Ferndale Siding Cemplank Looks Like a Reasonable Choice — Here's Why We Still Say No
Cemplank is a real fiber cement siding product, made by Plycem, and it's not a scam or a knockoff. It's cellulose-reinforced cement board, sold through a lot of the same lumberyards and distributors that carry other fiber cement lines. On paper it competes directly with James Hardie. In practice, after years of installing and repairing siding across Ferndale and the rest of Whatcom County, we made the call to install James Hardie exclusively. This page explains why, honestly, without trashing Cemplank as a product.
What Cemplank Gets Right
Fiber cement in general is a good fit for our climate. It doesn't rot, it doesn't feed insects, and it holds paint far longer than wood. Cemplank is non-combustible like other fiber cement boards, and it's typically priced a step below Hardie, which makes it attractive on bid sheets. For a contractor trying to win a job on price, that gap matters. We're not going to pretend otherwise.
Where Our Concerns Start
Our reservations about Cemplank aren't about a single defect — they're about consistency, support, and long-term performance in a marine climate that doesn't forgive shortcuts. A few specifics:
- Factory finish options. Hardie's ColorPlus finish is baked on and warranted separately from the substrate, with a broad, consistent color palette engineered to hold up under UV and moisture cycling. Cemplank's factory-finish and color program has historically been thinner, which pushes more jobs toward field painting — and field-applied paint is only as good as the prep, the primer, and the caulking crew that day.
- Regional engineering. Hardie builds climate-specific product lines — HZ5 for our zone — engineered around moisture exposure patterns common to the Pacific Northwest. We haven't seen Cemplank offer the same level of regional differentiation.
- Warranty structure and backing. Hardie's transferable warranty is well documented and widely honored by installers and inspectors alike, which matters at resale. We want every warranty claim we might ever have to help a client with to be straightforward, not a negotiation.
- Installer familiarity and supply. Because we run one product line, every crew member knows the fastening schedule, clearances, and caulking details cold. Mixing products across jobs increases the odds of an installation mistake — and fiber cement siding is far more sensitive to installation error than most homeowners realize, regardless of brand.
Why Installation Sensitivity Matters More Here Than Elsewhere
Ferndale sits close enough to Bellingham Bay and the Salish Sea that salt-laden air is a real factor on siding, trim, and fasteners. Add Whatcom County's driving winter rain and a moss season that can run from October into May, and you've got a climate that punishes any siding installed with the wrong gap, uncaulked joint, or missed flashing detail. Fiber cement is durable material, but it's not forgiving of sloppy work — moisture that gets behind the board and can't escape will cause problems no matter whose name is on the panel. That's true of Hardie and Cemplank both. Standardizing on one product lets our crews build deep, repeatable expertise in exactly how that one system needs to be detailed for this coastline, instead of switching specs from job to job.
Side-by-Side, Honestly
| Factor | Cemplank | James Hardie |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Fiber cement | Fiber cement |
| Fire resistance | Non-combustible | Non-combustible |
| Factory finish | Narrower program historically | ColorPlus, broad palette, separately warranted |
| Climate-specific lines | Not regionally differentiated | HZ5 engineered for Pacific Northwest exposure |
| Warranty reputation | Less established in our market | Long-standing, transferable, widely recognized |
| Typical cost | Generally lower | Moderate premium |
Our Standard, Not a Verdict on Theirs
We're not telling homeowners that Cemplank will fail on their house. Plenty of it is out there performing fine. What we're telling you is that after weighing finish quality, warranty backing, and the value of our crews specializing deeply in one system, we decided James Hardie is what we're willing to put our name behind and stand by for the life of the siding. In a climate with this much salt air, rain, and moss pressure, we'd rather install fewer products extremely well than more products adequately.
What We Actually Install
Every exterior we put on a home in Ferndale is James Hardie fiber cement — lap siding, panel, or trim, in the HZ5 formulation built for our zone, with ColorPlus factory finish where it fits the design. It costs a bit more up front than some alternatives. We think the finish quality, the warranty, and the fact that our crews install nothing else is worth that difference over the life of the siding.
If you're weighing siding materials for a home in Ferndale or anywhere else in Whatcom County, we're happy to walk your property, look at your exposure, and talk through the real trade-offs — no pressure, no obligation. Reach out for a free estimate.
