To be honest I am moving to LP smartpanel and plank. So much easier labor. Cuts like wood. Is not brittle etc. Lighter works. Makes it a DIY deal without risk of silicosis to boot. I am sad that I have bought fancy hardi tools at this point.

Just do what everyone else is doing.

I did for 30 years.

At the end of the day, when you do go to sell your house..I would think buyers will look at much, much more than your hardi plank! As long as the exterior is well kept and up to the standard of the other homes in your area..buyers will move on to the big selling issues like kitchens and bathrooms.

If it matches your neighbors, only you will care. No buyer will. A better upgrade would be to overall assess the exterior elevations for other improvements that will take away the builder cliché look. Like having brick only on the front. Now there is an opportunity for better return on investment.

I'd do almost anything to avoid vinyl siding (and the nasty trim that typically comes along with it.)

You never want to be the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

Well actually rwiegand, I'm not too far off on your thoughts with our house build either. We will be one of the more expensive homes right now in the neighborhood. However what works for us in our "golden" years is different than for someone in the middle years where it most likely isn't their final home.

I can't help but think fiber cement is the new vinyl. At least with uninsulated vinyl, it creates it's own rainscreen, better protecting the structure behind it. With fiber cement and traditional plank lapped products, you add furring strips to achieve a rainscreen, which is rare but gaining traction for quality minded installs.

I too prefer LP to Hardie for planks, as most builders in our area seem to be switching over but neither would be my first choice for a custom home.

Historically Hardie has issues. The most critical is instal. We've looked at several options and our builder recommended staying away from both Hardie board and LP. Think long term maintenance costs. There are options and everyone has opinions. When the day is done though, it is all about the prep work and the installation. If it's not done right, I don't care what siding you chose, you are going to have issues. Best of luck!

I guess I am too sensitive, but I really think the site dictates siding characteristics. By that I mean environmental variables as well as architectural consideration.