James Hardie Siding Installer in VA and MD
HardiePlank. HardieShingle. HardieTrim. ColorPlus Technology. Installed to James Hardie specification by trained crews. Proper fastening, kick-out flashing at every roof-wall, ColorPlus touch-up at every cut. 30-year substrate warranty, 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty.
Serving VA & MD since 1999
Crews Who’ve Done This Since 1999
DreamHome started in 1999 in Springfield, Virginia. We’ve been installing James Hardie fiber cement since long before HardiePlank was the default premium siding choice in Northern Virginia. ColorPlus Technology, HZ5 formulation for our region, kick-out flashing at every roof-wall, the install details that hold up at year 15 and year 25.
Our Hardie Elite Preferred Installer status means the manufacturer audits our crews on the install specification, not just on volume.
What We Install
HardiePlank Lap Siding
The classic horizontal lap profile. Smooth or cedarmill texture. ColorPlus Technology or paintable primer.
HardieShingle
Cedar shingle look without the rot. Straight-edge or staggered-edge. Often used as accent on gables.
HardiePanel
Vertical board-and-batten or smooth panel. Modern farmhouse and contemporary applications.
HardieTrim
The fascia, the corner boards, the window and door trim. Same substrate, same warranty.
HardieSoffit
Vented or non-vented. Replaces aluminum or vinyl soffit with a substrate that won’t dent or warp.
ColorPlus Technology
Factory-applied baked-on finish. 15-year warranty on the color. No painting for 15+ years.
James Hardie vs Vinyl vs LP SmartSide
The three big siding choices in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Here’s how they actually compare.
| James Hardie Fiber Cement | Premium Vinyl | LP SmartSide Engineered Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Fiber cement (sand, cement, cellulose). Will not melt, rot, warp, or feed mold. | PVC. Can sag in heat above 165°F; melts near grills and fire pits. | Engineered wood with zinc borate. Resists rot; still wood at its core. |
| Warranty (substrate) | 30-year non-prorated, transferable | Lifetime limited (prorated; transfers vary) | 5-year SureStart Plus, 50-year prorated |
| Color warranty | 15 years ColorPlus, factory-baked | VSI-rated fade resistance; color is the material | Factory primed; field paint warranty separate |
| Fire rating | Class A non-combustible | Class B; surface flame spread under 25 | Class C; treated for flame spread |
| Wind rating | Up to 150+ mph (proper fastening required) | 110 to 160 mph (interlocking panels) | Up to 200 mph (proper nailing) |
| Maintenance | Annual rinse; caulk inspection every 5 years | Annual rinse | Repaint every 8 to 12 years; rinse annually |
| VA/MD cost installed | $18,000 to $42,000 | $9,000 to $22,000 | $15,000 to $32,000 |
| Resale value impact | Highest among siding choices (NAR data) | Modest; pulls down older premium homes | Strong; not as universally recognized as Hardie |
| Best for | 30-year hold, fire-prone areas, HOA-strict neighborhoods, high-end resale | 7 to 10 year hold, lower budget, simple geometry | Mid-range budget, traditional architecture, painters available |
Cleared by Claude
Why Installation Quality Matters More for Hardie Than for Vinyl
Vinyl is forgiving. James Hardie is not. The James Hardie warranty depends on the install matching their specification, and the specification is strict for a reason.
What our crews do that most installers skip
- Correct fastener depth. Overdriven nails crack the fiber cement; underdriven nails fail wind tests. We use coil nailers set to spec.
- 1/4″ gap at butt joints. Hardie expands and contracts. Tight joints crack.
- Kick-out flashing. Every spot where a roof terminates against a sidewall gets kick-out flashing. Without it, water sheets behind the siding and rots the sheathing.
- ColorPlus touch-up. Every cut edge and exposed nail head gets the factory-matched ColorPlus touch-up paint. Otherwise the bare fiber cement edge wicks moisture.
- Proper substrate prep. Old siding off, sheathing inspected, water-resistive barrier installed correctly, flashing tape at every penetration.
An installer who skips these steps will get the siding on faster and cheaper. They’ll also void the warranty when something fails in year 8.
The 7-Step Hardie Install
Every step matters for warranty validity. Skipping one breaks the next.
Old siding tear-off
Down to the sheathing. Photo-documented. Debris hauled away same-day.
Sheathing inspection
Soft spots, rot, and pest damage flagged. Replacement scoped in writing before we proceed.
Water-resistive barrier
House wrap installed per Hardie spec. Seams taped. Penetrations sealed.
Flashing installed
Kick-out flashing at every roof-wall. Window head flashing. Z-flashing at horizontal transitions.
Hardie installation
Fasteners set to spec depth. 1/4″ gap at butt joints. Manufacturer-required clearances to grade and roof.
ColorPlus touch-up
Factory-matched paint applied to every cut edge and exposed nail head. The detail most installers skip.
Final walk + cleanup
Magnet sweep for nails. Caulk lines reviewed. You sign off before we leave.
James Hardie Pricing Tiers
Single-family home in Northern Virginia or Maryland. Range depends on square footage, trim complexity, and prep work.
Basic Hardie Wrap
$18,000 to $24,000- HardiePlank lap siding only
- Single-color ColorPlus
- Trim and corners painted vinyl or aluminum
- Standard tear-off and disposal
- Sheathing repair up to 4 sheets
- Manufacturer warranty + 5-year workmanship
Most common for 1,400 to 1,800 sq ft ranch homes
Hardie Plus HardieTrim
$24,000 to $32,000- HardiePlank lap siding
- HardieTrim at fascia, corners, windows, doors
- Two-color ColorPlus (body + trim)
- Full tear-off and dump fee included
- Up to 12 sheets sheathing repair included
- Kick-out flashing at every roof-wall
- Manufacturer warranty + 10-year workmanship
Most common for 2,000 to 2,800 sq ft colonials
Premium HardiePlank + Shingle
$32,000 to $42,000- HardiePlank body + HardieShingle accent (gables, dormers)
- HardieTrim full envelope
- HardiePanel board-and-batten accent feature
- Three-color ColorPlus combination
- Window and door full reset with new sill pans
- Full HouseWrap upgrade + flashing tape at every penetration
- Manufacturer warranty + 25-year workmanship
Common for 3,000+ sq ft homes, HOAs requiring shingle accents
What VA and MD Homeowners Say
“The crew snapped a chalk line to keep every Hardie plank dead level on a 56-foot wall. Other quotes I got, nobody mentioned chalk lines once. Worth the extra over the cheapest bid.”
Jennifer L., Burke VA
“They opened up the gable end and showed me three rotted studs we didn’t know about. Quoted the repair before touching it. Hardie went on perfectly straight after.”
Robert M., Annapolis MD
“Two of their guys came back the next morning to touch up two nail heads on the gable I noticed. No charge, no attitude. That’s the kind of detail that makes a Hardie warranty hold up.”
Patricia K., Fairfax VA
Related Siding Services
All siding services
Vinyl siding
LP SmartSide
Cedar siding
Siding repair
Cost in your state
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does James Hardie siding cost in Virginia and Maryland?
Most Virginia and Maryland James Hardie installations run $18,000 to $42,000 for a single-family home. The range depends on square footage, trim complexity, prep work (siding tear-off, sheathing repair), color tier, and accent features like board-and-batten or shingle accents.
Are you a certified James Hardie siding installer?
Yes. Our crews are trained on the James Hardie installation specification, including proper fastening (no overdriving), 1/4″ gapping at butt joints, kick-out flashing at all roof-wall intersections, and the ColorPlus Technology touch-up process for cuts and field edges.
Does James Hardie siding last in Virginia weather?
James Hardie HZ5 siding (the formulation made for our region) is engineered for freeze-thaw cycles, summer humidity, and the wind-driven rain patterns Virginia and Maryland get. The substrate is fiber cement. It doesn’t rot, doesn’t warp, doesn’t feed mold, and isn’t a food source for woodpeckers or carpenter bees.
What warranty comes with James Hardie siding?
James Hardie offers a 30-year non-prorated limited warranty on the siding substrate and a 15-year warranty on ColorPlus Technology factory finish. Both transfer to the next owner.
James Hardie vs. vinyl siding: which is better?
Vinyl is cheaper upfront. James Hardie costs more but lasts longer, won’t melt next to a grill or fire pit, holds color longer with ColorPlus, and adds more resale value. For a 30-year hold, James Hardie pencils out better. For a 7 to 10 year flip, vinyl is often the right call.
Local Hardie Installers
Top siding service areas: Burke, VA · Fairfax, VA · Arlington, VA · Annapolis, MD · Bethesda, MD
Schedule Your James Hardie Estimate
Free in-home consultation. Color samples on-site. Flat written quote. No high-pressure sales.