A lot of the calls we get from Masaryktown start the same way: a homeowner wants the warm, board-and-batten or lap-siding look of real wood on their house. That's a good instinct — wood siding has a character that's hard to fake. But when we walk the property and talk through what that house will be dealing with over the next twenty years in Hernando County, the conversation almost always ends the same way too: we recommend James Hardie fiber cement siding instead, styled to give you that same wood look, minus the problems real wood brings to this climate.
We want to be upfront about that from the start of this page, because it's our standard across every job we take on, not just something we mention after you've already signed a contract. Alpine Exteriors installs James Hardie fiber cement exclusively. We don't install real wood siding, vinyl, or engineered wood products like LP SmartSide. Here's the reasoning, and why it matters more in a place like Masaryktown than it might somewhere else.
Wood siding isn't a bad product on paper. The issue is what it demands from a homeowner over time, and what happens when that maintenance gets skipped — which it usually does, because nobody buys a house planning to recaulk and repaint every few years for the next few decades.
None of this means wood siding is a scam or that every wood-sided house in Masaryktown is falling apart — plenty of owners keep up with it. It means that as a contractor putting our name and our warranty behind the work, we'd rather install something that gives you the same curb appeal without asking you to maintain it like a boat hull.
This is the part that surprises most homeowners: James Hardie fiber cement siding is designed specifically to replicate the look of milled wood, down to the grain texture, and most people can't tell the difference from the curb.
We install several Hardie profiles that read as "wood siding" once they're up and painted:
The material itself is cement, sand, and cellulose fiber — it doesn't rot, it doesn't feed termites, and it's engineered to resist swelling and cracking from Florida's humidity swings. With a factory-baked ColorPlus finish, the color is fused to the board rather than sitting on top of it, so it holds up dramatically longer than field-applied paint on real wood — often 15 years or more before you're thinking about a repaint, versus 3-5 for wood.
Masaryktown is unincorporated Hernando County, sitting inland off the US-41/US-98 corridor between Brooksville and Spring Hill. It's a different character than the beach towns to the west — larger lots, more tree cover, a mix of older ranch homes, mobile and manufactured housing, and newer construction on cleared acreage. That mix matters for siding decisions in a few specific ways:
| Factor | Real Wood Siding | James Hardie Fiber Cement |
|---|---|---|
| Repaint/reseal interval (this climate) | 3-5 years | 15+ years with ColorPlus finish |
| Termite resistance | Requires ongoing treatment/vigilance | Not a food source — inherently resistant |
| Moisture/humidity response | Swells, cracks, warps over time | Engineered for humid, wet climates |
| Storm/wind exposure | Vulnerable to wind-driven rain intrusion | Rated for high-wind, wet-climate exposure |
| Visual style options | Lap, shake, board-and-batten | Same styles replicated in Cedarmill and Smooth textures |
| Typical warranty | Limited, maintenance-dependent | 30-year manufacturer limited warranty on most products |
Every quote is different because every house is different, but these are the main variables that move the price up or down on a fiber cement siding job:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Existing siding removal | Tearing off old wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding adds labor and disposal cost versus a bare or already-stripped wall |
| Wall square footage | Larger homes and single-story ranches with long wall runs cost more in material and labor than compact footprints |
| Profile and texture | Board-and-batten and custom trim details take more labor than straight lap siding runs |
| Substrate condition | Rotted sheathing or water damage found underneath old siding needs repair before new siding goes up |
| Trim and accent work | Corner boards, window trim, and gable detailing add material and install time |
| Access and lot layout | Tree cover, fencing, and setback on larger rural lots can affect equipment access and staging |
We give a written, itemized estimate before any work starts so you can see exactly what's driving the number — no vague lump-sum pricing.
Fiber cement performs the way it's supposed to only when it's installed to manufacturer specification, and this is where a lot of siding jobs go wrong regardless of the material used.
We're not going to tell you fiber cement is zero-maintenance — nothing on the exterior of a Florida house is. But the maintenance load drops significantly compared to wood:
Whatever contractor you go with, here's what's worth checking before signing anything:
If you're weighing your options for exterior siding in Masaryktown — whether you came to us wanting a wood look or you're not sure yet what's right for your house — we're glad to walk the property, talk through what we're seeing, and give you a straight, no-pressure estimate using the form below.
A siding contractor specializes specifically in exterior wall systems — installation, flashing, and manufacturer-spec detailing — while a general contractor typically manages a broader scope like additions or full remodels and may subcontract siding out. For a siding-only project, hiring a contractor with direct manufacturer experience on that product usually gets you better detailing and a stronger warranty.
Florida contractor licenses can be verified directly through the DBPR's online license search using the contractor's name or license number. You should also confirm current liability insurance and workers' comp coverage separately, since a valid license doesn't guarantee active insurance.
James Hardie engineers its products by climate zone, including a HardieZone formulation for humid, high-moisture regions like central Florida, and backs installations with a strong manufacturer warranty when installed by a trained contractor. That climate-specific engineering is the main reason we standardized on it rather than a generic fiber cement product.
ColorPlus is a finish baked onto the board at the factory under controlled conditions, giving it much stronger UV and moisture resistance than paint applied on-site after installation. Field-painted Hardie siding still performs well, but ColorPlus generally holds its color and seal significantly longer in Florida's sun and humidity.
Yes — homes under heavy oak canopy hold moisture against exterior walls longer, and Hernando County has active termite populations, so proper flashing, drainage detailing, and a non-wood substrate matter more here than on an open, sun-exposed lot. We account for tree shade and drainage patterns during the site walk before recommending a siding plan.