Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
There are many different natural and artificial siding options for your home’s exterior, and each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. The ever-expanding list of options includes fiber cement siding, metal siding, specialty wood siding, vinyl siding, and primed and painted siding. At Bellwether, we are committed to understanding the benefits and challenges of each siding type, and can assist you in making the best choice for your Colorado home.
Regardless of the material you choose, siding is meant to beautify your home while also protecting the interior from environmental elements. In Colorado, that means shielding against some moisture, protecting from intense sunlight, and extreme temperatures. When your Bellwether siding is properly installed, you can guarantee that you and your loved ones can feel safe, dry, and comfortable in a beautiful home that you love.
Our Bellwether team is well-versed in all of these siding options and their functionality in Colorado’s various climates, including mountain, urban, and suburban homes. Because Bellwether always installs home siding in accordance with the manufacturers’ best practices, you can rest assured that, whatever choice you make, your home will remain dry and protected.
Home siding has as much to do with aesthetics as with function. These siding options will not only protect your home, they will add to its value and curb appeal.
Fiber cement is a combination of cement, cellulose fibers, water, and silica. These materials are mixed, dyed, and pressed into boards in different styles and textures. This combination of materials makes fiber cement extremely sturdy and long lasting. Bellwether recommends fiber cement siding for Colorado homes because it is durable, resilient, versatile, and, when using our product offerings, is available in a large variety of colors, all with a long-term warranty.
One of the main reasons Bellwether recommends fiber cement siding for Colorado homes is that it is fire resistant. This is especially important for Colorado mountain homes, surrounded by beautiful forest. Fiber cement siding not only protects from daily elements like wind, rain, and hail, it is a safeguard against unexpected natural disasters.
Fiber cement siding requires almost no maintenance, and will not crack, chip, or peel, meaning the colors and styles you choose for your home will remain rich and vibrant, while also resisting mold and rot. Bellwether is a certified elite preferred James Hardie fiber cement siding installer, and their two color collections, Statement Collection and the Dream Collection, both feature the James Hardie ColorPlus® technology, applied in a controlled factory setting and cured between coats, making home colors even and long-lasting.
Bellwether also installs Nichiha fiber cement siding, which includes architectural wall panels and premium plank siding. Nichiha offers fiber cement siding to select U.S. markets, including a budget-friendly series of popular looks, such as cedar wood grain texture, board-and-batten, and classic lap siding, all resistant to warping, rotting and damage from pests.
Because of its stability and long-lasting durability against even the harshest Colorado climates, Bellwether is proud to recommend fiber cement siding for most Colorado homes.
There has been a recent resurgence in the use of metal siding products as technology improves both the functionality and appearance of this siding option. Metal siding is a stronger material than vinyl or wood siding, usually aluminum or steel. And with new joinery techniques, it can achieve a similar look to vinyl siding and wood siding. Once installed, metal siding requires little maintenance, and will not rust in any season of Colorado weather. Metal siding is also resistant to fire, which is especially important to project mountain homes.
While metal siding is as effective against environmental and wildlife elements as fiber cement siding, it is not as naturally insulated as fiber cement siding. Metal siding will protect the exterior of your home, but offers less control over the interior environment. It can also be more difficult to maintain and the paint may become scratched or damaged. While aluminum can still be cost-effective, steel is no longer a budget-friendly option.
This steel product presents as beautiful wood grain, and comes painted in a variety of long-lasting colors.
There are a few options when it comes to wood siding, though our Bellwether experts caution against the viability of wood siding for many Colorado homes. Wood siding can become warped under harsh, wet winter elements and the baking summer sun, especially in mountain-area homes. Because of its susceptibility to the environment, wood siding also requires more maintenance to remain functional and beautiful.
If you want wood siding for your home, you may choose between natural wood siding options and composite wood siding options. Natural wood siding has the classic and rustic look that other siding types are imitating, though most of these options—especially fiber cement siding—look as authentic as natural wood.
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, though our Bellwether experts caution against any type of wood siding for the Colorado climate.
Bellwether offers a few wood siding options, such as Woodtone, and our experts can determine if these products meet your home’s needs. We also offer several options of fiber cement siding that is made to look like stained wood siding.
While vinyl siding is an easy-to-maintain and budget-friendly option for some homes, our Bellwether experts advise against vinyl siding for Colorado homes. The best siding options for Colorado homes are climate-specific, and vinyl does not stand up well to the Colorado elements. Because Colorado home siding must adhere to thermal expansion and contraction, Bellwether recommends more natural siding types. Vinyl is easily damaged by heat, warping and melting, which compromises its protective capabilities and the overall appearance of the siding.
However, vinyl siding is an affordable and lightweight product, that when properly installed and insulated, can achieve beautiful results and a protective covering in some climates. Bellwether experts can determine if vinyl siding is a good fit for your Colorado home.
Whatever siding option you select for your home’s exterior, you also may have to decide on pre-primed or pre-painted siding. Either method is an excellent way to achieve rich, luxurious color on your home siding, so long at the installation and painting processes are professionally done.
Pre-primed siding comes prepped with a high-quality primer, ready to be painted in the color of your choice. When selecting pre-primed siding, it is important to choose a product that has been prepared with a climate-tested primer that guarantees long-lasting results and paint adhesion.
Pre-painted siding lives up to its name: it is siding that is painted in-factory and ready for installation upon arrival. Pre-painted siding colors are usually baked on to the siding product for a consistent, long-lasting finish and a brighter look.
Whatever your siding choice, Bellwether siding experts are versed in a variety of joinery methods, with knowledge of the best methods for each product. We will always adhere to the manufacturers’ best practices as the minimum standard for our installation procedures, ensuring that your home siding looks beautiful and performs well.
Bellwether guarantees that our siding installations include 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.
By working with our design team, you can be sure that your home siding type will meet your home’s environmental needs, your aesthetic goals, and your budget.
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
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
Exellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
Personalized Exterior Design Service
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
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There are many different home siding materials that include fiber cement siding, metal siding, wood siding, and vinyl siding. Most of these siding options are available as primed and pre-painted siding materials.
As an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor, Bellwether recommends fiber cement siding, especially for Colorado homes and mountain homes. It is resistant to Colorado weather elements and fire making it the best choice for Colorado homes.
Fiber cement is a combination of cement, cellulose fibers, water, and silica, pressed into boards in different styles and textures. This combination of materials makes fiber cement extremely sturdy and long-lasting.