Siding Materials
Three materials, three price points. We install James Hardie because we believe it's the best siding for Colorado homes — but we want you to see how all the options stack up so you can make the right call.
Budget Friendly
$8–$12
/per sq ft installed
Best for: Homeowners looking for the most budget-friendly way to re-side quickly. Vinyl offers the lowest upfront cost with a wide range of colors and styles, and it’s virtually maintenance-free. Just keep in mind—here in Colorado, it doesn’t hold up as well long-term compared to higher-end options.
Typical Lifespan: 20–30 years
Natural Wood Look
$13–$16
/per sq ft installed
Best for: Homeowners who love the look and feel of real wood but want better durability. LP SmartSide uses a treated engineered wood strand that resists moisture and termites better than natural wood. A solid mid-range option — but it does require repainting over time.
Typical Lifespan: 25–35 years
Premium Fiber Cement
$16–$20
/per sq ft installed
Best for: Homeowners who want siding they can forget about for decades. James Hardie is the #1 fiber cement brand in the country for a reason — it handles Colorado’s hail, freeze-thaw cycles, and UV exposure better than anything else. We install it because we stand behind it.
Typical Lifespan: 40–50+ years
How each siding material performs on the things that matter most in Colorado — hail resistance, maintenance, fire safety, and long-term value.
| Material | Price / Sq Ft | Lifespan | Hail Resistance | Repainting | Fire Rating | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $8 – $12 | 20–30 years | Low — dents and cracks | Never (color is integral) | Melts, not fire-rated | Limited lifetime |
| LP SmartSide | $12 – $16 | 25–35 years | Moderate | Every 8–12 years | Combustible | 5/50 year substrate |
| James HardieRecommended | $16 – $20 | 40–50+ years | High — resists impact | 15+ years with ColorPlus | Class A (non-combustible) | 30-year transferable |
Siding replacement costs in Denver, Colorado range from $8 to $20 per square foot installed depending on material choice. Vinyl siding is the most affordable option at $8 to $12 per square foot with a 20 to 30 year lifespan, but it can crack in Colorado's extreme cold, dent from hail, and melts under fire exposure. LP SmartSide engineered wood siding costs $12 to $16 per square foot with a 25 to 35 year lifespan and offers a natural wood grain appearance, but requires repainting every 8 to 12 years and is combustible. James Hardie fiber cement siding is the recommended choice for Denver homes at $16 to $20 per square foot with a 40 to 50+ year lifespan. James Hardie resists hail impact, is non-combustible with a Class A fire rating, won't rot or warp, and its factory-finished ColorPlus colors last over 15 years without repainting. James Hardie carries a 30-year transferable product warranty. When comparing cost per year of ownership, James Hardie fiber cement often costs less than vinyl siding over its full lifespan. Ideal Roof and Exterior Pros recommends and installs James Hardie fiber cement siding for homes in the Denver metropolitan area and provides free siding inspections and estimates.
HOMEOWNER GUIDE
Skip the contractor jargon – Here's what matters when choosing your siding.
Vinyl is plastic — lightweight, cheap, and maintenance-free but it can crack, warp, and dent. LP SmartSide is treated wood strands pressed together — it looks like real wood and is tougher than natural wood, but it still needs repainting. James Hardie is cement-based — it's heavy, incredibly durable, fire-proof, and holds color longer than anything else. The price difference reflects the performance gap.
Several factors affect cost: home size and number of stories (scaffolding adds cost), design complexity (lots of corners, trim details, or mixed profiles), color selection (Hardie's ColorPlus factory-finish costs more than field paint), and tear-off of existing siding. A simple single-story ranch is on the low end; a complex two-story with lots of architectural detail is on the high end.
We've installed all three materials over the years. In Colorado's climate — where you get hail, extreme UV, and freeze-thaw cycles — Hardie outperforms everything else by a wide margin. We'd rather specialize in the product we believe in than offer options we know won't hold up. That said, we want you to understand all your options, which is why we put this page together.
James Hardie's ColorPlus Technology applies multiple coats of color in a controlled factory environment — UV-cured with consistent thickness. This means the finish lasts 2–3x longer than field-applied paint. You're looking at 15+ years before needing a repaint versus 8–12 years for field-painted LP SmartSide. ColorPlus adds $1–$2 per sq ft but saves thousands in future repainting costs.
New siding is installed over a weather-resistant barrier and often includes updated insulation. This can significantly reduce drafts and energy costs, especially if your current siding is old or damaged. Fiber cement provides better thermal mass than vinyl, helping stabilize indoor temperatures year-round. The insulation upgrade alone can pay for a meaningful portion of the project over time.
If your siding is 20+ years old, showing damage in multiple areas, or you're seeing paint failure across most of the house, a full replacement usually makes more sense than patching. Repairs are great for isolated storm damage or a few cracked boards. We'll give you an honest recommendation during the free inspection — sometimes a repair is all you need, and we'll tell you that.
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