],” he added.

Morgerman has been enthralled by extreme weather for as long as he can remember. With the iCyclone team, he’s chased more than 75 tropical cyclones. Despite an acute awareness of how destructive hurricanes can be, “I wanted to live in hurricane country,” Morgerman said. His exciting career brought him to build a home in beautiful Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, a historical town with a “cataclysmic hurricane history” that called for the strongest building materials he could find. “It’s almost like building a house on train tracks,” he said. “It’s going to get hit.”

“One of the most important things was the siding,” said Morgerman. “Not only do the winds have tremendous force on their own, but in a severe hurricane the air is filled with flying wreckage.” He needed an exterior that would act as a coat of armor for his home. “That’s one of the main reasons I went with Hardie® siding,” he said.

Many of the homes in the Bay Saint Louis historical district reflect traditional New Orleans architectural styles, and Morgerman was mindful of maintaining that aesthetic. The local Historical Commission, which has established design guidelines and a rigorous approval process for new construction, was also pleased with Morgerman’s choice of siding. “Here, the Historical Commission sees Hardie siding as being consistent with their goal of preserving the historical character of the neighborhood,” he said, explaining that wood is a poor choice for the area given its susceptibility to moisture damage.

Though resilience was a top priority for Morgerman, he also cared deeply about aesthetic appeal. Choosing Hardie® siding didn’t require him to sacrifice an authentic look, since the product is virtually indistinguishable from wood. “Walking down the street in Bay Saint Louis, some of these old houses have wood siding and some of them have Hardie siding, and you can’t tell.” Morgerman used a combination of Hardie Plank lap siding, Hardie Trim board, and staggered-edge Hardie Shingle in the gables to create a classic New Orleans shotgun house. The finished look has brought endless compliments. “It looks like a beautifully-restored, hundred-year-old house,” he said, and Stieffel agreed.

Morgerman wasn’t the only homeowner to choose Hardie siding for his Bay Saint Louis home. Stieffel, who has used Hardie siding personally, said it’s prevalent in the area, and homeowners who choose the product as a replacement material reap the benefits. “By taking off the damaged old siding and replacing it with Hardie [siding] they’re making it a much more sustainable, long-term, durable house.”

That’s especially true for homes currently sided with vinyl, explained Stieffel. “To me, it’s considered an upgrade if a house has Hardie® siding versus vinyl,” he said. “It’s looked at as adding value to properties,” which is a central concern for the Historic Commission. Hardie siding is made from durable raw materials, giving it a long service life and a low embodied carbon content, providing an environmentally-friendly alternative to wood. It’s also less costly to install and maintain than wood siding. It’s no wonder that the updated NPS Preservation Brief 16 recognizes fiber cement siding as a resilient substitute for wood.