Replacing Composite Wood Siding with Fiber Cement Siding
When it comes to home siding for homes in Colorado, composite wood siding is not the ideal option. All wood siding types are too vulnerable to be sustainable in the dry and often unpredictable Colorado climate. Exposed to baking sun, high winds, hail and ice storms, heavy snows, and spring monsoons, wood siding starts to absorb moisture, peel away, and eventually warp or rot. It is not uncommon for homes in Colorado to have damaged walls of composite wood siding because of their susceptibility to weather damage.
Bellwether recommends fiber cement siding from James Hardie for Colorado homes because fiber cement siding is designed in-factory to withstand the weather conditions specific to the Colorado area. A composite of cement and cellulose fibers, James Hardie fiber cement siding is impenetrable to moisture, won’t dent or suffer hail and ice damage, and maintains its shape without warping in extreme temperatures and baking sun. It is even resistant to spark and flame with a grade-A fire rating, perfect for Colorado homes at-risk during wildfire season.
If your Colorado home has damaged composite wood siding, it needs to be replaced. But often, for homeowners concerned about budget, time, and the overwhelm of an exterior home renovation, it’s a matter of replacing the damaged area or completely replacing their whole home’s siding. At Bellwether, we understand the large undertaking of a full siding replacement; but considering the best protection for Colorado homes and the benefit of this long-term investment versus the cost over time, it is always best to opt for a full siding replacement. The good news: we have extensive experience planning and helping homeowners finance full siding replacement projects.
The Problem with Composite Wood Siding
Composite wood siding is made from a combination of hardwood and softwood residual fibers bonded together with an adhesive product and sealed with paper laminate. The manufacturers of composite wood siding have faced class-action lawsuits over the years due to the inferior nature of the product.
When composite wood siding becomes cracked or chipped, the plank under the laminate finish deteriorates. This creates an eyesore and allows moisture to seep into the materials beneath the siding, causing mold and rot. When damage occurs, the siding cannot be sanded and painted over. The planks must be replaced.
These vulnerabilities in composite wood siding are compounded by the Colorado climate. Moisture damage often begins in unseen places. Where a homeowner may only see damage to a few siding planks, a whole wall could be damaged underneath. Siding boards also warp due to moisture damage, and larger areas of siding must be replaced for the siding to fit together properly.
Board-for-Board Repair Versus Full Wall Replacement
Homeowners often request board-for-board siding repair in an attempt to save money, time and complication. However, due to the depth and consequences of moisture damage to composite wood siding, even if only one board is damaged, a full wall replacement offers the best value for composite wood siding and remedies the core problem. Also, with an entire wall replacement, we can apply housewrap in accordance with code requirements. This extends the value of your siding over the long-term.
Because of these unknowns and long-term considerations, Bellwether doesn’t offer board-for-board repair services. We always guarantee our workmanship for a lifetime, and when it comes to board-for-board repairs, there are too many unknowns to only tend to a portion of the problem. In the long run, board-for-board repairs are not the most effective value for homeowners or for our company, and neither do they allow us to properly wrap the home’s walls and ensure the problem is fixed.
Full Siding Replacement is the Best Option for Colorado Homeowners
We have our customers’ best interests in mind when only offering full siding replacement. While we do offer siding replacement with wood siding products, for a marginally higher investment, we can fully outfit your home with James Hardie fiber cement, and this means the undertaking of your home exterior renovation will last a lifetime. We offer a lifetime warranty on our workmanship and James Hardie guarantees their fiber cement siding products for 30 years, the most generous product warranty on the market.
Our sales representatives have years worth of experience in planning full siding replacement on Colorado homes. We have the knowledge and skillset to plan around different budgets, timeframes, and design goals; and we also work with trusted financial partners to accommodate each of our customers’ needs.
If full wall replacement isn’t in your plan or budget, a handyman may be a great alternative to replace one or more boards. While a handyman isn’t certified for siding installation and doesn’t specialize in Colorado-specific products such as James Hardie fiber cement siding, they are an excellent option to protect your damaged walls in the short-term. Bellwether partners with Handy Huckaby for these sorts of repairs until the timing is right for your siding replacement.
