When it comes to protecting your home in the Chicagoland area, standard hollow siding often falls short. Between blistering summer heat, sub-zero winter freezes, and severe severe spring hailstorms, your home’s exterior takes a beating.

If you are considering a siding replacement, you need a system engineered for this specific climate. That is why at Great American Exteriors, we highly recommend our Fiber Cement Insulated Siding system: the unmatched durability of James Hardie® fiber cement paired with the thermal superiority of Neopor® insulation.

Here is why this combination is the smartest investment you can make for your home’s exterior.

1. The Heavyweight Champion: James Hardie Fiber Cement

James Hardie is the gold standard in the siding industry, and for good reason. Unlike traditional vinyl or wood, fiber cement is composed of a specialized blend of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. This makes it incredibly solid and uniquely equipped to handle Midwest weather:

• Extreme Durability: It is guaranteed not to flake, crack, blister, peel, warp, or rot.
• Impact and Wind Resistance: Our installations are engineered to withstand wind loads equivalent to 160 mph and are highly resistant to impacts, including hail up to the size of a golf ball.
• Pest and Fire Resistant: Fiber cement is completely impervious to termites and woodpeckers, and it is non-combustible.

2. The Hidden Powerhouse: Neopor® Insulation

While James Hardie boards are thick and durable, adding a layer of premium exterior foam insulation behind the siding transforms your walls into a highly energy-efficient barrier.

We utilize Neopor® insulation, a state-of-the-art rigid foam infused with high-purity graphite particles. These graphite particles reflect radiant heat, providing up to 20% more insulating value than traditional white EPS foam.

• Maximum Energy Efficiency: This creates a continuous R4 thermal break around your entire home, drastically reducing heat loss in the winter and keeping your home cooler in the summer.
• Moisture Management: When combined with our state-of-the-art house wraps, Neopor breathes. It prevents the retainment of moisture inside your wall cavities, preventing mold and creating a healthier living environment.

3. Why We Combine Them

Standard hollow siding leaves the wood framing of your house vulnerable to thermal bridging—where heat easily escapes through the wooden studs. By wrapping your home in Neopor insulation before the James Hardie siding goes up, we eliminate those drafts.

Furthermore, the contoured foam acts as a shock absorber. It fills the gap behind the siding profile, adding significant structural strength and even further improving the impact resistance of the fiber cement.

The Great American Exteriors Advantage

We don’t just use the best materials; we back them with the strongest guarantees in the industry. When our factory-trained installers upgrade your home, you receive:

• 100% Non-Prorated Lifetime Coverage: As long as you reside in the home, you are fully covered.
• 60-Year Transferability: Selling your home? The warranty transfers to the next owner, instantly boosting your resale value.
• Flawless Finish: All panels are treated with Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) to eliminate chalking, ensuring uniform weathering and fading coverage (no checkerboarding).
• Lifetime Installation Warranty: 100% coverage on workmanship and labor with no house call charges, fees, or deductibles.

Don’t settle for standard when you can have superior protection. Reduce your heating and cooling costs, elevate your curb appeal, and never scrape or paint again.

Check out how we at Great American Exteriors use an energy saving system with James Hardie and Neopor here.