Pewaukee Siding Replacement: From Failing Fiber Cement to James Hardie

Project Tags: Arctic White Trim, Countrylane Red, james hardie siding, Pewaukee, Statement Collection® Colors, Statement Collection® Colors Trim

What began as a plan to repaint this Pewaukee, Wisconsin home turned into a complete siding replacement when the homeowners discovered their 12- to 13-year-old non-Hardie fiber cement siding was cracking, warping, and crumbling. After considering repairs, Zak and Sarah worked with Craftsman’s Choice to understand their options and why not all fiber cement siding is the same. They ultimately chose James Hardie HZ5® siding, Engineered for Climate® for northern conditions, transforming the home with Countrylane Red siding, shake accents, and crisp white trim.

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Project at a Glance

From failing fiber cement to James Hardie: This Pewaukee home was transformed with Countrylane Red HZ5 siding, shake accents, and Arctic White trim; all finished with ColorPlus Technology.

Location

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Home Style

Two-Story Traditional

Problem

Failed non-Hardie fiber cement siding on a home only 12–13 years old, with cracking boards and seams pulling apart in multiple areas of the exterior. What began as a plan to repaint became a larger concern about the long-term condition of the siding.

Solution

Replace the deteriorating siding with James Hardie HZ5 fiber cement siding, Engineered for Climate for northern conditions, while using the project as an opportunity to completely update the home’s exterior design.

Products

James Hardie HZ5 lap siding, HardieShingle siding, and HardieTrim boards with ColorPlus Technology.

Result

A complete exterior transformation that replaced the deteriorating siding with a climate-specific James Hardie system while giving the homeowners the bold, fresh appearance they wanted.

Timeline

Approximately 3–4 weeks from start of construction to completion

Certifications

James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor

Pewaukee Fiber Cement Siding Replacement

What started as a plan to repaint this Pewaukee home changed when Zak and Sarah discovered cracking, warping, and crumbling in their 12-13-year-old non-Hardie fiber cement siding. As they looked more closely at the exterior, it became clear that replacing a handful of damaged boards and applying another coat of paint might only postpone a much larger project.

Their experience also raised an important question: if their existing fiber cement siding was deteriorating, why replace it with fiber cement again? Working with Craftsman’s Choice, they learned that fiber cement describes a category of siding, not a single product, and that differences in product engineering, manufacturing, finish, and installation can matter. They ultimately selected James Hardie HZ5 siding, Engineered for Climate for northern conditions, with ColorPlus® Technology.

The project also gave Zak and Sarah an opportunity to completely rethink the appearance of their home. What began with more conservative color ideas evolved into Countrylane Red lap siding and shake accents paired with Arctic White trim, creating a dramatic transformation from the exterior they originally planned simply to repaint.

Project Goal

Zak and Sarah originally planned to repaint their Pewaukee home. During a closer inspection, they discovered cracking, warping, and crumbling in the existing fiber cement siding, even though the home was only about 12 to 13 years old. What started as replacing a handful of damaged boards quickly became a larger question: did it make sense to invest in repairs and paint if more of the siding could deteriorate in the years ahead? Their goal shifted from simply refreshing the exterior to finding a long-term siding solution they could feel confident would protect their home for years to come.

Design & Consultation

Working with Craftsman’s Choice consultant Mark, Zak and Sarah took a deliberate look at repair versus replacement costs, material options, long-term performance, and exterior design. Their biggest reservation was choosing fiber cement again after experiencing problems with the siding already on their home. Understanding the differences between products within the fiber cement category,and why James Hardie HZ5 is engineered specifically for northern climates helped them feel confident moving forward.

The consultation also gave them time to explore the design rather than rush into a decision. Mark brought physical siding and color samples to the home, walked the exterior with them, discussed different profiles and accent locations, and used a 3D rendering to show how their choices would look on the finished house. A color palette that initially leaned more neutral ultimately evolved into Countrylane Red siding and shake accents with Arctic White trim; a much bolder direction that Zak and Sarah could visualize before construction began.

Transformation

Removing the failed cement siding gave Zak and Sarah the opportunity to watch their home change one section at a time. Countrylane Red James Hardie lap siding and shake accents replaced the faded original exterior, while Arctic White HardieTrim created crisp contrast around the windows, corners, and architectural details. The bold color choice completely changed the character of the home and quickly started drawing compliments from neighbors as the installation progressed.

For Zak and Sarah, though, the transformation was about more than curb appeal. Instead of continuing with patch repairs and repainting an exterior they were already concerned about, they now had a complete James Hardie HZ5 siding and trim system with ColorPlus Technology. What started as a painting project ultimately became an opportunity to address the entire exterior at once and give them greater confidence in the home for the years ahead.

Customer Experience

For Zak and Sarah, communication and follow-through were especially important after previous remodeling experiences had made them cautious about taking on another large project. Mark remained closely involved throughout construction, regularly visited the jobsite, answered questions promptly, and kept them informed when issues or changes arose. They appreciated that expectations set during the consultation continued through the installation and that when something needed attention, it was addressed.

That care extended beyond the siding itself. When Sarah mentioned that decades-old peonies transplanted from her grandparents’ home in Menomonee Falls needed extra protection during construction, the crew immediately gathered materials and carefully covered them. For Zak and Sarah, details like that, along with the professionalism, transparency, and responsiveness of the team, made a major exterior renovation feel personal and well managed from start to finish.

Case Study Gallery

The completed transformation features James Hardie Countrylane Red lap siding, shake accents and white trim for a dramatically different exterior.

Countrylane Red James Hardie lap siding and white trim continue around the home, replacing the deteriorating original fiber cement exterior.

The new James Hardie siding created a consistent finished exterior around the home while preserving the homeowners' existing landscaping and outdoor spaces.

The completed rear elevation shows the full siding replacement in Countrylane Red with coordinated white trim.

A closer look shows the original generic fiber cement siding beginning to break down along the edge of the board.

Cracking and deterioration appeared across multiple areas of the exterior, leading the homeowners to consider full siding replacement instead of isolated repairs.

Generic fiber cement shrinking at seams.

Fiber cement is a product category, not a measure of product quality. Products within the category can differ in engineering, manufacturing, finishing, installation requirements, and long-term performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Pewaukee Fiber Cement Siding Project

Why did the fiber cement siding on this Pewaukee home need to be replaced?

Zak and Sarah originally planned to repaint their home, but a closer inspection revealed problems with the existing fiber cement siding. Boards were cracking and seams were pulling apart in multiple areas of the exterior, even though the home was only about 12 to 13 years old. After considering spot repairs, they decided a complete siding replacement made more sense than continuing to repair and repaint a siding system that was already showing widespread signs of failure.

Does failing fiber cement siding mean fiber cement is a bad choice for Wisconsin homes?

No. Fiber cement describes a category of siding, not a single product, and products within that category can differ in their engineering, manufacturing, finish, installation requirements, and climate suitability. Zak and Sarah initially had the same concern after experiencing failure with their existing fiber cement siding. Understanding those differences was an important part of their decision to choose James Hardie HZ5® siding for their Pewaukee home.

Why did the homeowners choose James Hardie after their previous fiber cement siding failed?

One of Zak and Sarah’s biggest reservations was replacing failed fiber cement with another fiber cement product. During the consultation, they learned more about the differences between products within the category and why James Hardie manufactures HZ5® products specifically for northern climates. Combined with James Hardie’s reputation, ColorPlus® Technology, and proper installation by a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, they felt confident choosing fiber cement again.

What is James Hardie HZ5® siding, and why is it used in Wisconsin?

James Hardie HZ5® products are Engineered for Climate® for northern regions that experience freezing temperatures, snow, ice, moisture, and significant seasonal temperature changes. HZ5® siding incorporates product features designed for the demands of colder climates, making it the James Hardie product formulation used for homes in Wisconsin.

What James Hardie colors and siding styles were used on this Pewaukee home?

The home was transformed with James Hardie Countrylane Red lap siding and HardieShingle® accents paired with Arctic White HardieTrim® boards. The siding and trim feature ColorPlus® Technology, a factory-applied finish. Zak and Sarah initially considered a more neutral color palette before using samples and a 3D rendering of their home to confidently choose the bolder Countrylane Red exterior.

Can failed fiber cement siding be repaired instead of completely replaced?

It depends on the extent and cause of the problems. A few isolated damaged boards may sometimes be candidates for repair, but widespread cracking, separating seams, or problems appearing in multiple areas can make homeowners question whether continued repairs are the best long-term investment. Zak and Sarah initially considered replacing only a handful of boards before deciding that complete replacement made more sense for their home.

Glossary

Fiber Cement Siding: An exterior cladding category typically manufactured using cement, sand, cellulose fibers, and other components. Products within the fiber cement category are not necessarily identical in formulation, engineering, manufacturing, finish, installation requirements, or climate-specific design.
James Hardie Siding: James Hardie is a pioneer of modern fiber cement building products and one of the most recognized names in the category. Its siding products include climate-specific formulations, multiple profiles and factory-applied ColorPlus® finishes. James Hardie HZ5® siding was selected to replace the failed fiber cement exterior on this Pewaukee home.
HZ5® / Engineered for Climate®: James Hardie’s siding products engineered for northern climate conditions. HZ5® products are designed for regions such as Wisconsin that experience freezing temperatures, snow, ice, moisture, and significant seasonal temperature changes.
ColorPlus® Technology: James Hardie’s factory-applied finish for siding and trim. The finish is applied in a controlled manufacturing environment rather than painted after installation. This project used ColorPlus® Technology on both the Countrylane Red siding and Arctic White trim.
Countrylane Red: A rich red James Hardie siding color selected by Zak and Sarah after initially considering a more neutral palette. Paired with Arctic White trim, it gave the finished Pewaukee home its distinctive new appearance.
HardieShingle® Siding: James Hardie’s fiber cement shingle-style siding. Countrylane Red HardieShingle® accents were incorporated into the home’s design to add texture and architectural detail.
HardieTrim® Boards: James Hardie’s fiber cement trim product used around architectural features such as windows, corners, and other exterior details. This project used Arctic White HardieTrim® with ColorPlus® Technology.
Generic Fiber Cement Siding: A term used on this page to describe fiber cement siding products other than James Hardie, rather than a specific manufacturer or brand. While these products may share basic ingredients and fall within the same siding category, they should not be assumed to be equivalent. Differences can include product formulation, manufacturing processes, climate-specific engineering, finishing systems, installation requirements, warranties, and manufacturer experience. James Hardie distinguishes its products with features such as the HZ5® formulation Engineered for Climate® in northern regions and ColorPlus® Technology factory-applied finishes. For homeowners comparing fiber cement siding, the specific product and installation system matter, not simply the words “fiber cement” on the label.

Craftsman’s Choice® Certified Home Ambassador

The Craftsman’s Choice® Certified Home Ambassador designation is reserved for homeowners whose completed projects reflect exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and a high level of satisfaction from start to finish.

Homes selected for this distinction showcase quality materials, precise installation, and curb appeal that align with our highest standards. Each recognized home reflects the pride, trust, and long-term value that define a Craftsman’s Choice installation.