This Hayward, Wisconsin lake home needed an exterior update that would preserve the warmth and natural character of its wooded setting while reducing the reliance on traditional wood siding. The existing wood lap siding was replaced with James Hardie fiber cement siding finished by Woodtone in Old Cherry, creating a rich wood-look exterior accented by Midnight Black trim. The transformation also included TimberTech Legacy decking in Pecan, black Westbury cable railing, and a GAF Timberline HDZ roof in Charcoal, bringing the siding, deck, roof, and existing natural stone together into one cohesive Wisconsin lake-home exterior.
Project Specs
- Location: Hayward, Wisconsin
- Project Type: Lake Home Siding, Roofing & Deck Remodel
- Existing Exterior: Wood lap siding
- Siding: James Hardie fiber cement siding with a Woodtone wood-look finish
- Siding Color: Woodtone Old Cherry
- Trim & Accents: James Hardie Midnight Black trim, fascia, soffit, corners, and window and door trim
- Roofing: GAF Timberline HDZ shingles in Charcoal
- Decking: TimberTech Legacy Collection in Pecan with an Espresso racetrack border
- Railing: Black Westbury C80 VertiCable railing with drink rail
- Deck Scope: Existing deck framing retained and resurfaced
- Existing Stone: Natural stone retained and incorporated into the new exterior design
- Result: A warmer, lower-maintenance exterior that preserves the character of a wooded Wisconsin lake home while coordinating the siding, roofing, decking, railing, and existing stone
- Certifications: James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor • TimberTech Gold Contractor • GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor
Project Overview
The goal of this Hayward project was not to make the home look less like a lake house. It was to preserve the warmth and character that belonged in its wooded setting while replacing the existing wood lap siding with a more durable exterior system. James Hardie fiber cement siding finished by Woodtone in Old Cherry provided the wood-look appearance that made that possible.
The Woodtone finish is an important part of the transformation. Rather than using a uniform solid color, Old Cherry gives the siding the visual variation and depth associated with stained wood. Midnight Black James Hardie trim was used around the windows and doors and on the corners, fascia, and soffit. Against the warm siding, those dark details sharpen the home’s architecture and help frame the large expanses of glass on the lake-facing elevation.
The existing natural stone was another important consideration in the exterior palette. Instead of competing with the varied colors and textures of the stone, the Old Cherry siding complements its warmer tones. The black trim provides contrast between the two materials and carries through to other elements of the remodeled exterior. The result feels updated without losing the natural, Northwoods character of the original home.
Because a lake home is experienced from more than just the driveway, the design also needed to work from the water-facing side of the house. The large rear elevation, expansive windows and elevated deck make this side of the home a major part of its architecture. The new siding and trim give that elevation more definition, while the black Westbury C80 VertiCable railing maintains the dark accent theme without visually overwhelming the views.
The deck was updated at the same time without unnecessarily replacing the existing framing. The structure was retained and resurfaced with TimberTech Legacy Collection decking in Pecan, surrounded by an Espresso racetrack border. Pecan introduces another warm tone rather than trying to perfectly match the Old Cherry siding, while the darker border and black railing visually connect the deck to the home’s trim.
Above it all, GAF Timberline HDZ roofing in Charcoal completes the exterior palette. The charcoal shingles and black metal details continue the darker architectural framework established by the trim and railing. Together, the James Hardie siding, TimberTech decking, GAF roofing, Westbury railing and existing stone create a coordinated exterior built around a simple design idea: a Wisconsin lake home can gain the durability and lower-maintenance advantages of manufactured exterior products without giving up the warmth and character of natural materials.
Planning a Wisconsin Lake Home Exterior?
While this project is located in northern Wisconsin, the same design considerations apply to lake homes throughout the state. Homeowners in Delafield, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee and the surrounding Lake Country area often face similar decisions about preserving architectural character, coordinating siding with stone and outdoor living spaces, and choosing exterior materials that fit a waterfront setting. Craftsman’s Choice serves homeowners throughout southeastern Wisconsin with James Hardie siding, roofing, decking and complete exterior remodeling.
FAQs
The right siding depends on the home’s architecture, setting, maintenance goals, and the appearance the homeowner wants to preserve. For this Hayward lake home, James Hardie fiber cement siding with a Woodtone wood-look finish provided the warmth associated with stained wood while allowing the exterior to move away from traditional wood lap siding. Old Cherry also worked particularly well with the home’s existing natural stone and wooded surroundings.
James Hardie fiber cement siding can be finished to create a much more pronounced wood appearance than a traditional solid siding color. On this project, Woodtone applied its wood-look finish to James Hardie fiber cement siding in Old Cherry. The variation in tone gives the exterior more of the depth and character associated with stained wood, which made it a natural fit for this Wisconsin lake home.
Rather than choosing a color in isolation, consider the permanent elements surrounding the siding. On this home, Old Cherry picks up warmer tones found in the existing stone and wooded landscape, while Midnight Black provides contrast around the windows, corners and roofline. The goal wasn’t to match the surroundings exactly, but to create an exterior palette that looks intentional in its setting.
Lake homes often have two visually important elevations. The driveway side establishes the home’s arrival, while the lake-facing side may contain larger windows, decks and outdoor living areas. On this project, the same Old Cherry siding and Midnight Black accents were carried around the home, while the black cable railing helps define the large lake-facing elevation without creating a heavy visual barrier around the deck.
Sometimes. The condition and configuration of the existing structure need to be evaluated before deciding whether the framing can remain. On this project, the existing deck framing was retained and resurfaced with TimberTech Legacy Collection decking in Pecan with an Espresso racetrack border. Black Westbury VertiCable railing and a drink rail completed the updated deck.
They don’t have to, and this project is a good example of why. The Old Cherry siding and Pecan decking are both warm colors, but they aren’t identical. The slight contrast helps the materials remain visually distinct, while the Midnight Black trim, Espresso deck border and black railing provide common elements that tie the exterior together.
Fiber cement eliminates some of the maintenance concerns associated with traditional wood siding because it does not use wood as the siding substrate. It still requires proper installation, periodic cleaning and normal exterior maintenance. For homeowners who like the appearance of wood, a Woodtone finish over James Hardie fiber cement can provide that aesthetic without simply replacing old wood siding with new wood siding.
Glossary
- Wood-Look Fiber Cement Siding: Fiber cement siding finished to create the color variation and appearance associated with natural or stained wood. On this Wisconsin lake home, James Hardie fiber cement siding was finished by Woodtone in Old Cherry to maintain a warm, wood-inspired appearance without simply replacing the existing exterior with new wood siding.
- Woodtone Finish: A factory-applied decorative finish used to give siding the appearance of natural wood. For this project, Woodtone’s Old Cherry finish was applied to James Hardie fiber cement siding, creating the variation in color and tone visible across the finished exterior.
- Racetrack Border: A contrasting deck board installed around the perimeter of a deck to create a framed appearance. This lake home’s TimberTech Legacy Pecan decking was finished with an Espresso racetrack border, adding definition to the deck and connecting visually with the home’s darker exterior accents.
- Weather-Resistive Barrier (WRB): A protective layer installed between the wall sheathing and exterior siding. Its purpose is to help manage water that gets behind the siding while protecting the underlying wall assembly.
- Cable Railing: A railing system that uses narrow vertical or horizontal cables instead of traditional pickets or balusters. The black Westbury C80 VertiCable railing used on this project provides the required railing structure while keeping the visual profile relatively open, an especially useful design consideration where views are an important part of the outdoor space.
- Fiber Cement Siding: An exterior siding category made primarily from cement, sand and cellulose fibers. On this Wisconsin lake home, James Hardie fiber cement siding was finished by Woodtone in Old Cherry to create a warm, wood-inspired appearance.
