Lynden Siding Allura Is a Real Fiber Cement Product — So Why Don't We Install It?
Homeowners in Lynden and across Whatcom County sometimes ask why we don't offer Allura fiber cement siding, especially since it's priced competitively and marketed as a straightforward alternative to James Hardie. It's a fair question, and the honest answer isn't that Allura is a bad product. It's that after years of installing and standing behind fiber cement siding in this climate, we made a business decision to install one system, back it with one warranty structure, and install it to one exacting standard. That system is James Hardie.
Allura (originally known as Plycem in North America) is a legitimate fiber cement manufacturer, and its panels and lap siding share the same basic composition as Hardie's: cement, sand, and cellulose fiber, pressed and cured into a rigid board. On paper, the two products look similar. In practice, the differences that matter most to a homeowner in a wet, salt-air coastal climate show up in the finish system, the warranty, and the support network behind the product — not in the raw material itself.
What Lynden's Climate Actually Demands
Whatcom County sits close enough to the Salish Sea that homes here deal with salt-laden air, long stretches of driving rain off the Pacific, and a moss and algae season that can run most of the year in shaded, north-facing exposures. Siding here isn't just a cosmetic layer — it's the first line of defense against moisture intrusion, and it needs a factory finish that holds its color and seals its edges for decades, not just a few seasons.
This is where the gap between Allura and Hardie becomes real. James Hardie's ColorPlus finish is baked on in a climate-controlled factory process, cured to resist UV fading, chipping, and moisture penetration at the cut edges when installed correctly. Hardie also engineers regional product lines — including HZ5 formulations built specifically for wetter, harsher climates like the Pacific Northwest. Allura offers primed and some pre-finished options, but it does not have the same depth of climate-specific engineering or the same long track record of factory-finish performance data in wet coastal regions that Hardie has built over decades.
Where Allura Holds Its Own
To be fair to the product: Allura fiber cement is genuinely fire-resistant, rot-resistant, and far more durable than vinyl or wood siding. It's not a corner-cutting material, and homeowners who've had it installed by a qualified crew have had reasonable experiences with it. If your only comparison were "fiber cement vs. everything else," Allura would be a solid choice. Our decision isn't a knock on the product's core composition — it's about the full package a manufacturer stands behind once that siding is on your wall.
The Warranty and Support Gap
A siding warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it, and how it treats labor and finish coverage after year one matters more than the headline number. James Hardie's warranty structure includes a substantial, non-prorated finish warranty on ColorPlus products and a transferable product warranty that follows the home if you sell it — a real benefit in a market where buyers ask about siding age and condition. Allura's warranty terms are less established in this market, and the resale conversation is harder when a buyer's inspector or agent isn't as familiar with the brand.
There's also a practical, day-to-day issue: color and profile matching. Hardie's national dealer network and decades of market presence mean that if a section of siding is ever damaged — a tree limb, a vehicle backing into a wall, storm debris — matching boards, trim, and touch-up paint is straightforward almost anywhere in the country. Allura's more limited distribution footprint in the Pacific Northwest can make future repairs and exact color matches more of a scramble.
Why We Standardized on One Product
We used to think offering multiple fiber cement brands gave homeowners more choice. What we found in practice is that installing one product, to one spec, lets our crews build genuine expertise in that system's fastening patterns, clearances, caulking points, and finish handling — the details that actually determine whether siding performs for 30-plus years in this climate or starts failing at the seams in year eight. James Hardie's HZ5 lines, ColorPlus finish, and long regional track record in wet coastal conditions matched what we saw performing best on homes throughout Whatcom County, so that's what we put our name behind.
We're not going to tell you Allura will fail on your home — that's not a claim we can make or one we'd want to make about a competitor's product. What we can tell you is that after weighing the finish warranty, the transferability, the regional engineering, and the long-term support network, James Hardie was the clear choice for a contractor that wants to stand behind its work for decades, not just through the first winter.
| Factor | James Hardie | Allura |
|---|---|---|
| Factory finish system | ColorPlus, climate-controlled cure | Primed / select pre-finished options |
| Regional climate engineering | HZ5 lines for wet coastal regions | General-purpose formulations |
| Finish warranty | Long, non-prorated coverage on ColorPlus | Less established in this market |
| Transferable warranty | Yes, follows the home at resale | Varies |
| Regional dealer/repair network | Extensive, easy color/profile matching | More limited in the Pacific Northwest |
If you're weighing siding options for a home in Lynden or anywhere else in Whatcom County, we're happy to walk through what we install, why, and what it would take to do the job right on your house. Reach out for a free, no-pressure estimate — there's no obligation, just an honest look at your siding and what it needs.