Fiber Cement Siding Installation
Holds paint longer than wood, resists rot and insects, stands up to Pacific Northwest weather without cedar’s maintenance cycle. Rainwood Construction handles fiber cement siding installation across HardiePlank, HardiePanel, Nichiha, and Allura profiles.
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What Makes Fiber Cement Different
Fiber cement is Portland cement, sand, cellulose fiber, and water — pressed into planks, panels, or shingle profiles. Dimensionally stable, non-combustible, impervious to termites. James Hardie controls roughly 90% of the residential market for a reason: their factory-applied finish carries a 15-year fade warranty on top of a 30-year substrate guarantee.
The material is unforgiving on installation though. A 12-foot plank weighs around 30 lbs. Drop it wrong — snaps. Nail too close to the edge (less than 3/8”) and it cracks within a year. Cut it without dust collection and you’re breathing silica. Not a DIY material, and the manufacturer’s installation instructions run 40+ pages for a reason.
Fiber Cement Siding Installation Cost
Lap siding runs $4–6 per square foot installed for the standard 8.25” reveal. Vertical sheet panels (4×8 or 4×10) drop slightly — fewer cuts, faster coverage — usually $3.50–5.50/sq ft. Architectural panels from Nichiha or thicker profiles push $7–10/sq ft because trim detailing takes longer.
Where fiber cement siding installation cost climbs is wall prep and trim. A house with clean sheathing and simple geometry: $12,000–18,000 for 1,500 sq ft. Add rot repair, window re-flashing, and decorative trim — $25,000–35,000. Material is mid-range. Labor and prep are where the estimate swings.
OUR SIDING INSTALLATION SERVICES
What Rainwood Construction covers for fiber cement siding installation projects.
Fiber Cement Lap Siding Installation
HardiePlank in 5.25”, 6.25”, or 8.25” reveal — the profile most homeowners picture when they think fiber cement. Fiber cement lap siding installation requires blind-nailing with stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails. We use pneumatic coil nailers calibrated so the head sits flush — not countersunk, not proud. Either one voids the warranty.
Fiber Cement Panel Siding Installation
HardiePanel, Nichiha, or Allura sheet goods in 4×8 or 4×10 formats. Fiber cement panel siding installation suits modern and mid-century designs — clean vertical lines, minimal seams. Panels are heavy (two-person lift minimum) and butt joints need metal H-flashing or caulk detailing to prevent water entry.
Board & Batten Fiber Cement
Lap field panels with fiber cement trim boards as battens. Spacing matters — uneven batten gaps are visible from the street. We chalk every line and use a spacing jig.
Trim, Fascia & Soffit
Fiber cement trim in 3.5”, 5.5”, or 7.25” widths for window casings, corner boards, fascia, and frieze. Resists the rot that eats wood trim at roof-to-wall transitions.
Fiber Cement Siding Repair
Impact damage, cracked boards from improper nailing, failed caulk joints. We source matching profiles and factory colors — most manufacturers offer 30+ options in their standard collections.
Rainwood also offers interior renovations. Contact us to discuss your project.
See Our Work in Action
Watch how we transform homes with quality siding installation.
COMMON PROBLEMS WE FIX
Issues we see on fiber cement jobs done by others.
Why Fiber Cement Became the Northwest Standard
Drive any newer neighborhood from Seattle to Everett and most of what you see is fiber cement – and the reasons are all local. It can’t rot, so the wet season has nothing to attack. It gives moss and algae no organic material to feed on. And it holds paint exceptionally well in our mild temperatures, where coatings aren’t being baked and frozen apart the way they are elsewhere. For this climate, it’s simply the most trouble-free cladding per dollar.
The catch is that fiber cement forgives nothing during installation. The boards are heavy and brittle, cut edges must be sealed, clearances above roofs and grade have to be exact, and fastening that’s fine for vinyl will crack it. Most fiber cement failures we’re called to fix aren’t material failures – they’re installation failures. Our crews install it to manufacturer spec, which is also what keeps the warranty valid.
- Zero rot and nothing for Northwest moss and algae to feed on
- Paint retention measured in decades in this mild coastal climate
- Factory-finished and site-painted options, both installed to warranty spec
- Sealed cuts, correct clearances, and proper fastening – where fiber cement jobs are won or lost
Why Choose Rainwood?
Fiber cement siding installation tools and technique matter more here than on any other material. Nail depth off by 1/16” either voids the warranty or cracks the board. We run calibrated nailers, cut with fiber cement shears on occupied sites, and follow the manufacturer’s published nailing schedule.
- Every cut edge back-primed with touch-up paint before installation
- Stainless steel ring-shank nails — no electro-galvanized, no collated strip nails
- Minimum 1-1/4” overlap on lap siding, verified with a gauge on every course
- Kick-out flashing at every roof-to-wall intersection, not just where code requires it
10+
Years Experience
Our Recent Projects
Browse through some of our recent siding installations and repairs across the Greater Seattle area.
Great people. Showed up early and stayed late to get the job done. Work was excellent. Price was the best i found after four quotes. Would definitely use this company again.
We hired Rainwood Construction LLC to replace our French doors, and the result was outstanding. We knew going in this was more involved than a standard swap — we switched from inward to outward swinging doors, requiring extra attention to framing, flashing, and weatherproofing to keep everything sealed against water intrusion.Anatoliy was our point of contact and led the project from before to after, making sure the swing change and weatherproofing were planned and executed correctly. Igor and Vitaly handled the on-site installation and did excellent, high-quality work. The whole team was on time, professional, and delivered top-notch results. Can’t recommend them highly enough. 5 stars!
Every member of this crew I've had the pleasure of coming in contact with has been professional, excellent in their skillset, and fast. Pricing was reasonable for the excellent job they did.Last year we hired Rainwood to do plumbing and painting for a job. Both crews did such a great job, were thorough, and the level of detail was fantastic!We liked them so much we recently hired them for a quick job (installing ceiling fans). We messaged on a Wednesday and the job was done by Friday.Will absolutely hire Rainwood again and again for every job we do for our home.
Working with Rainwood Constructions on our house remodel was an excellent experience from start to finish. Their contractors were highly professional, skilled, and attentive to detail, and the quality of their work exceeded our expectations. The team communicated clearly throughout the project and ensured everything was completed on time without compromising quality. We’re extremely happy with the results and would highly recommend them to anyone planning a home remodel.
We had a very good experience with Rainwood Construction LLC and Toli during my brother’s home construction project in Shoreline. The team was professional, communicative, and paid close attention to detail throughout the process. We were especially happy with the quality of the fittings and finishing work, which turned out really well. The project was handled smoothly, and the overall workmanship met our expectations. Would definitely recommend them to others looking for reliable construction services.
We had an excellent experience with them on our sunroom project. The quality of the work was outstanding, they were easy to work with, and they clearly explained each step, the schedule, and key decisions (with various options to help us understand cost) along the way. Communication was solid from start to finish, and the final result looks great. Highly recommend, they are my new go to recommendation when friends ask.
Our Simple Process
From first contact to final walkthrough, we make siding projects straightforward and stress-free.
Request a Quote
Call or fill out the form. Tell us what’s on the house now and what you’re seeing — cracks, peeling paint, rot at trim. We’ll schedule a site visit.
On-Site Assessment
Moisture meter readings, sheathing probe at transitions, existing material identification. Written report with photos — yours to keep.
Clear Scope & Schedule
Profile selection, factory color, trim widths, flashing specs, labor line items, timeline. Most fiber cement re-sides run 5–10 working days.
Quality Installation
Tear-off, sheathing repair, WRB and flashing, panels course by course, trim, caulk and touch-up, daily cleanup. Final walkthrough before closeout.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today for a free on-site assessment. We’re here to help protect your home.
Call us now
425-750-1025
Email us
Anatoliy@rainwoodconstruction.com
Visit us
12310 Hwy 99, Everett, WA 98204
Hours
Mon-Fri 9:00 am–6:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am–5:00 pm, Sun Closed
FAQ
Substrate warranties run 30 years, factory finish warranties 15. In practice, well-installed fiber cement goes 40+ years with one repaint around year 15–20. Boards don’t rot, swell, or attract insects. What fails is caulk and paint — both maintainable without replacing the siding.
Different trade-offs. Fiber cement is harder, holds paint, feels solid — no flex, no hollow sound. Vinyl costs less and needs zero painting. For PNW homes where curb appeal matters, fiber cement wins. Tight budget or rental — vinyl makes sense.
Fiber cement shears for straight cuts, jigsaw with carbide-grit blade for notches, pneumatic coil nailer with depth adjustment, and a dust-collection circular saw for rips. Silica dust from dry-cutting is a serious health hazard — we never cut without collection or wet suppression.
Not recommended. Fiber cement needs a flat, solid nailing surface. Installing over old lap siding creates an uneven plane and voids the manufacturer’s warranty. We strip to sheathing, inspect, repair, then install.