James Hardie Commitment to Help Build a Stronger U.S. Northeast Coast Featured on THIS OLD HOUSE® Series

James Hardie® fiber cement siding key choice for contractor, homeowner in rebuilding a stronger, more storm-resistant New Jersey home following Superstorm Sandy

CHICAGO (Oct. 3, 2013) -  The rebuilding of a New Jersey home using fiber cement siding from James Hardie Building Products will be featured on upcoming episodes of the Emmy® Award-winning PBS TV home improvement series THIS OLD HOUSE®. Starting Oct. 3, a series of eight episodes titled "Jersey Shore Rebuilds" will profile the rebuilding of three homes following the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, which struck the U.S. Northeast Coast in October 2012. The series follows homeowners and contractors as they choose more durable building materials and innovative building designs to better protect their homes against future storm damage. Episodes airing the weeks of Nov. 7, Nov. 14 and Nov. 21 will highlight installation of James Hardie siding, which resists both fire and water damage, on a Point Pleasant, N.J., home; check local listings for air times.

Somerset, N.J., contractor Miguel Carrera of Legacy Construction will replace the vinyl siding on the 1950s Colonial-style home of Carlos and Maria Santos with James Hardie HardiePlank® lap siding, HardieShingle® siding and HardieTrim® boards. The Santos family of six had been left homeless by the storm. James Hardie siding stands up to both everyday and extreme weather because it's uniquely formulated to meet the unique climate in which it will be used. Products designed for use on the U.S. Northeast Coast are specifically engineered to protect against wet, freezing conditions. The siding is also available pre-finished with James Hardie's exclusive ColorPlus® Technology, an advanced coating baked on in the factory that enables a long-lasting, consistent, vibrant finish.

"The damage Superstorm Sandy did to the U.S. Northeast Coast was substantial, but James Hardie's commitment to helping homeowners and contractors rebuild is equally substantial," said John Dybsky, James Hardie senior marketing manager. "James Hardie siding performs better and is more durable for homeowners than other siding choices, including vinyl and wood-based siding, and better protects both the home and the homeowner's rebuilding or remodeling investment."

Unlike vinyl siding, James Hardie siding resists burning, melting, sagging and fading; unlike wood-based siding, it resists warping, rotting, cracking and burning. In addition to resisting both fire and water damage, James Hardie siding can be used in high-velocity hurricane zones.

You can learn more about James Hardie's commitment to rebuilding the Northeast Coast by visiting www.jameshardie.com/strongershore. For more information about THIS OLD HOUSE®: Jersey Shore Rebuilds, and to view episodes after they have aired,visit http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tv/0,,,00.html.