I want to replace my asbestos siding, and I don't know which siding is best for the area. I was thinking about either vinyl, hearty plank, or stucco. I like the look of stucco the best but I don't know anything about moisture control or insulation. Any information or prior experiences would be welcome. Thank you.

I'd go for Hardie. Very low maintenance, much better impact residtance than vinyl, fire resistance. What are you going to do with the Asbestos siding, just cover it?

I was going to remove the asbestos. What kind of r factor is worthwile for siding? Does hardie material insulate the home the way it is possible to do with vinyl?

No siding will really improve your wall insulation. With insulated vinyl you may get an R2, Gardie R1 maybe. If you are going to remove the siding, why not insulate the wall with blow in. Be aware that you may not legally be allowed to remove the asbestos siding. In most locations, certified asbestos workers are required and then what are you going to do with the old siding? Can't go into the trash.

The contractor will have to remove and dispose of the asbestos. I was also wondering about stucco is it more durable than vinyl or hardie plank? What about moisture elimination?

Is it hard coat or EFIS?(Synthetic Stucco)

I haven't been able to find a contractor who does stucco in the area. I wanted to get some price information on stucco siding whether it is hard coat synthetic, so that I can compare it to vinyl or hardie plank.