Siding and window replacement is an overwhelming undertaking whether it’s your first homeownership experience or your fifth! Renovating an entire home exterior takes knowledge and planning, and that’s why at Bellwether, we believe in sharing an educational experience with our customers. This is especially true for first-time homebuyers! We want to make sure that you understand your siding options, your financing options, and how to get the most out of your siding installation so that your home is safeguarded and beautiful at the same time.
Bellwether works with first-time homeowners to educate and problem solve.
When you schedule a consultation with Bellwether, our assessment includes your home’s siding needs, as well as your design goals and budgetary restrictions. Our team members will share the difference in siding material options, costs and overall return on investment, and even design ideas to make the style of your home truly your own.
As part of the process, there are four key elements to keep in mind when planning for a siding replacement. Our representatives cover each of these factors in the evaluation process so you can make an informed decision on your siding replacement proposal.
Choose a durable siding product for the best return on investment.
Making a big investment in your first-home, you want to make one that will last—and not all siding materials are created equal. You want to choose a siding product that will stand the test of time and improve your ROI. It can be tempting to reach for the least expensive siding material, but over the course of many years, cheaper materials may cost you more money. Durability is a key factor in a wise siding investment.
A high-quality siding product from a reputable manufacturer guarantees a solid siding investment. The siding material is also important, and there are four main siding materials to consider: metal, wood, vinyl, and fiber cement. All of these materials have their benefits and their challenges.
In Colorado, siding material is especially important. You need to choose a siding product that is durable enough to stand the test of time—in the extreme Colorado weather. Your siding should hold up against snow and ice, baking sun, high winds, and the threat of hail. Even better if it is resilient in the environmental elements without a lot of maintenance.
Unfortunately, vinyl and wood siding options are not that durable. At first glance, the price point seems a bit lower, but you will make up the cost difference in maintenance and repairs. Vinyl siding is susceptible to warping and fading in the sun and also does not wear well under ice and hail storms. Wood siding is very vulnerable to moisture infiltration and pests, especially for Colorado homes in mountainous areas.
Another thing to consider when replacing siding on a Colorado home: the threat of wildfire. Two materials are durable enough to withstand fire damage: metal and fiber cement siding. However, metal siding is prone to impact damage and will not preserve its beautiful quality for long. It is also hard to temperature control as the metal heats under intense Colorado sunlight.
Of all the siding products available, fiber cement siding checks all the boxes. The durability and lifetime guarantee of James Hardie fiber cement siding products makes up the difference on a slightly higher price tag in a short amount of time. Fiber cement siding will not crack, peel, split, or warp in baking sun, high winds, snow and ice, or hail storms. It also has a grade-A fire rating and is completely resistant to spark and flame.
Fiber cement siding is a low maintenance siding product.
As mentioned above, maintenance is another thing to consider when choosing a siding material for your siding replacement. The more vulnerable materials—wood siding especially—will require more attention to maintain a long life. Wood siding will need to be painted or stained every other year in the dry Colorado climate. And if infested by pests or damaged by impact from storms it will need to be patched or repaired.
Vinyl siding requires less maintenance and cannot be painted. Maintenance for vinyl, metal, and fiber cement siding is simply a quick wash once in awhile. However, even though the color will never chip, peel, or crack fiber cement siding can be painted again if you want to change your home’s style.
Consider the long-term cost of your siding to determine what is affordable.
The cost of new siding varies greatly depending on the material. If your budget is very tight, vinyl might be your only option. It is the cheapest siding material. However, if you factor in that it might need to be repaired after a few years or a severe hail storm, that might change your calculations.
Wood and metal siding are more expensive than vinyl siding, but the prices are rapidly increasing. Factoring in the life of wood siding and the energy efficiency of metal siding, there are hidden costs to choosing these siding materials.
Fiber cement is usually more expensive up front, but it saves money on repairs and home energy efficiency in the long run. Due to its durability and lack of maintenance it requires, it can actually save you money over the years compared to other materials. Fiber cement siding also actively increases the value of your home, adding to the overall investment of homeownership.
Choose a siding material that is high-functioning and high-style.
Fiber cement siding is the obvious choice for a long-lasting siding investment in your home’s exterior protection and energy efficiency. And with James Hardie fiber cement siding, function goes hand-in-hand with beauty. James Hardie offers a huge selection of siding styles, textures, and colors. The design possibilities are endless.
Furthermore, James Hardie offers over 700 colors to choose from, all backed by ColorPlus® technology, which creates long-lasting and brilliant colors. The colors are divided into two collections, the Statement Collection™ and the Dream Collection™, so that you can easily find the perfect shade.
Siding installation matters and we are Certified Elite James Hardie manufacturer.
To get the most out of your investment in new siding, choose a high-quality material like James Hardie fiber cement siding and choose a contractor certified in its installation. James Hardie guarantees its fiber cement siding products for a lifetime, and we do the same: a lifetime guarantee on our installation work with 100% customer satisfaction, every time.
