Hardie board: Just about everyone who has considered re-siding their house or building an addition or a new home has heard of it. But what is Hardie board, or more properly, fiber cement board? 

Fiber cement board in its current form was developed in the 1980s by the James Hardie corporation as a replacement for asbestos cement board. A combination of sand, cement and cellulose, it can be produced in panels, as lap siding and as trim pieces. Because it's durable (many manufacturers warranty the product for 50 years and the finish for 15), low maintenance, available in many sizes and textures, and easily painted any color, fiber cement is an ideal siding choice.

Architects and designers have taken to this material's adaptability. Not only is fiber cement available as a horizontal lap siding for traditional-style homes, but it also comes in panels that mimic stucco for Prairie and Craftsman-style homes, shingle panels for Arts and Crafts-style homes and smooth panels for more contemporary designs.

Although the longest-lasting finishes are factory applied, the material can be painted onsite just like wood siding. This makes for easy touch-ups and repairs as well as the ability to change color. Below are ways to use fiber cement board on home exteriors in a variety of styles.