Black James Hardie Siding in Shou Sugi Ban – Maple Grove, MN
Project Specs
- Location: Weaver Lake – Maple Grove, Minnesota
- Home Style: Contemporary Lake Home
- Project Type: Siding, Window & Exterior Remodel
- Existing Exterior: White vinyl siding and brick
- New Siding: James Hardie 7″ Lap Siding and Board & Batten
- Siding Color: Dream Collection – Shou Sugi Ban
- Windows & Doors: Marvin Ultimate in Ebony
- Stone: Country Ledge in Sangria Wheat
- Design Feature: Dramatic stone wall on the rear elevation facing Weaver Lake.
- Result: A dramatic black exterior that completely modernized the home while combining dark siding, windows and natural-looking stone
- Certification: James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor and Marvin Authorized Replacement Contractor
This Weaver Lake home in Maple Grove, Minnesota was completely transformed with black James Hardie siding in the Dream Collection Shou Sugi Ban color. The remodel combined 7″ lap siding and Board & Batten with Country Ledge stone in Sangria Wheat, new Marvin windows and a dramatic 16-foot Marvin Ultimate door overlooking the lake. Replacing the home’s original white vinyl, brick, diagonal windows and 6-foot patio door created a much more contemporary exterior while making the Weaver Lake view an important part of the new design.
Project Overview
This Weaver Lake home in Maple Grove underwent a dramatic transformation from a traditional white vinyl and brick exterior to a much more contemporary design. The homeowners selected James Hardie Dream Collection Shou Sugi Ban, a deep black color that completely changed the character of the home while providing a strong backdrop for the other exterior materials.
Rather than using a single siding profile throughout the house, the design combines 7″ James Hardie lap siding with Board & Batten, both in Shou Sugi Ban. The horizontal lap siding covers much of the home, while vertical Board & Batten is used to define key architectural areas. Keeping both profiles the same color creates variation through texture and direction without introducing another siding color.
Siding & Exterior Components
Siding Replacement: High-performance fiber cement siding in a deep black finish
Trim & Accents: Coordinated trim for a cohesive, modern aesthetic
Windows & Doors: Marvin Signature Series for improved energy efficiency and optimized lake views
Stonework: Cultured stone wall to enhance texture and architectural interest
Previous Exterior: White vinyl siding and brick accents were fully removed and replaced with this new exterior system
This holistic approach ensured not just a change in materials, but an upgrade in performance, durability, and long-term homeowner satisfaction.
A Complete Siding & Exterior Remodel – Not Just a Product
Many homeowners start with a product in mind (like a color or brand), but what defines a successful exterior remodel is how the system performs as a whole — from water management and insulation continuity to trim detailing, window integration, and resistance to freeze-thaw effects that are common in Minnesota. As a trusted Minnesota siding contractor, Craftsman’s Choice treated this project as a complete exterior system replacement rather than a cosmetic paint-over job.
The window and door changes made that elevation even more dramatic. The original design included unusual diagonal windows and a 6-foot patio door facing the lake. Those were removed and the opening was redesigned around a 16-foot Marvin Ultimate door, creating a much larger connection between the interior of the home and the Weaver Lake view. From the exterior, the expansive dark Marvin door also becomes an architectural feature of its own against the black siding and warm stone.
The exterior materials were selected to work together rather than compete with one another. The warm tones in the Sangria Wheat stone and wood-tone garage doors soften the deep black siding, while the dark Marvin Signature windows and doors integrate naturally into the Shou Sugi Ban exterior. The result demonstrates how black siding can be used across a large home without making the exterior feel flat or one-dimensional.
Why This Approach Matters
Minnesota’s climate — including humidity near lakes, harsh winters, and seasonal temperature swings — affects how siding systems perform over time. A quality siding installation requires:
Careful moisture management
Proper flashing at windows and transitions
Attention to insulation and thermal bridging
Durable material selections suited for freeze-thaw cycles
This comprehensive focus on both performance and design is why many local homeowners choose Craftsman’s Choice for full siding and exterior remodeling — not just product installation.
Result
The finished home is almost unrecognizable compared with the original white exterior. More than a siding color change, the combination of black James Hardie siding, two siding profiles, Sangria Wheat stone and the expansive Marvin door gave this Weaver Lake home a completely new architectural identity on both its street-facing and lake-facing elevations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Siding & Exterior Projects (Maple Grove, MN)
Yes. Shou Sugi Ban was a color offered through the James Hardie Dream Collection. On this Maple Grove home, both the 7″ lap siding and Board & Batten were finished in Shou Sugi Ban, creating the deep black exterior shown in the project photos.
No. Traditional Shou Sugi Ban refers to a Japanese technique of charring wood to create a dark, distinctive finish. The Shou Sugi Ban used on this home is the name of a James Hardie Dream Collection color applied to fiber cement siding. It provides a dramatic black appearance without being traditional charred-wood siding.
Black siding can create a dramatic, contemporary exterior, but the overall appearance depends heavily on the home’s architecture and the materials paired with it. On this Weaver Lake home, Shou Sugi Ban siding is balanced by warm Country Ledge stone in Sangria Wheat, wood-tone garage doors and dark Marvin windows and doors. Using both horizontal and vertical siding profiles also helps break up the large black exterior.
Yes. Combining siding profiles is one way to add architectural variation without introducing another color. This Maple Grove project uses 7″ James Hardie lap siding and Board & Batten, both in Shou Sugi Ban. The change from horizontal to vertical siding helps define different areas of the home while maintaining a cohesive black exterior.
Warm stone, natural wood tones and dark windows can all work well with black siding. On this home, Sangria Wheat Country Ledge stone provides a warm contrast to the Shou Sugi Ban siding, while the wood-tone garage doors add another natural element. Dark Marvin windows and doors blend into the black exterior rather than competing with it.
In some homes, an exterior remodel creates an opportunity to rethink existing window and door openings as part of the overall design. On this Weaver Lake home, the original diagonal windows and 6-foot patio door were removed and replaced with a dramatic 16-foot Marvin Ultimate door. The much larger opening transformed the lake-facing elevation and created a stronger visual connection to Weaver Lake.
Ready to Transform Your Home?
Whether you’re looking to refresh your siding, improve your home’s energy efficiency, or completely reimagine your exterior design, our team is here to guide you with expertise that extends beyond products into system performance and long-term satisfaction.
