September 13, 2022
Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
Wood siding creates a desirable, classic look for Colorado homes, but it is not the best siding option. Bellwether experts have an extensive knowledge of all home siding options, as well as an in-house design team, so we can help you achieve the look you want for your home, with composite wood siding or alternative siding options, such as fiber cement siding, that will add durability and longevity to your beautiful home siding.
A composite siding, simply, is made out of more than one material. This combination of materials yields a stronger, more versatile product that is more technologically-advanced that some natural siding options.
Most wood siding choices, even if advertised as natural wood siding, are actually a version of composite wood siding. Composite wood siding offers the appearance of natural wood, but it corrects some of the challenges to using and maintaining natural wood siding. Composite siding is manufactured by using wood strands or chips that are coated in wax and then combined with a resin binder, along with other ingredients. This combination makes composite wood siding more resistant and durable, as well as flexible and easily installed. If professionally-installed and well maintained, you can see high performance from some composite wood siding products, however Bellwether experts caution against any type of wood siding for the Colorado climate.
Bellwether offers a few wood siding options, such LP SmartSide, and our experts can determine if these products meet your home’s needs.
The biggest drawback of wood siding, even composite wood siding, is the susceptibility to fire. Wood siding products have little defense against Colorado’s wildfire season, and therefore, are not worth the risk—especially when there are other grade-A fire-rated products available on the market, like James Hardie fiber cement siding.
While composite wood siding is more durable than natural wood siding, wood is generally more vulnerable to other Colorado climate elements, such as baking sun, extreme temperatures, hail and ice, and wildlife. Composite wood siding can attract mold and pests with moisture intrusion, or it can dry too much in the heat and sun, causing dry rot and attracting other pests, such as woodpeckers and other birds.
Because composite wood siding can deteriorate and become defective, it is not the best siding option for a Colorado home. Composite wood siding products are also associated with known manufacturer defects, leading to recalls, lawsuits, and, in some cases, composite wood siding brands, such as Masonite, have closed. Masonite was so synonymous with composite wood siding, that other brands are often referred to as “Masonite” though the company is no longer in business, and though different in name, the drawbacks of the vulnerable materials remains. This demonstrates the unreliability of composite wood siding products, and our Bellwether experts recommend newer, more reliable composite siding materials, such as fiber cement siding.
When considering a composite product for your home siding, we will strongly recommend fiber cement siding over a composite wood siding. Fiber cement is a newer product, therefore more technologically advanced than even high-performing composite wood siding. The combination of water, cement, and cellulose fibers make it a resilient and durable product that will withstand environmental elements and even fire dangers. Composite wood siding requires careful maintenance in the Colorado climate and is vulnerable in the event of a wildfire.
Most homeowners ask for wood siding because they like the rustic, finished look. Our Bellwether in-house design team has extensive knowledge of alternative siding options that recreate the luxurious grain of wood siding with smarter, more resilient materials. We also work with Woodtone-treated products, such as James Hardie fiber cement siding. Woodtone creates a gorgeous finish that matches the aesthetic of stained wood.
Because wood siding is often desirable for its appearance, composite wood siding has become synonymous with certain joinery methods that achieve a particular aesthetic, such as various versions of lap siding, board and batten, and shingle or shake siding. While these techniques seem limited to to wood siding, these patterns can also be achieved with alternative siding options that imitate the beautiful look of wood siding, including products like James Hardie fiber cement siding.
If you are interested in installing composite wood siding on your home, our Bellwether in-house design team can show you the wide variety of safe, effective options that present just like wood siding with the added benefits of more modern composite siding.
No matter the material, Bellwether always installs to the highest industry expectation and in accordances with manufacturers’ best practices. Our home siding installation includes an expertly designed moisture management system. Regardless of your siding type, Bellwether-installed siding creates a barrier between the living spaces of your home and the outside environment, to keep your home comfortable and dry. A professional moisture management system includes flashing, moisture barriers, drainage holes, and careful caulking to seal against rainwater and other elements.
Because the Bellwether team cares about high-quality work and understands the needs of Colorado homes, we can help you find the best siding option for the look you want that also keeps your home protected and comfortable.
Unique to Bellwether, we offer a pre construction meeting where we provide a clear and detailed scope before we begin building.
Open communication with project manager crew leader, and internal representatives.
It's not over until you say so. We value your satisfaction with our product above all else. We offer final walkthrough to guarantee you are pleased.
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Personalized Exterior Design Service
Excellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Exellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
Personalized Exterior Design Service
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Composite wood siding is still a wood siding material. “Composite” means that the wood siding is made up of more than one material, which generally makes the wood siding stronger.
Composite wood siding offers the appearance of natural wood, but it corrects some of the challenges to using and maintaining natural wood siding. However, due to weather elements and the risk of fire in the Colorado mountains, Bellwether still advises against the use of wood siding for Colorado homes.
Fiber cement siding is also a composite product, made up of cement, cellulose fibers, water, and silica. Fiber cement siding can be treated and installed to look just like wood siding, but it is resistant to Colorado weather elements and fire, and the beauty of the product stands the test of time.
Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
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