James Hardie Siding Overlay on West 59th Drive in Golden, CO - Skipping Tear-Off to Save the Owner Money

The Problem

This split-level rental home on West 59th Drive in Golden was built in 1971, and the original siding had reached the end of its life. Luke, who owns the property but lives in Grand Junction, had tenants living in the home and had noticed the existing siding had become old and warped over the decades, with sections of missing soffit. He reached out for a quote to  either repair or replace it.

Given that the condition of the previous exterior had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer serviceable. Warped panels and missing components meant that the siding had reached the end of its useful life. Replacing the entire system was the only way to restore the home's integrity and appearance for the long term.

Why it needed replacing

WestPro's inspection confirmed the original siding was old, warped, and missing soffit in several spots. Repairing the warped and aging siding would not have provided a lasting solution because the surrounding materials were also failing. A full replacement allowed us to remove the compromised substrate and install a fresh, durable James Hardie system that meets current standards for this Golden home.

What we did

We installed James Hardie Board and Batten siding in Arctic White across the whole house, with Cedarmill HardieTrim in Iron Gray around windows, doors, as well as replaced the soffit to matchand added frieze board to clean up the finished look.

During the inspection, we concluded that the original substrate would likely be in poor condition and unable to support a proper install of James Hardie Board and Batten. Because of this, the original signed contract called for a full tear-off of the existing siding. Luckily, once the crew got on site, they found the existing siding didn't need to come off and instead, we would be able to install the Board and Batten directly over the existing siding as an overlay. Luke and the Production Manager agreed to skip the tear-off, and WestPro credited the change back to homeowner. Our processes are built so that, whenever possible, changes that cost the customer money should be caught ahead of time and, if we see an opportunity for the Home Owner to save money on a project, we will always flag it.

The scope also shifted during the pre-construction phase. He was originally only planning on replacing the siding. Once he had a Facetime call with his dedicated Production Manager to discuss the project, he decided to add a change order for a frieze board and 24" soffit on the front of the house, in James Hardie Cedarmill trim and ColorPlus soffit, both in Arctic White. These choices were made because Luke realized he ultimately valued a cohesive finished look. 

Project Details

This split-level home was built in 1971 and sits on a footprint of roughly 1,447 square feet. The project covered approximately 1,171 square feet of siding area across the home's facades. The project involved work around 53 window and door openings, with 1 inside corner and 3 outside corners to address. The scope included the main exterior walls, excluding the bay window trim which was left in place.  The project was completed with all punchlist items resolved in October of 2024.

Materials Used

• James Hardie Board and Batten siding in Arctic White

• James Hardie HardieTrim boards, Cedarmill texture, in Iron Gray (window, door, and outside corner trim) and Arctic White (inside corner trim)

• James Hardie Soffit Panel in Arctic White

• James Hardie Cedarmill frieze board in Arctic White

Price Context: Siding

This project was completed at approximately $17 per square foot installed. That's lower than a typical Board and Batten project, and the reason comes down to WestPro's pre-construction process. Before materials were ever ordered, the crew identified that a full tear-off of the existing siding wasn't actually necessary and could be installed as an overlay instead. Rather than keep that savings, WestPro brought it to Luke as a change order and credited it back to his contract. Pre-construction meetings like this one are part of how WestPro works on every project. This ensures we catch problems that would add cost, as well as find ways to save the homeowner money, before materials are ordered. The end goal is to ensure full cost transparency the ability make an informed decision up front.

Homeowners considering a similar James Hardie Board and Batten project today should generally expect pricing between $21.50–$26.00/sq ft installed for a standard tear-off installation. A project that qualifies for an overlay instead, like this one, can come in below that range. Board and batten is one of the most popular siding styles on the Front Range right now, with clean vertical lines and a modern or farmhouse look. 

Pricing on any given project can vary based on whether tear-off is needed, the condition of the existing sheathing (as was the case for this home), the size and complexity of the home, number of stories, access, added scope like trim or soffit work, permit requirements, and current material and labor costs. Pricing reflects WestPro Home Exteriors project data and current Colorado Front Range supplier costs; this is not a formal estimate. For more on typical costs, see WestPro's Siding Replacement Cost in Colorado guide.

Our Project Consultants are available to perform a free no obligation inspection to evaluate what your  home needs.  The best next step is a free, no-obligation inspection.

The Result

The project wrapped up in October of 2024. The whole house re-clad in James Hardie Board and Batten, plus a new frieze board and soffit on the front elevation, all without the cost or disruption of a full tear-off. The new James Hardie siding in Arctic White with Iron Gray accents provides a clean board and batten look that protects the structure and updates the curb appeal. In Projects like this are common in Golden, Colorado. Homes from this era are common and often still feature the original 1970s siding which is likely nearing the end of its service life.