Why fiber cement fits Oregon
If you live in Gresham, Troutdale or anywhere in East County, your siding spends about 150 days a year wet. Wind-driven rain comes down the Columbia Gorge, moss grows on the north walls, and the bottom courses and window corners are the first places wood gives out.
James Hardie fiber cement is made from cement, sand and cellulose fibers. It does not rot, it is not a snack for carpenter ants, and it holds a straight line for decades. It is also noncombustible, which counts for something in a dry August. Vinyl can crack and warp, and engineered wood products can swell at cut edges if water gets in. That is why Dave installs fiber cement and real cedar and nothing else. For a side-by-side look, read our Hardie vs. cedar guide and what siding holds up best in Oregon rain.
Hardie product lines and looks
James Hardie sells more than one product, and the right one depends on your house:
- HardiePlank lap siding. The workhorse. It comes in smooth and in a cedarmill (wood grain) texture, in several exposures. Cedarmill is the usual pick for 1950s-70s ranches that wore cedar lap.
- HardieShingle. Straight-edge or staggered-edge panels for a cedar-shake look on gables, Craftsman accents or a whole house.
- HardiePanel. Vertical panels for board-and-batten or a clean modern look, and a fit for T1-11 replacement.
- Artisan. A heavier, more dimensional line for homes that want crisp shadow lines.
- HardieTrim. Fiber cement trim boards so the corners and window casings last as long as the siding.
Most of these are available in ColorPlus, James Hardie’s factory-applied finish. You can also buy primed boards and have them painted on site. We will talk through which suits your budget and your house. Dave does not do standalone painting, so if you go with primed boards, we will coordinate the painting with a painter you trust.
What Dave’s process looks like
A siding job is mostly about what you cannot see once it is done. Here is how it goes.
- Walk the house. Dave looks at the siding, trim, windows, roof edges and grade, and checks for soft spots and moss. He writes up the job and gives you a free estimate.
- Tear-off. The old siding comes off down to the sheathing. On many Gresham-era homes that means cedar lap or T1-11, sometimes with layers of paint and old paper.
- Inspect the sheathing. This is where rot shows up, usually at the bottom courses, below windows and behind old corner boards. Bad sheathing and framing get cut out and replaced before anything goes on. See our page on siding and dry rot repair.
- Weather barrier and flashing. New house wrap, taped and lapped correctly, with flashing at windows, doors, roof-to-wall joints and penetrations, including kick-out flashing where a roof meets a wall. We can also talk through a rainscreen gap, which lets the wall dry out behind the siding. Our rainscreen and house wrap guide explains the idea.
- Hang the siding. Correct clearance above grade and roofs, proper nailing, and cut edges sealed. Fiber cement is picky about all three.
- Trim, caulk and finish. New trim, soffit and fascia if you want them done at the same time, caulking where it belongs, and painting coordinated if you chose primed boards.
What affects the cost
We do not publish prices, because two houses that look alike can come in far apart. The main factors:
- Square footage of wall and the number of stories
- How much rot and sheathing repair is hiding under the old siding
- Product line (lap, shingle, panel, Artisan) and finish (ColorPlus or primed and painted)
- Trim, soffits, fascia and any window or door work done at the same time
- Rainscreen or extra flashing details
- Access, complicated rooflines and permits
For general industry ranges, see our siding cost guide for Portland. Dave gives a free, exact estimate for your house.
Signs you are due for new siding
- Soft or spongy boards, especially near the ground and under windows
- Paint peeling in sheets, or stains running down from window corners
- Moss or mildew that keeps coming back
- Cracked, warped or gapped boards
- Daylight, wasps or ants at the siding edge
- Interior stains, musty smell or bubbling paint on walls below windows
If you see more than one, have it looked at. Our dry rot guide shows what to check yourself.
Why hire a second-generation sider who is on the job
Dave Shaffer learned siding from his dad and has about 40 years of hands-on experience. Six-Point Siding, Inc. is a small family business, licensed in Oregon (CCB #153635), bonded and insured. Dave is personally on every job from start to finish. You are not handed to a sales rep and then a crew you have never met. The man who looks at your wall is the man who hangs the siding. Learn more about Dave and Six-Point, or see where we work, including Gresham and Troutdale.
Get a free estimate
Call or text Dave: 503-260-7647. He will look at your house, tell you what he sees, and give you a free estimate with no pressure.
Questions homeowners ask
Is James Hardie siding good for Oregon rain?
Yes. Fiber cement does not rot, swell or get eaten by insects the way wood can. It still has to be installed over a properly flashed wall, because water that gets behind any siding will find the sheathing. That is why the flashing and house wrap matter as much as the boards.
What is ColorPlus and is it worth it?
ColorPlus is James Hardie's factory-applied, baked-on finish. The boards arrive already colored, so there is less field painting, and the finish is applied in controlled conditions rather than on a damp Oregon afternoon. Many homeowners like it for that reason; we can go over color and finish options at your free estimate.
How long does a Hardie re-side take?
It depends on the size of the house, how many stories, how much trim and how much rot turns up under the old siding. Most single-family homes are a matter of weeks, not days, and weather in the wet months can add time. Dave gives you a realistic schedule when he looks at your house.
What warranty comes with James Hardie siding?
The product carries James Hardie's manufacturer warranty. Terms can change and depend on the product line and finish, so ask Dave for the current terms and what they cover and do not cover.
Can Hardie siding go over my old siding?
We tear off the old siding. Covering it up hides rot, traps moisture and leaves no chance to flash the windows correctly. Taking it down to the sheathing is the only way to see what is really going on.
Do I need a permit to replace siding?
Rules differ between Gresham, Portland and the other cities and counties we work in, and they can depend on how much of the wall is opened up. Our guide on siding permits covers the basics, and Dave can tell you what applies to your address.