How Long Does James Hardie Siding Installation Take?

Two different clocks

People usually mean one of two things by this question: how long until work starts, and how long the crew will be at the house. They’re separate. The first depends on the season and the contractor’s schedule. The second depends on your house.

Before the crew arrives

After you accept a quote, products and colours are confirmed and material is ordered. Factory-finished siding in a common colour is often available quickly; less common colours and products can take longer to arrive. Spring and summer after a hail season are the busiest months, and wait times grow. Ask for a realistic start window instead of a single date.

The stages on site

1. Set-up and tear-off. Old cladding comes off and goes in a bin. This is the noisy, messy part and it moves fast.
2. Inspection and repairs. The sheathing is checked. Any rot is cut out and replaced. This is the stage that can add time nobody predicted.
3. Weather barrier and flashing. The wall is wrapped and every opening is flashed. Once this is done the house is protected even without siding.
4. Trim and siding. The longest stage. Corners and window trim usually go on first, then the siding between them.
5. Soffit, fascia and details. Lights, vents and fixtures go back on.
6. Sealing, touch-up and clean-up. Joints are caulked, cut edges and nail heads are touched up, and the site is cleared.
7. Walkthrough. You go round the house with the installer.

What makes a job longer

• Height. Two and three storeys need scaffolding, and everything is slower at height.
• Complexity. Lots of corners, windows, gables and roof lines mean lots of cutting and flashing.
• Mixed products. Shingle and board-and-batten areas take longer than lap siding.
• Hidden damage. Rotten sheathing or framing has to be fixed first.
• Other trades. New windows, exterior insulation or electrical changes add steps.
• Weather. Rain, high wind and deep cold stop work. See winter installation.

A rough sense of scale

A simple bungalow with lap siding is a much shorter job than a large two-storey with several gables and mixed materials. As a loose guide, straightforward houses are often measured in days and complicated ones in weeks. Your written quote should state the expected duration for your house, and that’s the figure to rely on.

Living through it

You can stay in the house throughout. Expect noise during working hours, a bin on the driveway, and limited use of the yard next to the walls being worked on. Keep windows closed on cutting days. Pets and small children should be kept away from the work area. Tips on getting ready are in preparing your home.

The full sequence is described in the installation process.