Featured Article:

Remodeling Magazine Ranks Fiber Cement Siding a Top Choice
for Return on Investment Five Years in a Row

Thanks to a depressed housing market and declining home values, all but seven of the 33 remodeling projects in the report posted valuation declines compared to last year. The overall cost-value ratio totaled 63.8%, down from 67.3% a year ago.

Fiber cement siding, however, still returns an impressive 83.6% of investment on average nationally, nearly 20% higher than the average of all projects. The regional breakdown for return on investment for fiber cement siding replacement is as follows:

Other Upscale Projects Suffer

Editors of this year's Cost vs. Value report pointed out that—with the exception of fiber cement siding—none of the eleven other upscale remodeling projects even finished in the top half of the rankings, as homeowners gravitated toward lower cost improvements and repairs.

Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal

Another trend reinforced by this year's report is that exterior home improvement projects that enhance curb appeal reign supreme among homeowners. In fact, seven out of the 10 top-ranking projects consist of exterior improvements.

The entire Remodeling Magazine 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value is available online, as is project data for 80 specific cities. Check it out at: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx

Regardless of whether the economy is up, or the economy is down, it's nice to know that James Hardie fiber cement siding continues to be a wise investment for your home—delivering value, durability, and beauty year after year.

© 2009 Hanley Wood, LLC. Reproduced by permission. Complete regional and city data from the Remodeling 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com