Originally Posted by Dee8go

HardiPlank products are great. I believe it's called a cementous fiber product or something like that. It is actually made of cement with a fiber material like fiberglass running through it. It has some insulating value (unlike vinyl) does not dent, warp, or melt (like vinyl can), and it is very durable. It does have to be painted, but because it is not subject to expansion and contraction the way wood is, the paint stays on for a lot longer.
I can tell vinyl siding from the street. It just looks like plastic. HardiPlank can easily be mistaken for real wood. No, I don't sell this stuff, but I'd be proud to sell it.