James Hardie: Your 4 Biggest Questions Answered

The 4 Biggest Questions Colorado Homeowners Ask, Answered

Is James Hardie siding worth it in Colorado? Short answer: yes, especially here. It is noncombustible in a wildfire-prone state, it resists hail and altitude UV far better than vinyl or engineered wood, it lasts 35 years or more, and standard lap runs about $19 to $23 per square foot installed. Here are the four biggest questions we get from Colorado homeowners.

I am Patrick Knackendoffel, founder of WestPro Home Exteriors. We are a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, the highest certification level Hardie offers, and we have completed hundreds of James Hardie installations across the Front Range. This guide covers the questions homeowners ask most before they choose.

Why Is James Hardie Siding a Good Fit for Colorado Homes?

It comes down to durability, fire resistance, pest and bird resistance, its overall track record in Colorado's climate, and of course appearance. Other siding products just do not hold up as well.

James Hardie fiber cement siding is noncombustible, which matters for most homes in Boulder, Golden, Lyons, Estes Park, and anywhere in the WUI, the wildland urban interface, where wildfire risk is a real threat to homes.

We are a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, which is the highest certification level Hardie offers, and we have completed hundreds of James Hardie siding installations on Colorado homes all across the Front Range.

How Does James Hardie Siding Compare to Vinyl Siding?

It is better in every way, but it is more expensive. Here is the honest breakdown.

Hardie is noncombustible; vinyl is combustible. Hardie resists hail impact significantly better, and it is dimensionally stable through temperature swings. Vinyl expands and contracts dramatically with the shifting temperatures that Colorado has in abundance. Hardie also does not fade as fast at altitude under our intense UV levels, and overall it just lasts longer.

Where vinyl has an advantage is upfront cost, and that is the only advantage. It is the least expensive siding option. James Hardie siding is fiber cement; vinyl siding is basically just plastic. But for homeowners in Longmont, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and across the Front Range who actually plan on staying in their home, the performance difference is significant.

What James Hardie Products and Styles Do We Install?

All of them. We install HardiePlank lap siding, HardiePanel vertical siding, HardieShingle, HardieTrim, and HardieSoffit. Every profile, every width.

The most popular on the Front Range is standard 8.25-inch lap siding, and we do a lot of board and batten, mostly in ColorPlus factory finish, because it tends to be more cost-effective since you skip the painting step entirely and you get a 15-year color warranty directly from Hardie.

On pricing, that standard lap runs about $19 to $23 per square foot installed. Board and batten increases the price about 13% over that standard lap price. The narrower 4-inch exposure profiles add about 29%, which is mostly due to the labor increase, there is some additional material, but mostly you are installing half as much square footage with each piece of siding. HardieShingle is very cool looking, but it is typically used for accent areas and runs significantly more per square foot because the install is quite labor intensive.

As an owner of WestPro Home Exteriors, I actually recently installed James Hardie siding on my own home, so I got to be my own customer for the first time. I chose the 4-inch exposure, because it is an older 1910 home and I like that traditional look, and I did so knowing full well there would be some additional labor cost. Understanding these trade-offs matters, so you can get the look you want and understand why the costs are different.

How Long Does James Hardie Siding Last in Colorado?

Thirty-five years or more, at least. James Hardie siding lasts longer than any other modern siding product, longer than engineered wood like LP SmartSide, and significantly longer than vinyl.

Hardie carries a 30-year non-prorated substrate warranty, and the real-world lifespan on properly installed James Hardie siding typically exceeds that. The product is manufactured in a specific HZ5 climate-zone formulation designed for the freeze-thaw conditions we experience here in Colorado.

Longevity depends very heavily on proper installation, and I cannot emphasize that enough. That means correct flashing, blind nailing per manufacturer specs, correct caulking details, quality house wrap, and so on. That is why having an Elite Preferred contractor like WestPro do the installation ensures it is installed to meet those warranty specifications, so you actually preserve your warranty.

And if you want the clearest example of why Hardie is a good fit for Colorado, all you have to do is go outside. There is often smoke in the air from Colorado wildfires. The fire resistance alone, the fact that it is noncombustible and will not ignite, is really compelling, and it is top of mind with the new Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code pushing noncombustible products. We have real homeowner stories where, when a wildfire ripped through, a home with James Hardie siding was spared while a nearby home without it did not fare the same. The pictures are compelling. If that is not proof, I do not know what is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is James Hardie good for Colorado specifically?

It is noncombustible, which matters in our wildfire-prone WUI zones, and it resists hail, altitude UV, and the freeze-thaw temperature swings far better than vinyl or engineered wood. It is formulated for our HZ5 climate zone.

Is James Hardie better than vinyl?

In nearly every way: noncombustible versus combustible, far better hail and UV resistance, and much longer lifespan. Vinyl's only advantage is a lower upfront cost.

How much does James Hardie siding cost?

Standard lap runs about $19 to $23 per square foot installed. Board and batten adds about 13%, and the narrower 4-inch exposure profiles add about 29%, mostly from labor. HardieShingle accents cost more again.

How long does James Hardie siding last?

At least 35 years, and properly installed it typically exceeds its 30-year non-prorated substrate warranty. Installation quality is the single biggest factor in reaching that lifespan.

Why does installation quality matter so much?

Correct flashing, blind nailing to spec, proper caulking, and quality house wrap are what preserve the warranty and the lifespan. An Elite Preferred contractor installs to those standards, which protects your investment.