James Hardie® Siding Rockford IL | Certified James Hardie Installer
James Hardie® Fiber Cement Siding: Certified Installer Serving Rockford, IL & Southern WI
Martin Exteriors is a certified James Hardie® installer serving Rockford, IL and the surrounding Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin area. James Hardie fiber cement siding is one of the most durable, beautiful, and low-maintenance siding products available, and our team has the training and certification to install it the right way, backed by James Hardie’s industry-leading warranty.
Whether you’re replacing aging wood siding, upgrading from vinyl, or building new, James Hardie siding is built for the Midwest: engineered to withstand freeze-thaw cycles, severe hail, high humidity, and the wide temperature swings that are routine across Illinois and Wisconsin.
What Is James Hardie® Fiber Cement Siding?
James Hardie fiber cement is a composite siding material made from a proprietary blend of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber. Unlike wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding, it is engineered to resist the specific climate challenges your home faces, and James Hardie’s HardieZone® System means your siding is specifically formulated for Midwest weather conditions. Weighing it against vinyl? See our guide to James Hardie vs vinyl siding.
Key Product Benefits
- Pest resistant: Hardie® fiber cement holds little appeal for woodpeckers and is not a food source for termites or other insects that damage wood siding. Already have woodpecker holes in wood siding? See our woodpecker siding damage repair page.
- Fire resistant: James Hardie siding is non-combustible and has earned fire ratings that wood and vinyl cannot match
- Moisture resistant: In independent testing, James Hardie siding showed no visible swelling after 7 days of full water saturation, compared to significant swelling in cedar siding
- Impact resistant: Engineered to withstand hail events common across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin
- Low maintenance: Does not rot, warp, or require frequent repainting the way wood siding does
- Authentic wood appearance: Available in profiles and textures that replicate the look of natural wood without the upkeep
Why One Homeowner Switched to James Hardie
James Hardie Espresso Siding Stops Woodpecker Damage
ColorPlus® Technology: Color That Lasts
James Hardie’s exclusive ColorPlus® Technology applies color in a controlled factory environment using a baked-on multi-coat finish, rather than painting on-site after installation. The result is a more durable, uniform finish backed by a 15-year warranty against chipping, peeling, and cracking.
The 2026 Color of the Year is Iron Gray, a bold, sophisticated neutral that pairs beautifully with white trim and complements both traditional and modern home styles. Popular colors from the Statement Collection® include:
- Arctic White: a crisp, clean white ideal for trim and accents
- Deep Ocean: a rich deep navy perfect for craftsman or coastal-inspired homes
- Light Mist: a soft warm gray for a timeless, understated look
Martin Exteriors can help you select the right color combination for your home’s architecture and neighborhood.
The Complete Exterior™ System
James Hardie’s Complete Exterior™ System combines Hardie® Plank siding with Hardie® Trim in Arctic White and Hardie® Soffit panels, all designed to work together for a finished, cohesive look from roofline to foundation.
When your siding, trim, and soffit are all James Hardie products, they expand and contract at the same rate, reducing the risk of gaps, warping, or paint mismatches over time. Martin Exteriors installs the complete system to James Hardie’s specifications.
Hardie Products We Install
James Hardie makes more than lap siding. We install the full line so the whole exterior works together:
- HardiePlank lap siding. The classic horizontal board and the most common choice.
- HardiePanel vertical siding with Hardie Trim Batten boards for a board and batten look.
- HardieShingle siding for gables, dormers and accent areas.
- Hardie Trim and Hardie Soffit to finish corners, edges and overhangs. If the trim at your roof edge is rotted, see soffit and fascia repair.
Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is a Certified James Hardie Installer, and we will go over profiles and ColorPlus colors with you during your free estimate.
James Hardie Projects Near You
Each of these project pages has a short video of the work:
- Country Lane Red in Poplar Grove: a homeowner whose vinyl siding was rippling where sunlight reflected onto it switched to James Hardie fiber cement.
- Espresso in Elkhorn: dark brown Hardie siding chosen to replace woodpecker damaged siding on a 40 year old house.
- Deep Ocean with a GAF roof in Belvidere: James Hardie in Deep Ocean paired with GAF Timberline HDZ shingles in Pewter Gray.
- Lake home remodel in Lake Geneva: new James Hardie siding, a GAF Timberline HDZ roof and matching trim on a family lake home.
How a Hardie Siding Project Works
- Free estimate. Estimates are free for everyone. We look at your current siding and talk through products, profiles and colors.
- Written quote. You get a transparent, itemized quote before anything is scheduled.
- Installation. We install your siding, trim and soffit to James Hardie’s specifications. Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days.
We install year round, winter included, so your project does not have to wait on the calendar. Want the roof done too? We also handle roof replacement, so both can be planned together.
James Hardie Price Increase on January 4, 2027
James Hardie has announced a price increase starting January 4, 2027. If you sign with us before January, we’ll hold your quoted price. Because we install year round, signing now doesn’t mean waiting until spring.
Damaged Hardie or Old Siding?
We fix siding by replacing the damaged boards or sections, never with sealant or filler patches. Whether it is a cracked Hardie board or old siding that is failing, see siding repair in Rockford for how we handle it.
Looking for a lower cost option? Vinyl siding is the other main choice we install. For the big picture, see our siding page.
Martin Exteriors has been family-owned since 2006 and was voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025. Financing is available as low as $149/month for qualified buyers through our financing options.
Why Choose Martin Exteriors for Your James Hardie Installation?
Not every contractor is qualified to install James Hardie products, and improper installation can void your product warranty and lead to moisture damage, buckling, or premature failure. Martin Exteriors is a certified James Hardie installer, which means:
- Our installation teams are trained and certified to James Hardie’s exacting standards
- You receive the full benefit of James Hardie’s 30-year, non-prorated product warranty
- We use only manufacturer-approved flashing, fasteners, and caulking systems
- Our work is backed by Martin Exteriors’ own craftsmanship guarantee
As a GAF Master Elite® roofing contractor, four-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and voted Rockford’s best siding contractor five years running, we hold ourselves to the same high standard on every product and service we offer.
James Hardie Siding FAQ
Are you a certified James Hardie installer?
Yes. Martin Exteriors is a Certified James Hardie Installer.
How long does a Hardie siding job take?
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days.
Can you install James Hardie siding in winter?
Yes. We install year round, winter included.
Is James Hardie raising prices?
Yes. James Hardie has announced a price increase starting January 4, 2027. If you sign with us before January, we’ll hold your quoted price.
Can I get Hardie siding and a new GAF roof together?
Yes. We install both, so the roof and siding can be planned as one project. See our Belvidere James Hardie and GAF example.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Estimates are free for everyone.
Can I finance Hardie siding?
Yes. Financing is available as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. See our financing options.
Schedule Your Free James Hardie Siding Estimate
Ready to upgrade your home’s exterior with the industry’s most trusted fiber cement siding? Martin Exteriors offers free, no-pressure siding estimates for homeowners across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. We’ll assess your current siding, discuss material and color options, and provide a transparent, itemized quote.
