Ask three contractors about new siding in Saskatoon and at least two will tell you to go with Hardie board. Fair enough, it’s a good product. It also costs more than vinyl, and it’s wrong for some houses. Here’s how James Hardie fibre cement siding handles our weather, where the extra money goes, and when we’d point you somewhere else.

What is Hardie board siding?

Hardie board is the common name for James Hardie fibre cement siding. It’s cement, sand and cellulose fibres pressed into planks, panels, shingles and trim. From the street it looks like painted wood. Up close it doesn’t act like wood at all. It won’t rot, it won’t swell when it gets wet, and bugs and woodpeckers leave it alone.

Why fibre cement siding works in Saskatoon

Saskatoon winters are long and cold, and spring and fall bring plenty of days that thaw in the afternoon and freeze again overnight. That freeze and thaw cycle works on every seam and fastener on your house. Then there’s hail. Summer storms on the Prairies can crack and punch holes in siding in a few minutes.

James Hardie makes its HardieZone HZ5 line for cold climates like ours, built for snow, ice and cold, wet winters. Fibre cement is also much stiffer than vinyl. Vinyl gets brittle in the cold, so a hailstone that bounces off fibre cement can punch straight through vinyl. Hardie board isn’t hail proof. Nothing is. But it takes a beating a lot better.

One more thing people forget: fibre cement doesn’t burn. That matters most on acreages outside the city, where grass fires are a real risk in a dry year.

The downsides of Hardie board

  • It costs more up front. Material and labour both run higher than vinyl. The boards are heavy and slower to hang.
  • Install quality matters a lot. Hardie has specific rules for clearances, flashing, nailing and gaps. Get them wrong and you can end up with moisture problems and a voided warranty. Ask any contractor how many Hardie jobs they’ve actually done.
  • It needs paint eventually. The factory finish lasts, but it’s still paint. Plan on a refresh down the road. Vinyl never needs one.
  • Cutting it makes silica dust. That’s our problem, not yours. A good crew cuts outside with the right saws and dust control.

Hardie board vs vinyl siding

 Hardie boardVinyl siding
Up front costHigherLower
Hail resistanceStrongCan crack in cold weather
FireNon-combustibleMelts
LookDeep shadow lines, reads as woodThinner profile
MaintenanceRepaint every so oftenWash it, that’s it
Best forLong term owners, hail areas, resaleTighter budgets, rentals

What affects Hardie board siding cost in Saskatoon

We can’t give you a fair number over the phone, and be careful with anyone who does. These are the things that move the price:

  • Size of the house and how many storeys we’re working on
  • Whether the old siding has to come off, and what’s under it (rotted sheathing is more common than you’d think)
  • How much trim, corner and window wrapping the design needs
  • Colour, and whether you stay with the factory finish
  • Extras like new soffit, fascia or gutters while the walls are open

Do you need a permit to replace siding in Saskatoon?

Usually not for a house. The City of Saskatoon’s residential permit guide lists replacing siding on a one to four unit dwelling as work that doesn’t need a building and development permit. The guide isn’t a legal document, so if your project includes anything structural, like moving windows or rebuilding a wall, call the City’s Building Standards office before you start. Ask whoever quotes your job how they handle it.

Is Hardie board worth it?

If you’re staying put for a long time, you’re tired of patching hail damage, or you want the house to stand out when you sell, Hardie board usually pays for itself. If it’s a rental or you’re moving in two years, good vinyl siding can make more sense. We install both, so we’ve got no reason to push you either way.

Want to see Hardie board on your house? Book an on-site estimate. We’ll walk the exterior with you, look at what’s under the old siding, and put both options in a written quote.