Frustrated by stucco that’s cracked and deteriorating on your home exterior?
Many homes in Chicagoland feature cement and plaster stucco siding, as the material was popular in the early 20th century when houses were designed to mimic a Mediterranean style. But it doesn’t always age well — and that means you’ll eventually deal with stucco failure.
Here’s why fiber cement siding from James Hardie is the best solution to get lasting, low-maintenance performance for your exterior.
What Makes Stucco Failure Such a Problem
The term stucco failure refers to an all-too-common problem for homeowners — moisture damage. Both traditional and synthetic forms of this building material can be easily weakened due to exposure to dampness.
While moisture is a concern with any material, it’s especially troubling when combined with stucco because the damage can hide in the foam insulation behind your stucco siding. As a result, it’s hard to spot the early stages of stucco failure. You might only notice it once the damage has compounded, causing you headaches and costly structural repairs.
And since stucco is so prone to moisture damage, it’s not recommended for homes in the Chicago area—because it can’t withstand our region’s wet, cold, windy weather.
What Makes Hardie Siding a Lasting Fix for Stucco Failure
Whether you are seeing signs of stucco failure such as wood rot, discoloration, cracks, and mold, or whether you’re ready for a new exterior look, you should really consider all the facets of James Hardie siding. Here’s why.
Resistant to Moisture Damage
When you’re looking for a building material that stands up well to Chicago’s rain, snow, ice and lakeside humidity, choices like stucco (and wood) are not ideal.
But Hardie siding is made from durable fiber cement (Portland cement, sand, and cellulose), and it doesn’t wear down when exposed to damp weather.
Keeps Mold and Mildew at Bay
Stucco hides moisture, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew to bloom. These growths are not only unsightly, they’re also unhealthy, aggravating allergies and breathing problems.
Here’s the good news — Hardie siding is created from a manmade material (fiber cement) that mold and mildew don’t easily grow on.
Easy to Care for
Stucco is notoriously challenging to maintain. Even mild moisture damage can cause it to look blotchy, powdery, or discolored. It can also crack and crumble. And you don’t want to just patch and paint it without confirming there’s no moisture damage beneath the stucco. What an annoyance!
Hardie siding is super simple to care for. It retains paint longer than other materials, and you can even get it with factory applied ColorPlus™ Technology for a vibrant surface that lasts for up to 15 years (warrantied!). It doesn’t easily crack or dent. Just rinse it once or twice a year with a garden hose and check its caulking. That’s it.
Looks Beautiful for Decades
While stucco can have an attractive appearance when it’s initially applied, it wears down fast — losing its luster. In Chicago’s moist, harsh weather environment, stucco simply won’t retain its good looks. It causes your home to lose its curb appeal quickly.
With Hardie siding, it’s the total opposite! This luxurious, elegant siding material retains its attractive style for decades with hardly anything to do on your part. It’s warrantied for 30 years, but often lasts up to 50. Its lasting beauty is one of the reasons American homeowners choose Hardie siding as their #1 siding choice.
Environmentally Friendly
Many homeowners appreciate the fact that stucco is a building material with a good degree of eco-friendliness. And that’s a good thing. The problem is, stucco tends to wear down quickly, especially in the Chicago area. As a result, it needs replacement more often — adding to landfills.
If you want a green choice for your home, James Hardie siding can’t be beat. Its cement-based makeup is so long-lasting, it doesn’t take up as much landfill space as other sidings.
Give Your Exterior New Life with James Hardie Siding from Siding & Windows Group
If your home features stucco, it’s important to find a lasting solution that puts an end — for good — to the problems stucco failure can cause. Gorgeous fiber cement siding from James Hardie is an excellent choice, one that will give you decades of lasting, low-maintenance beauty.
As a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, we have performed more precision installations of this gorgeous, leading material than anyone else in the Chicago area. We’ll ensure your siding is installed the right way so that your warranty is protected.
Learn more about Siding & Window Group’s precision James Hardie siding installations — and discover for yourself the value of choosing this lasting, gorgeous siding to upgrade your Chicago area home.
