Durability
The durability of PVC and fibre cement cladding is fundamentally different, PVC will inevitably become brittle and fade over time. James Hardie fibre cement cladding is very durable due to the nature of the composition of the product: cellulose fibre and cement, both of these are extremely resilient. Additionally, James Hardie cladding such as Hardie® Plank, is climate engineered, meaning that it is specifically designed for the climate zone in which it will be used. Hardie® Plank weatherboard is also more dimensionally stable and can withstand high wind loads.
Fire resistance
Fire endurance is probably the biggest difference between PVC and fibre cement cladding. PVC cladding comes with fire classification D-s3, d2, this means it is a combustible material with medium contribution to fire. As PVC is a type of plastic it can melt and warp when exposed to fire.
All James Hardie cladding products in fibre cement have a fire classification of A2-s1, d0, which means it is a non combustible material with no contribution to fire. Therefore it is a very safe choice of exterior cladding material.
Learn more about fire ratings and fire resistance of different cladding materials on our Fire resistant cladding page.
Maintenance
PVC and fibre cement cladding are both known to be low maintenance building materials. Generally over time, PVC cladding may be susceptible to fading and cannot be painted over if the colour fades or changes. However, James Hardie’s fibre cement cladding products have a baked on paint which creates a unique surface with enhanced protection. Our surface with ColourPlus™ Technology results in a low maintenance, fade resistant cladding material.