I have Hardiplank on SEVEN homes which I own. Speaking from experience the James Hardy product is pure junk. It is highly hydroscopic, meaning iT absorbs water readily. Once the siding has absorbed water, paint peeling is the likely result. We observe that on the south, west and eastern sides of our homes paint peeling is generally less of a problem as the sun exposure warms the siding and drives out most of the moisture absorbed in a heavy rain. The northern exposures are a different situation and that's where paint peeling is the biggest problem. In coastal locations Hardiplank is at its worst. Wind driven rain will force its way behind the siding and will often find its way behind the laps and will literally get between the siding and the paint forming large balloons under the paint filled with water! These balloons can be as large as a foot or two wide and unbelievably can hold 4-6 ounces of water for months until the peeling sets in. You pop the balloon and water runs down the side of the home! Additional areas where paint peeling and Hardiplank delamination often occur are any location where there is a high 'slash' effect off of gable roofs or splash from decks or porches back onto this siding. iF YOU READ THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, THEY WANT YOU TO KEEP THE PRODUCT 'X' INCHES AWAY FROM DECKS AND ROOF SURFACES, HOWEVER THIS ISJUST NOT PRACTICAL IN MANY CASES. In a real sense this is Hardy's own admission that the product is not suited for geographic areas of the US which receive a fair amount of rain due to water absorption. I've read lots of painters saying the problem is the paint. Over the years, we've tried all the major brands including Behr and Sherwin Williams and numerous others, and in our experience the paint makes little to no difference. In our view the product is not suitable as an exterior siding unless the structure is located in an arid environment like the southwest. Many homeowners have been told it's an installation problem. Except in the rarest cases, I do not believe it. I have seen rampant delamination of the product 2" from a patio surface and 20' above as well. I have experienced the butt joints open up as much as 3/4 of an inch on hot southern exposures. All this means that the product is swelling and shrinking constantly and inherently causes paint to peel as a result. In short, the product does not appear to be suited for the purpose for which it is intended: SIDING. I would not put it on a dog house!

James Hardie will tell you to carefully store the HardiePlank in the field per their instructions in order to avoid wavy siding. It says: "Store flat and keep dry and covered prior to installation." To me that means fully supported and not exposed to moisture from the ground or the weather. Pinebaron, I like the ribbon coursing very much. Is that a standard piece or did you have to rip a plank?

You have to sort out where these comments come from which is no easy task. Like Bunny. Her climate is stable due to lack of extremes. In a Baltimore penthouse I would assume it's climate controlled depending on the age? Relative humidity (RH) does matter a lot, but many don't think about the RH indoors; or the actual living space. That's where the floors are! Climates that use heat can easily take the RH into the teens unless there's humidity control. Heating systems without any humidification systems in place produce dry heat. Shrinkage occurs. Gaps. Warping is the reverse. There's too much humidity or moisture in the air/environment. Solid hardwood floors absorb the moisture. Not overnight or a week or so. Prolonged periods create the problems. Higher quality engineered hardwoods mitigate the problems immensely, but they too are not absent of potential problems especially in very dry climates. I deal with a number of clients in Colorado, Idaho, and similar dry regions. Projects are typically quite large and they usually have their ducks in order planning on a system that can keep the RH above 30% in the driest periods. I recommend the Humidifall systems for those planning and building their dream home in the dry regions. I've also seen them in medical buildings where air quality is important. Ken Fisher Uptown Floors

@ptreckel - this is exactly why we ended up with a painted door rather than a solid wood door like we originally thought we wanted. This way, when we get the itch, we can change the door color! And YES, I would definitely consider shutters in the future! Thank you! @Flo Mangan and @kodiac23 - really appreciated your input and help throughout this process. Thank you so much!