Arvada Exterior Transformation: James Hardie Siding, Gable Brackets, and a Wood Porch Ceiling
This Arvada home got a complete exterior makeover. New James Hardie fiber cement siding, new trim, new soffits and fascia, and a series of design details that turned a standard replacement project into something genuinely distinctive. The homeowner had a clear aesthetic vision from the start, and the result speaks for itself.
What We Did
- Installed James Hardie fiber cement siding in two colors: Cobblestone and Mountain Sage
- Replaced all trim, soffits, and fascia with new materials finished to match the design
- Added custom wood porch ceiling for a warm, architectural detail at the entry
- Installed new gable brackets to complement the two-tone color scheme and add visual structure to the roofline
Choosing a Color Scheme That Works on a Colorado Home
One of the most common questions homeowners have when planning a full siding replacement is how to approach color. A two-tone exterior, like the Cobblestone and Mountain Sage combination on this home, can add real depth and character. But it takes some planning to get right.
A few things worth considering:
How the colors interact with the roofline and architectural details. Gable brackets and other trim elements become focal points when you're working with two distinct siding colors. On this project, those brackets were chosen specifically to frame the transition and give the upper portion of the home its own visual weight.
How the colors will read in Colorado light. Colorado gets intense sun at elevation, and colors can shift significantly depending on time of day and season. James Hardie's ColorPlus Technology bakes the finish on in a factory-controlled environment, which helps the color hold up against UV exposure better than field-applied paint.
How accent details like porch ceilings tie the look together. A wood porch ceiling is a warm, natural contrast to fiber cement siding. When the rest of the exterior is clean and modern, that kind of texture at the entry adds a finishing touch that photographs well and holds up even better in person.
James Hardie products are also non-combustible, which matters in Colorado where wildfire risk is a real consideration for many homeowners along the Front Range.
A Well-Planned Project in Arvada
This is the kind of project where the homeowner's investment in the design process made a real difference. Every detail. The color pairing, the gable brackets, the porch ceiling. Was considered intentionally, and the finished home reflects that. Arvada has no shortage of well-kept neighborhoods, and this one just got a little more interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full siding replacement take?
Most full exterior siding projects take one to two weeks, depending on the size of the home, the complexity of the design details, and the weather. Projects with custom elements like wood porch ceilings or decorative brackets may take a bit longer.
Is James Hardie siding a good choice for Colorado homes?
James Hardie fiber cement siding holds up well in Colorado's climate. It's non-combustible, resistant to moisture, and doesn't expand and contract as dramatically as vinyl in temperature swings. The ColorPlus factory finish also holds color better than field-applied paint under intense UV exposure.
Can I do a two-tone siding color scheme on any home?
Most homes can accommodate a two-tone exterior, but the results depend on the architecture. Homes with distinct horizontal breaks. Like a belt line, a change in siding profile, or prominent gable peaks. Tend to lend themselves well to two-tone designs. A contractor experienced in design-focused projects can help you identify where color transitions will look intentional rather than arbitrary.
What are gable brackets, and why would I want them?
Gable brackets are decorative structural-style elements installed in the triangular peak area of a gable. They add visual interest to what can otherwise be a plain section of the exterior and work especially well when paired with a two-tone color scheme, since they help define the upper portion of the home as a distinct design zone.
Do soffits and fascia need to be replaced at the same time as siding?
Not always, but it's often worth doing at the same time. If your soffits and fascia are aging, damaged, or don't match the new siding, replacing them together gives you a cohesive finished look and avoids the cost of mobilizing a crew twice. It also lets the contractor address any underlying issues. Like moisture damage behind old fascia boards. Before they become bigger problems.