I have never heard “it does not last”. Vinyl siding is very common in areas I have lived, which experience full seasons and (where I am now) high winds, and looks fine even on homes I have lived in (where it was 20, 30 years old). Also, not all vinyl is alike...there is “cheap” and more premium.

We are putting vinyl on our new build, and I have no hesitations about it lasting for 30+ years.

Yes please use Hardie. While vinyl will literally last an eternity, even in a landfill, hardie is incredibly durable and appropriate even for historical homes. Vinyl IMO can be spotted a mile away and isn't a look I love. My only complaint about Hardie products is that people usually get them in one of the, I don't know, 4 colors that it comes in and every house is starting to look the same these days. I recommend getting it painted a custom color. As far as the direction of the planks go, it looks like you used A real architect. I always went back to mine and asked for the reasoning of why they chose the siding and details they did for different parts of my home. It gave me an understanding of what was appropriate architecturally. Too often people make random decisions that end up making the final result look a mess. I like your shingle and board-and-batten a lot. I highly recommend investing in high quality carriage doors. Nothing wrecks a classy build like plastic garage doors.

Another vote for Hardie. Very pleased with it on our house.

Waynette, you can edit. Look in the top right corner of any of your posts. See the green word "Edit"? Click that and fix away! You can also delete.

ETA I used the function to add this note: the word is grey, not green!! :-)

I used LP smart side for the soffit for my shed I built (under the white part under the roof). Its really cheap crap but then again so is vinyl. For my shed its ok. I would never put any of that crap on my house. Masonry brick or stone all the way.

Yes, its grey though not green. I edited my original comment :)

I'm using my web browser on my phone, not the app. Can't make the app function quite as well as I'd like.

'I have always been told "Don't use vinyl on your house. It won't last and you will regret it." '

I would think that should read 'it *will* last and you'll regret it.' The stuff goes on and on... unchanging (well, maybe fading)...for decades...eons...what happens when you're tired of the look but can't change it (I've heard whispers that it can be painted but I've never seen it done with any degree of success)? You tear it all off and dump it, even though it's perfectly good, because it's just so tired and outdated looking after 30 years.

Whenever possible I choose whatever will be the most versatile over time. Paint-able, refinish-able, re-workable. Vinyl anything is not that.