We had Hardie on a previous home, and had the smooth side installed. IMHO, it’s difficult to recreate the look of real wood on manufactured siding.

Is the wood grain two different colors or is that just the lighting?

It’s just the bare hardie. It hasn’t yet been painted.

For some reason the wood grain is very popular. The smooth to me looks much nicer and much more like real lap siding which is smooth. If you didn’t specify it’s tough to blame the contractor. At least where I am the box stores only stock the wood grain.

Did you not choose this siding? The contractor installs what you have chosen usually so maybe a bit more info . Post the info here in a comment DO NOT start another post . Post some pics of th house too from further back also ina comment.

The contractor was asked to match the siding currently on the house, and I was out of town when he started the project.

The picture of the green/gray siding is what is currently on the house and the unpainted Hardie with wood grain texture is what he placed on the house. Here are more pics from further away.

Left side is current wood siding. Not all of the wood siding is being replaced so the contractor was asked to match it and it obviously does not match.

The pictures posted differently than I thought - not side by side but up and down. The first picture is what is currently on the house.

I would be willing to keep the hardie siding and perhaps have them just replace the little bit of wood that is being left on the house, but I really don’t like the wood grain texture and I’m wondering if I’m just being overly sensitive.

Also, the contractor has agreed to replace it with no arguments. My dilemma is whether or not I should actually have him do it. I am not blaming the contractor at all as I should have looked at the siding before he started the project. I just assumed he would match what was already on the house. He will be compensated for redoing the work.

The siding you have on the house is a lap siding in a profile not available in hardi.

Your contractor should have told you he couldn’t match your existing siding. Then he should have explained why, and given you options for which direction to go. What he installed does not match at all. I’m so sorry.

I found a hardi siding called colonial smooth that will match current siding. Will post pictures after installation.