James Hardie lap, panel, and shingle-look siding for Bellingham homes. It won't rot or feed mold the way old wood and hardboard do, and we install it on a rainscreen with the trim and flashing done right.
Fiber cement siding (most people know it as James Hardie) is a mix of cement, sand, and cellulose fiber. In a climate this wet, that matters: it doesn't rot, it doesn't feed mold, and it holds a finish far longer than wood or the chalky hardboard that came on a lot of Bellingham homes in the 80s and 90s. It also resists fire, which is worth something in late-summer smoke season. We install lap (the classic horizontal board look), panel, and shingle-look fiber cement, plus all the matching trim and corner boards.
The brand name is not what keeps water out, though. The flashing and the drainage are. We put fiber cement on a vented rainscreen, lap the weather-resistive barrier correctly, flash the window heads and the kick-outs where the roof meets a wall, and use corrosion-resistant fasteners, which matters near the bay where salt air is hard on cheap hardware. That detailing is the difference between a wall that lasts 40 years and one that traps moisture behind it.
What it actually costs.
Fiber cement re-side $14,000 to $38,000
Square footageExterior wall area is the biggest driver
StoriesTwo-story and tall-gable walls need more staging
RainscreenA vented gap adds cost but makes it last here
Rot foundSoft sheathing behind the old siding is a change order
Our four-step process.
Free walkthrough & written quote
We measure the exterior walls, check the current cladding and trim, and hand you a line-item quote, usually within a day or two.
Tear-off & inspection
We pull the old siding, look at the sheathing, and photograph anything soft so you see it before we cover it.
Weather barrier, rainscreen & flashing
New WRB lapped correctly, furring strips or a drainage mat for the rainscreen gap, and proper flashing at every window and roof-to-wall joint.
Fiber cement & trim
We hang the Hardie lap, panel, or shingle, install corner boards and trim, seal the penetrations, and walk the finished wall with you.
Why hire pros for fiber cement siding.
Won't rot or feed mold in our wet marine climate
Fire-resistant, which helps in smoke season
Installed on a rainscreen so the wall drains and dries
Corrosion-resistant fasteners for salt-tinged air near the bay
Photos of any rot before we close the wall, with a written change order
Frequently asked questions.
How much does James Hardie fiber cement siding cost in Bellingham?
A whole-house fiber cement re-side in Bellingham usually runs $14,000 to $38,000. The biggest drivers are exterior wall square footage, how many stories the house is, whether we add a rainscreen, and how much rot we find once the old siding is off. We give you a line-item quote before any work starts.
Is fiber cement better than wood siding in this climate?
For our wet marine climate, fiber cement holds up better than wood or hardboard. It won't rot or feed mold, it holds a finish longer, and it resists fire. Real cedar still looks right on some character homes, but it costs more and needs more upkeep. Both should go on a rainscreen here.
Do you put fiber cement on a rainscreen?
Yes, we recommend it on almost every fiber cement install in Bellingham. A rainscreen is a vented gap behind the siding that lets the wall drain and dry. In a climate this wet, it's the difference between siding that lasts 40 years and siding that fails early.
Ready for a free fiber cement quote?
Tell us about your project, we'll reply within 15 minutes during business hours.
We install James Hardie fiber cement across Bellingham and Whatcom County, from the postwar tracts to the bigger homes near the water. Pick your area for local notes: