James Hardie® Receives the Highest Ranking Possible by David Weekley Homes

CHICAGO, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- James Hardie Building Products Inc. (NYSE: JHX), the world's leading manufacturer of fiber cement building products, once again was honored by receiving the renowned "A,A" "Partners of Choice" Award for outstanding quality and service from David Weekley Homes, the nation's third largest for-profit, privately held residential builder. The award is the culmination of a rigorous year-long evaluation process by the home builder's team members. James Hardie is one of only two business partners, in a field of approximately 150 companies, that has received the treasured "A,A" "Partners of Choice" Award for seven consecutive years. This remarkable accomplishment means that over the past seven years, by virtue of approximately 10,000 individual rating opportunities, James Hardie has scored among the highest in providing quality products and services to the David Weekley Homes organization. The home builder's evaluation system is so thorough and complete that there is little room for error, and no shortcuts to success. It allows David Weekley Homes to measure world-class excellence through a complex ranking system in which the home builder compares diverse companies from different industries.

James Hardie products are used in all of the 15 cities where David Weekley Homes are built. "We are extremely proud and honored to have earned the A,A rating for seven consecutive years," explains Dan Tresch, Strategic Accounts and Business Development Manager of James Hardie. "It is always exciting to be recognized for our product innovation, unrivaled durability, low maintenance, as well as our superior service. Our relationship with David Weekley continues to strengthen because of the National Trading Partner Survey. The feedback we receive each quarter from the survey allows James Hardie and our channel partners to make the necessary adjustments to take our service and quality to the next level."  

"Market challenges and customer expectations have certainly grown over the last seven years. Yet during this same timeframe our average survey scores have improved by approximately 13 percent per year. The improvement reflects the importance our trading partners place on our evaluation platform," said Bill Justus, Vice President of Supply Chain Services and chief architect behind the home builder's industry leading evaluation system. "James Hardie understands that it is not good enough to produce high-quality products. They must also actively manage the supply chain to support their customers. Each year they have improved on their value proposition to David Weekley Homes. These are truly the actions of a world-class partner."

About James Hardie

James Hardie is the global leader in fiber cement technology, providing both panel and siding solutions to architects, builders and homeowners for over 100 years. It was the first to introduce fiber cement products to the U.S. in the early 1990s as a durable, low-maintenance alternative to wood and vinyl. James Hardie products combine innovation, versatility and safety by offering a variety of design possibilities matched with specific performance attributes relative to the climate where the product is being used. Currently installed on more than 4 million homes, James Hardie products have earned a favourable reputation within the industry and have been specified in some of the country's most prestigious projects. For more information about James Hardie visit http://www.jameshardie.com and our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JamesHardieBP.

About David Weekley Homes

David Weekley Homes, founded in 1976, is headquartered in Houston and operates in 15 cities across the United States. David Weekley Homes was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building, an honor which includes "America's Best Builder," "Builder of the Year," and the "National Housing Quality Award." Weekley has also appeared seven times on FORTUNE® magazine's coveted "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. Since inception, David Weekley Homes has closed more than 65,000 homes. For more information about David Weekley Homes, visit the company's web site at www.davidweekleyhomes.com.

SOURCE James Hardie Building Products Inc.