Building Homes That Endure: How Top Alabama Builders Elevate Communities with James Hardie
Discover how James Hardie helps Alabama builders strike the ideal balance between durability and design flexibility with quality fiber cement siding products.
The blistering Alabama heat and powerful Gulf Coast storms can put any siding to the test. Building in Alabama demands a high standard, and using the right materials can be the difference between having a resilient, comfortable home and a life of costly repairs.
At the same time, obtaining the right materials is about more than just durability, since modern homeowners also desire homes that feel personal and attractive.
James Hardie delivers on all counts. A trusted brand within Alabama’s building sector, Hardie® products help statewide builders like D.R. Horton and Alexander Scott Homes preserve the balance between endurance and beauty.
Products built for the long haul
For Tanner Roberts, construction manager for D.R. Horton’s Montgomery division, doing his job well boils down to one equation: quality + affordability = trust.
“We strive to give homeowners affordable homes with great quality that they can be proud of,” Roberts says. “We’re building homes that really last, not just for move-in day, but for decades.”
One reason Roberts trusts Hardie® products when serving any new community is because of the durability. Materials like fiber cement make all the difference in how well a home withstands the elements. “Whether it's fire*, water, rain, wind, hot, cold, Hardie® products stand the test of time,” Roberts says.
The Alexander Scott Homes team feels the same way. Cole Jolly and John Beard lead the company, which skillfully blends classic Southern charm with modern architectural precision in and around Auburn. “Our goal is to deliver exceptional quality homes with a focus on low maintenance and timeless design,” Jolly explains.
“Hardie® products stand up to whatever Alabama throws at them, including fire*, rain, heat, and cold. They just last.”
They build Auburn communities that age gracefully, not age out, and James Hardie helps ensure that happens. “We’ve worked with James Hardie for years because our values align—in addition to manufacturing high-quality, durable, and built to stand our climate,” Jolly says.
Every day, D.R. Horton’s New Home Specialist Leslie Ellison witnesses just how much buyers value durability. Her clients range from first-time buyers to military families to retirees. No matter the buyer persona, durability often bolsters a prospective homeowner’s confidence. Hardie® siding can be repainted as trends change, and it still looks new.
Meeting the rising demand for distinctive design
Homeowners want durability, but they don’t want to sacrifice aesthetics to get it. First impressions are powerful, and Alabama homeowners crave individuality, not uniformity.
“Curb appeal is everything,” Ellison says. “Nobody wants the cookie-cutter look anymore.”
The flexibility of Hardie® products allows builders to create homes in each neighborhood that truly resonate with today’s buyers, who have a wide range of tastes and personalities.
“Hardie® products let us switch from siding to board-and-batten to shake, mix brick with Hardie® panels, and play with colors,” Roberts says. “No two houses have to look alike.”
The company’s siding, in particular, has become an essential part of Alexander Scott’s core design language.
“In today's market, first impressions matter, and buyers are looking for homes that reflect personality and timeless design. Hardie® products provide us with distinctive designs in a variety of textures, styles, and different colors while also maintaining a strong durability,” Jolly says.
A local team that stands behind their products
Apart from offering a wide variety of top-quality products, the company’s local presence is a significant advantage to builders. “If we ever need anything, they’re right here,” Ellison says. “We’re not dealing with some distant corporate office. It’s people we actually know.”
Jolly and Beard emphasize that their relationship with James Hardie goes well beyond basic materials. “The James Hardie team is incredibly responsive,” Beard says. “If we need something on site or have a technical question, they’re there. It feels collaborative.”
“When buyers see Hardie® products on a home, they know it’s top quality,” Jolly says. “That reliability sets us apart from builders who might cut corners.”
Then, there’s the additional benefit of working with a company trusted by so many reputable builders. James Hardie’s reputation brings instant credibility to any project. “When buyers see Hardie® products on a home, they know it’s top quality,” Jolly says. “That reliability sets us apart from builders who might cut corners.”
Roberts feels that same reassurance every time he signs off on a newly completed home.
“When you put your name on something, you want to have the confidence that you gave a family a quality home. The non-prorated 30-year Hardie® substrate warranty gives us that confidence,” he says.
The ultimate testament comes from the dual experience of builders using the products professionally and personally. “We use Hardie® products on our own homes because it holds up to everything Alabama throws at us,” Jolly continues.
A shared vision based on strength, style, and staying power
Whether combining design with affordability or matching resilience with excellent craftsmanship, there’s a clear throughline between the products, the process, and what Hardie® products represent.
“When buyers see Hardie® products,” Beard says, “they don’t just see siding. They see a builder who cares about quality.”
Across the Yellowhammer State, builders just like D.R. Horton and Alexander Scott Homes echo the same truth: Hardie® products play a key role in differentiating them from the competition and making prospective buyers’ dreams come true.
“Using Hardie® products has elevated our entire build,” Jolly says. “It installs easily, looks refined, and performs beautifully. Home buyers notice. They love the look, but even more, they love how solid it feels.”
“Using Hardie® products has elevated our entire build. It installs easily, looks refined, and performs beautifully. Home buyers notice. They love the look, but even more, they love how solid it feels.”
Welcome Home to Durability by Design
Expand what’s possible with Hardie® products. Learn more about how to better shield your homes from extreme weather damage and expand your design possibilities with Hardie® fiber cement siding.
*Hardie® fiber cement products are noncombustible and/or have a Class A Fire Rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E84. Fiber cement fire resistance does not extend to applied paints or coatings, which may be damaged or char when exposed to flames. The use of noncombustible siding, combined with other fire mitigation measures, may help harden a home against external fire.
