Anacortes Exterior Why Old Town Anacortes Siding Takes a Different Approach
Old Town Anacortes sits close enough to the water that salt air is part of daily life, and the housing stock reflects a long build-out period — older bungalows and cottages sitting next to newer infill homes, many with additions and re-sides layered on over the decades. Any siding installer working this neighborhood needs to plan for two things at once: a building envelope that may already have hidden moisture history, and a climate that will keep testing the new siding the same way it tested the old.
That combination is exactly why we treat siding installation here as a full-envelope project, not just a materials swap. Skagit County's marine climate — salt-laden air off the water, driving rain that comes in sideways during winter storms, and a moss season that stretches longer than most homeowners realize — doesn't forgive shortcuts. A siding job that looks good for the first year but wasn't built around drainage, ventilation, and the right cladding material will show its weaknesses within a few winters.
What Salt Air, Driving Rain, and Moss Actually Do to Siding
Salt Air
Airborne salt is corrosive to fasteners, flashing, and any metal trim that isn't rated for coastal exposure. It also accelerates the breakdown of lower-grade paints and coatings, which is part of why we care so much about factory-applied finishes rather than field-applied paint on raw material.
Driving Rain
Wind-driven rain doesn't just fall on siding — it gets pushed sideways and upward into laps, joints, and penetrations. A house near the water needs a siding system and installation detail that assumes water will reach the wall plane, and gives it a way to drain back out rather than sit against sheathing.
Moss and Prolonged Dampness
Anacortes' moss season runs long compared to drier parts of the state. Moss and algae growth on siding isn't just cosmetic — it holds moisture against the surface for extended periods, which matters more for materials that swell, rot, or delaminate when they stay wet. A siding material's ability to shrug off sustained dampness is one of the biggest differentiators between products in this climate.
Why We Install James Hardie Fiber Cement — And Only That
We install James Hardie fiber cement siding exclusively. We don't install vinyl, LP SmartSide, Cemplank, Allura, primed spruce, or cedar, and we're upfront about why: in a coastal, wet-winter climate like Anacortes, those trade-offs stack up in ways that cost homeowners money and headaches down the road, while Hardie's engineered fiber cement holds up to the specific stresses this neighborhood deals with.
- Non-combustible material — fiber cement doesn't feed a fire the way wood-based or vinyl products can
- ColorPlus factory finish — baked-on color that resists fading and chalking better than field-applied paint, which matters when salt air is already working against any coating
- Engineered for moisture — Hardie's HZ10 product line is formulated for climates with sustained damp conditions, which describes Anacortes for a good chunk of the year
- Dimensionally stable — fiber cement doesn't expand and contract with moisture the way wood-based products do, so joints and caulk lines hold up longer
- Strong transferable warranty — backed by the manufacturer, not just the installer's word
We're not saying every other product is unusable everywhere — cedar has real appeal, vinyl is inexpensive, LP SmartSide has its market. But for a home in this specific climate, taking on the maintenance burden or moisture risk of those alternatives isn't a trade we're willing to make on a customer's behalf. Hardie is what we put on homes because it's the product we can stand behind for the long haul here.
What a Correct Siding Installation Involves in This Neighborhood
The siding itself is only part of the job. Installation quality determines whether that siding performs for 30+ years or starts showing problems in five. On Old Town Anacortes homes, our process typically includes:
1. Tear-Off and Wall Inspection
Removing old siding down to the sheathing lets us actually see what's there — rot, prior water intrusion, undersized or missing flashing, insulation gaps. On older homes in this area, this step regularly turns up issues that were hidden behind the previous cladding.
2. Weather-Resistive Barrier and Drainage Plane
We install a proper water-resistive barrier with a drainage gap behind the siding, so any moisture that gets past the cladding has somewhere to go instead of sitting against the wall. This detail matters more here than in drier inland areas because of how much wind-driven rain the coast sees.
3. Flashing at Every Penetration
Windows, doors, vents, and any wall penetration get properly integrated flashing — not just caulk. Caulk is a maintenance item; flashing is a structural water-management detail. In a driving-rain climate, this is where a lot of installation shortcuts show up years later as rot.
4. Correct Fastening and Coastal-Rated Hardware
Salt air corrodes the wrong fasteners over time. We use fastening schedules and hardware suited to coastal exposure so trim and boards stay secure without rust streaking or loosening.
5. Manufacturer-Spec Installation
James Hardie's warranty depends on installation to their specification — correct clearances, fastener placement, joint treatment, and caulking at the right locations. We install to spec because that's what keeps the warranty valid and the siding performing as designed.
Comparing Siding Options for a Coastal Anacortes Home
| Factor | Vinyl | Cedar | LP SmartSide | James Hardie Fiber Cement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture tolerance | Doesn't rot, but can warp/crack in temperature swings | Attractive but needs ongoing sealing/staining to resist rot | Engineered wood; vulnerable if moisture gets past the coating | Engineered for damp climates, doesn't rot |
| Salt air resistance | Color can fade faster near coast | Needs frequent refinishing near salt air | Coating wear is a concern in salt exposure | Factory ColorPlus finish holds up well |
| Fire resistance | Can melt/deform under heat | Combustible | Wood-based, combustible | Non-combustible |
| Maintenance | Low, but limited repair options | High — regular staining/sealing | Moderate — watch for edge swelling | Low — occasional wash, no repainting cycle |
| Warranty structure | Varies widely by manufacturer | Typically none beyond installer | Manufacturer warranty, moisture exclusions common | Strong transferable manufacturer warranty |
This isn't a knock on the other products — it's a summary of the trade-offs we weighed before deciding what we'd stand behind for homes in this exact climate.
Our Process, Start to Finish
- Free on-site assessment — we walk the exterior, check for existing moisture damage, and talk through what your home actually needs
- Detailed written estimate — scope, product lines, color options, and timeline, no surprise add-ons
- Tear-off and wall prep — removal, inspection, and repair of any hidden damage found underneath
- Weather barrier and flashing installation — the unglamorous work that determines long-term performance
- James Hardie installation to manufacturer spec — correct fastening, clearances, and joint treatment
- Final walkthrough — we go over the finished work with you before calling the job done
Why Local Experience in Old Town Anacortes Matters
A crew that regularly works this neighborhood already understands the housing stock — the mix of older original-construction homes and additions, the typical wall assemblies, and how the coastal exposure changes from block to block depending on how sheltered or exposed a lot is. That familiarity shows up in small but important ways: knowing what kind of hidden damage to expect when tear-off starts, understanding how Skagit County permitting and inspection works for exterior projects, and having a realistic sense of scheduling around the wetter months so installation happens during a stretch of workable weather.
It also means we're not guessing at how James Hardie's product lines perform here — we've installed them on homes dealing with the same salt air and rain exposure yours does, and we know which details actually matter versus which are just extra steps.
Signs Your Current Siding May Already Be Failing
- Soft or spongy spots when you press on the siding, especially near the bottom courses
- Paint that's bubbling, peeling, or failing faster than it used to
- Persistent moss or algae growth that comes back quickly after cleaning
- Visible gaps, warping, or buckling at seams and corners
- Rising energy bills that suggest the wall assembly isn't performing like it should
- Water stains on interior walls near exterior corners or window trim
If any of these sound familiar, it's worth having the siding looked at before small problems turn into sheathing or framing repairs.
What Affects the Cost of a Siding Installation
Every home is different, but a few factors consistently drive cost on Old Town Anacortes projects: the total square footage and complexity of the home's exterior (gables, dormers, and trim detail all add labor), the condition of the sheathing once old siding comes off, the James Hardie product line and color selected, and how much repair work is needed for flashing, trim, or rot found during tear-off. We give a detailed written estimate after an on-site assessment rather than a rough guess over the phone, because guessing on an older coastal home is how change orders happen.
If your Old Town Anacortes home is due for new siding, we're happy to take a look and give you a straightforward, no-pressure estimate — just fill out the form below to get started.