Full Exterior Update in Westminster, CO: James Hardie Siding, Garage Door, and Painted Accents
A Westminster homeowner came to us wanting to completely re-do their home's exterior. The siding and trim had reached the end of their life, and the soffits and fascia needed replacement as well. Rather than patch and maintain aging materials, the homeowner decided to replace everything at once and take the opportunity to update the look of the home.
What We Did
- Removed and replaced all siding and trim with James Hardie Statement Collection fiber cement products in Aged Pewter (siding) and Iron Gray (trim)
- Replaced soffits and fascia with new James Hardie materials to match
- Installed a new garage door
- Painted the front door green to complement the new color scheme
- Painted the shed to match the colors used on the house
Choosing the Right Siding Material for a Colorado Home
When it's time to replace siding, the material choice matters. Colorado's Front Range sees significant temperature swings, hail, UV exposure, and in some areas, elevated fire risk. Fiber cement siding holds up well in all of these conditions.
James Hardie's fiber cement siding is non-combustible, dimensionally stable in freeze-thaw cycles, and resistant to impact and moisture. The Statement Collection specifically is designed for bold, high-contrast color combinations, which is part of why it worked well here. Aged Pewter and Iron Gray are both factory-applied finishes, which means the color is baked into the process rather than applied on-site. That leads to more consistent color and longer color retention than field-painted alternatives.
It's also a good idea to think about the full exterior picture when you're replacing siding. Soffits and fascia are often in similar condition to the siding itself, especially if there's been any water intrusion or age-related wear. Replacing them at the same time avoids mismatched materials and saves on labor costs over doing them separately later on.
One other consideration: when you're making significant exterior changes, pulling the accent colors through the whole property - doors, outbuildings, trim - creates a nice visual harmony. This project did that well.
A Complete Exterior in Westminster
This Westminster home now has a consistent, updated exterior from the siding and fascia down to the shed in the backyard. Projects like this one are a good example of what's possible when you update the whole exterior at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does James Hardie siding last?
James Hardie fiber cement siding is rated to last 30 to 50 years under normal conditions with proper installation. The factory-applied ColorPlus finish carries its own warranty as well. Longevity depends on climate, installation quality, and maintenance, but fiber cement generally outperforms vinyl and wood over time in Colorado conditions.
Does fiber cement siding require painting?
James Hardie offers pre-finished siding through their ColorPlus Technology line, which is what was used on this project. That factory finish doesn't require repainting for many years. If you choose primed-only fiber cement, you would need to paint it on-site and repaint periodically over time.
Is fiber cement siding a good choice for hail-prone areas?
Fiber cement performs well in hail-prone regions compared to vinyl, which can crack or dent on impact. While no siding material is completely hail-proof, James Hardie products have earned impact resistance ratings that make them a reasonable choice for Colorado's Front Range, where hail is a regular occurrence.
Can a garage door be matched to new siding colors?
Yes. Most garage door manufacturers offer a range of colors and finishes that can complement or coordinate with a new siding palette. It's a good idea to select the garage door at the same time as the siding to make sure the colors work together before anything is ordered or installed.
Why paint the shed to match the house?
It's a practical aesthetic decision. When a shed sits in the same yard as the house and uses different colors, it can look disconnected. Painting it to coordinate with the new exterior ties the whole property together visually without significant added cost.