Cedar Siding vs Hardie Board Cost: Denver Price Guide
Cedar or Hardie Board? Compare installed costs, long-term maintenance, and Colorado's new wildfire codes before choosing siding for your Denver home.
June 16, 2026
Key Takeaways
Replacing your home's siding is one of the biggest investments you will make as a Denver homeowner, and the material you choose will follow you for decades. With Colorado's brutal hail seasons, intense UV exposure at 5,280 feet, and wildfire risk creeping closer to the suburbs every year, this decision carries more weight here than almost anywhere else in the country.
For most Front Range homeowners, the choice comes down to two leading options: classic cedar wood siding or fiber cement James Hardie Siding.
Both have genuine merit, but they perform very differently in Colorado's climate, and they come with very different price tags and maintenance demands.
In this guide, we break down the cedar siding vs. Hardie Board cost comparison in detail, covering materials, installation labor, long-term upkeep, and which option makes the most sense for your specific Denver home and budget.
Roof Warranties for Upscale Denver Homeowners
If you’re a homeowner in the Denver area, you already know—Mother Nature doesn’t hold back. Between heavy snowfall in the winter, sudden hailstorms in the spring, and high winds that roll off the Rockies year-round, your roof system takes a beating. That’s exactly why roof warranty coverage is a smart investment in your home’s future.
A Critical Note for Jefferson County and Foothills Homeowners
Homeowners in Jefferson County communities, including Evergreen, Genesee, and Morrison, need to be aware of an important regulatory change before making any siding decision.
Beginning July 1, 2026, Jefferson County regulations aligned with the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code restrict combustible exterior siding materials in designated Wildland-Urban Interface zones. In these WUI areas, new construction and siding replacement projects must use ignition-resistant materials. Approved options include fiber cement, stucco, masonry, brick, and metal siding. Untreated cedar and other natural wood siding products do not meet this standard in WUI-designated areas.
Under the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, prior established HOA design guidelines requiring cedar siding cannot supersede state and county code. The code is the authority. If you live in Jefferson County, check your specific address and zoning status directly with Jefferson County before making any material decisions.
Fiber Cement vs. Wood Siding: Performance in Colorado
When choosing a siding material for your Denver home, price is only part of the equation. The pros and cons of each product's performance through Colorado's freeze-thaw cycles, hail storms, blazing summers, and dry winters tell you far more about its long-term value. To understand the comparison, it helps to know the players.
Cedar is a natural wood siding that has been used on American homes for generations, prized for its beauty and natural oils. Fiber cement siding is an engineered material made from sand, cement, and cellulose fibers.
James Hardie is the dominant manufacturer of fiber cement siding in North America, and their products including HardiePlank™, Hardie Board™, and cement board are often used interchangeably as category names in the industry. When you hear any of those terms throughout this article, they all refer to the same James Hardie fiber cement product family. Here is how cedar and fiber cement stack up where it counts most in Colorado.
Moisture and Rot Resistance
Colorado may be a dry state, but the Front Range sees significant moisture swings. Spring snowmelt, summer afternoon thunderstorms, and rapid temperature changes create conditions where a house can go from soaked to bone dry within hours. Cedar is naturally resistant to moisture thanks to its oils, but over time those oils deplete, leaving the wood vulnerable to warping, cracking, and rot if the siding is not properly sealed and maintained. Cement board does not absorb moisture the way wood does, making it far less prone to rot or swelling even after repeated wet and dry cycles.
Hail and Impact Resistance
Hail is a fact of life on the Front Range, and it is one of the most important performance factors Denver homeowners should evaluate when selecting a siding material. Cedar siding can dent, split, or crack under a heavy hail event, which may trigger an insurance claim and costly repairs. Many fiber cement products are tested to meet Class 4 impact resistance ratings, the highest available, which can translate to lower homeowner insurance premiums in Colorado's hail-prone corridors.
Fire Resistance
Wildfire risk in the Denver metro and surrounding foothills has made fire resistance a defining consideration. Cedar, like all untreated wood siding, is combustible and restricted in WUI zones under the 2026 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code. Fiber cement is non-combustible and carries a Class A fire rating, the highest possible for exterior building materials. For homes in Evergreen, Morrison, or any foothills community near designated wildfire risk areas, fiber cement is not just the safer choice. In many cases it is the only compliant one.
UV and Altitude Exposure
At a mile above sea level, Denver receives significantly more ultraviolet radiation than lower-elevation cities. That UV exposure accelerates the fading and degradation of exterior finishes. Cedar requires restaining or repainting every three to five years to maintain both its appearance and its protective barrier. Fiber cement holds paint longer, and James Hardie's ColorPlus factory finish is baked on under controlled conditions, offering better fade resistance than a field-applied coat on natural wood.
Pest Resistance
Cedar carries more pest risk in the Denver area. Woodpeckers are a well-documented nuisance on the Front Range and are attracted to wood siding in search of insects. Carpenter bees can also bore into cedar boards over time. Fiber cement offers no food source or nesting appeal for these pests, making it a lower-maintenance option for homeowners who prefer to avoid wildlife damage repairs.
The Timeless Appeal of Cedar Siding
Cedar siding has long been a signature material in the foothills communities of the Front Range, and with good reason.
However, with the new Jefferson County WUI restrictions mentioned above, untreated cedar is no longer a straightforward option for many of those hillside homes.
Today, cedar siding is best suited to Denver metro and western metro neighborhoods where you will still find it on beautiful homes throughout Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Applewood, and Golden.
Natural Beauty That Stands Alone
No engineered product fully replicates the look of real wood. Siding cedar carries a warmth, grain variation, and dimensional character that fiber cement works hard to imitate. For homeowners on tree-lined lots where the home needs to feel like it belongs in the landscape, that natural aesthetic has genuine value.
The Maintenance Reality
Cedar siding requires an honest commitment. The average homeowner should budget for professional restaining or repainting every three to five years, and any damaged boards need prompt repair to prevent moisture intrusion.
Contractors who specialize in wood siding will tell you that neglected cedar becomes an expensive problem quickly. For proactive homeowners who treat maintenance as part of owning a quality home, cedar rewards that attention with decades of performance and beauty.
Why Denver Homeowners Choose HardieBoard and HardiePlank Siding
If you have been researching fiber cement options, you have probably encountered several names for essentially the same product family.
HardiePlank™ siding is the lap board profile, the most widely installed fiber cement siding in the country, designed to mimic the look of traditional horizontal wood siding. HardieBoard™ siding is the general term for James Hardie's full range of board siding products, covering trim, soffit, and specialty applications.
HardiePanel™ is the large format vertical siding option, commonly used on modern farmhouse designs, garages, and accent walls. All fall under the Hardie siding umbrella, and all are engineered to outperform wood in climates exactly like Colorado's.
Engineered for Colorado's Climate Zone
James Hardie does not make a one-size-fits-all product. Their HardieZone system produces regionally specific formulations, and Colorado falls under HZ5, the designation for climates with freezing temperatures, significant snow loads, and dramatic seasonal swings. HZ5 boards are engineered to resist cracking and warping through repeated freeze-thaw cycles, giving Denver homeowners a meaningful performance advantage over standard fiber cement products.
Style Options That Compete With Wood
HardiePlank siding is available in a range of profiles and textures that credibly replicate cedar, wood grain, and shingle styles. ColorPlus factory finishes come in dozens of options and hold significantly longer than field-painted wood siding under Colorado's intense UV exposure.
Insurance and Fire Safety Benefits
For homeowners in wildfire-adjacent communities, Hardie board siding carries a Class A fire rating that can open conversations with your insurance provider about premium reductions. Combined with its Class 4 hail resistance rating, it is one of the few exterior materials that can meaningfully lower the long-term cost of owning a home in Colorado's increasingly difficult insurance market.
Breaking Down the Cedar Siding vs. Hardie Board Cost
For most Denver homeowners, the cedar siding vs. Hardie Board cost comparison is where the decision gets real. Both materials sit in a similar price neighborhood at first glance, but the numbers diverge significantly once you factor in installation labor, the Denver market premium, and what you will spend over the life of the siding.
Most cost guides place cedar siding installation in the range of $12 to $20 per square foot installed, depending on the grade of wood and the complexity of the home's exterior.
HardiePlank™ and HardieBoard™ installations typically run $10 to $15 per square foot installed. On a 2,000 square foot home, that average price range difference can be modest upfront, somewhere between $4,000 and $10,000 depending on the specific products and labor involved.
Where the math shifts is the 15-year picture. Cedar siding in Colorado requires professional restaining or repainting every three to five years. Factor in two to three maintenance cycles over that period, plus any board repair from hail or pest damage, and cedar's true cost of ownership climbs well above what the installation invoice suggested. A reliable cost guide for cedar siding in the Denver market should always include a projected maintenance line.
Hardie siding carries a higher labor cost at installation. The boards are heavier than wood, require specialized cutting tools, and James Hardie requires certified contractors for warranty purposes, all of which contribute to the labor portion of your quote. However, once installed, ongoing costs drop sharply. Factory finishes last significantly longer than field-applied stain on cedar, and the material does not require the same cycle of upkeep.
The Denver labor market also adds a premium that homeowners should account for when comparing quotes to national average price range figures found in online cost guides. Front Range contractors are in high demand, particularly following active hail seasons, and siding quotes in the Denver metro will typically run higher than national benchmarks. Always request local references and get a minimum of three quotes from Denver area contractors before making a final decision.
Maintenance and Longevity of Hardie Board Siding vs. Cedar Siding
By the time a Denver homeowner reaches this question, the performance and cost sections have usually made the answer fairly clear. But it is worth stating directly.
Cedar siding, properly maintained, can last 30 to 40 years on a Colorado home. The operative phrase is properly maintained. That means consistent restaining or repainting cycles, prompt board repair after hail events, and annual inspections to catch moisture intrusion before it becomes a larger problem. For homeowners who stay on top of it, cedar rewards the effort. For those who do not, deterioration can set in faster than expected at altitude.
HardiePlank™ and HardieBoard™ carry a 30-year manufacturer warranty and require significantly less ongoing attention to hit that milestone. Paint and finish cycles are longer, the material does not rot or warp, and there are no pest or woodpecker concerns to manage year after year.
If longevity with minimal intervention is the priority, fiber cement is the practical choice for most Denver homeowners.
Making the Right Choice for Your Denver Home
The choice between cedar and Hardie Board comes down to where you live, how much maintenance you are willing to commit to, and what your budget looks like over the long haul. Fiber cement offers lower long-term costs and superior durability. Cedar remains a beautiful option for the right home and the right homeowner.
Either way, the material is only as good as the contractor who installs it. Urban Exteriors is Denver's local choice for superior siding work. Contact them today for a professional assessment and a detailed cost estimate for cedar siding vs. Hardie Board for your home.
POST AUTHOR
Jennifer Hess, COO, Urban Exteriors LLC
Jennifer is the Chief Operating Officer of Urban Exteriors LLC and a 25-year veteran of the roofing industry. A specialist in insurance claim coordination and project management, Jennifer serves as the vital link between suppliers, adjusters, and the field teams to ensure every roof is built to the highest standards.
When she isn’t managing operations, you’ll find her helping homeowners in the Lakewood and Denver, Colorado area select the perfect colors for their home’s exterior.
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