Power washing ... sanding and scraping ... painting ... keeping a home's exterior in good condition can take a lot of time, effort and money. And it often leads homeowners to wonder if there are ways to improve their home without all the work. If this sounds like you, low-maintenance siding may be the answer you're looking for. In fact, a recent American Institute of Architects report showed that 75 percent of the residential architects surveyed are seeing growing interest in low-maintenance exterior materials such as fiber-cement board and stone. Re-siding can be a very good investment. According to the 2009 to 2010 Cost vs. Value Report conducted by Remodeling magazine, replacing home siding has one of the highest returns-on-investment among home improvement projects. Re-siding with fiber cement, for example, gives 23 percent more return-on-investment than a garage addition and 15 percent more than adding a second story. How do you know if it's time to re-side your home? Paul Gentzel, National Repair & Remodel Business Manager of James Hardie Building Products, says homeowners should ask themselves these questions: What's the siding's condition? Is there evidence of deterioration, such as sagging, cracking, buckling, blistering or discoloration? As vinyl siding ages, pieces may become loose or fall off. "Keep in mind that individual vinyl siding pieces are difficult to replace and cannot be color-matched," says Gentzel. How are the trim and soffit areas holding up? These are often in high-exposure areas and are vulnerable to wear and weathering, so wood and vinyl in particular may need to be replaced entirely over a house's lifespan. What's the maintenance schedule? Siding materials have different life spans and maintenance requirements. "As siding wears out," says Gentzel, "the effort and cost of maintaining tired siding can add up to be more expensive than installing new siding." How's the curb appeal? If your home looks faded or is starting to look run-down, re-siding can be the quickest and most cost-effective solution to update and beautify it. "In making a siding decision," says Gentzel, "it's important to weigh the look you like against its cost and upkeep. For example, homeowners may opt for vinyl siding over fiber cement because of initial sticker price - but not take into account that, unlike vinyl, fiber cement is resistant to minor impact and will retain its look for a very long time." James Hardie Building Products, Inc. offers a wide variety of fiber-cement sidings, from boards that resemble wood to panels that look like stucco. Their revolutionary ColorPlus Technology comes with a multi-coat, factory applied, baked-on paint finish that is guaranteed not to chip, peel or crack, ensuring your home looks better, longer. For more information on siding choices, and to download the free guide, "Everything You Must Know Before You Re-Side Your Home," visit www.jameshardie.com.