March Point Fiber Cement Siding | Anacortes Local Crew

Fiber Cement Siding Built for March Point's Weather

March Point sits out on the water side of Anacortes, close enough to Fidalgo Bay and the refinery shoreline that homes here take a different kind of weather beating than houses further inland in Skagit County. Salt-laden air moves through year-round, wind-driven rain comes off the water sideways during winter storms, and the shaded, damp stretches of the neighborhood stay wet long enough each year to grow a steady crop of moss on roofs, fences, and siding. Any siding product installed here has to hold up to all three at once, not just one of them.

We install James Hardie fiber cement siding on March Point homes because it's the one product we're comfortable standing behind in these conditions. This page covers what that actually means in practice — what the climate does to siding out here, what a correct fiber cement install looks like, and how we run the job from estimate to cleanup.

What Salt Air, Rain, and Moss Actually Do to Siding

Salt Air

Airborne salt from the bay settles on exterior surfaces and accelerates corrosion of exposed metal fasteners and trim, and it can leave a chalky residue on paint and coatings over time. Fiber cement itself doesn't corrode or rust — it's a cement, sand, and cellulose fiber composite — but the fasteners, flashing, and trim details around it need to be salt-tolerant or the whole assembly weakens at those points first.

Driving Rain

Wind-driven rain doesn't just wet a wall surface, it pushes water sideways and upward under laps, around penetrations, and into any gap in the water-resistive barrier. On a home exposed to open water like the March Point shoreline, the siding system has to manage bulk water at the surface and keep anything that gets past it moving back out, rather than trapping it against the sheathing.

Moss and Sustained Moisture

Shaded north and west walls in this part of Anacortes stay damp for long stretches, especially under trees or where roof lines shed water onto lower siding courses. That kind of sustained dampness is exactly what wood-based sidings and their coatings struggle with — moss and mildew get a foothold, coatings soften and lift, and moisture works into any seam or cut edge that wasn't sealed. Fiber cement doesn't feed mold or rot the way wood-based products do, but ongoing dampness still means the installation details — clearances, drainage, caulking — matter more here than in a drier climate.

Why We Only Install James Hardie

We standardized on James Hardie fiber cement siding across every job we take, including March Point, and we don't install vinyl, LP SmartSide, primed spruce, cedar, or other fiber cement brands like Cemplank or Allura. That's not a marketing position — it's a decision based on what we've seen hold up in this climate over time versus what requires more upkeep or fails at predictable weak points.

• Non-combustible core: fiber cement won't ignite or contribute fuel to a fire the way wood-based siding can.
• Factory-applied ColorPlus finish: baked-on color that resists fading and chipping better than field-applied paint, which matters when salt air is already working against any coating.
• Climate-engineered HZ product lines: Hardie formulates its HZ5 siding specifically for wetter, harsher climates like ours in the Pacific Northwest, rather than using one national formula everywhere.
• Strong transferable warranty: backed by the manufacturer and tied to installation done to their published specifications.
• Proven track record: decades of use in coastal and marine-influenced climates similar to Fidalgo Bay.

We go into more depth on why we walked away from other siding products on our other pages — the short version here is that in a neighborhood facing salt air, rain, and moss all at once, we want a product whose engineering already accounts for that combination.

What a Correct Fiber Cement Install Requires Here

Fiber cement is only as good as the installation behind it. On March Point specifically, a handful of details matter more than they would on a sheltered inland lot:

Water-Resistive Barrier and Flashing

A continuous, properly lapped weather-resistive barrier goes on before siding, with flashing integrated at every window, door, deck ledger, and roof-to-wall intersection so water is directed out and down, never trapped behind the cladding.

Fastener Selection

Corrosion-resistant fasteners rated for the exposure are non-negotiable this close to the water. Using the wrong fastener is one of the most common ways a fiber cement job fails early — not the siding itself, but the hardware holding it on.

Clearances and Gaps

Hardie specifies minimum clearances from grade, roof lines, decks, and patios, plus gaps at butt joints and trim. These clearances exist so water has somewhere to go instead of wicking up into the bottom edge of a board — a detail that gets skipped on rushed jobs and shows up as damage years later.

Caulking and Sealant Joints

Every joint that needs to be sealed gets a quality sealant rated for exterior, marine-influenced exposure, applied to manufacturer spec — not just wherever a gap looks open.

Field Cut and Edge Treatment

Cut edges of fiber cement board need to be sealed per manufacturer instructions before installation. Skipping this step leaves a raw edge exposed to moisture right where two boards meet.

Our Process on a March Point Job

1. On-site assessment: we walk the exterior, check current siding condition, look at drainage, grading, roof-to-wall transitions, and any moss or moisture staining already present.
2. Written estimate: scope, product line, color, and timeline laid out clearly before any work starts.
3. Tear-off and inspection: once old siding comes off, we inspect the sheathing underneath for hidden rot or moisture damage before closing anything back up.
4. Barrier and flashing installation: the weather-resistive barrier and flashing details go in first, since this is the layer that does the real water management work.
5. Hardie siding installation: installed to manufacturer specification for fastening, clearances, and joint treatment.
6. Trim, caulking, and final detailing: all joints sealed, trim finished, touch-up as needed.
7. Walkthrough and cleanup: final walkthrough with the homeowner and full site cleanup.

Why Hiring a Crew That Already Works March Point Matters

A siding installer who works regularly in this part of Anacortes already knows what the exposure on a given lot calls for — whether a home sits directly in the wind off the bay or is somewhat sheltered, where moss tends to build up fastest, and which details tend to get missed on jobs done by crews unfamiliar with marine-influenced Skagit County conditions. That local pattern recognition doesn't replace following manufacturer spec, but it does mean fewer surprises during the job and a better read on what a specific home actually needs before work starts.

Comparing Siding Approaches for March Point Conditions

Factor	Vinyl	Wood / Primed Spruce / Cedar	James Hardie Fiber Cement
Salt air exposure	Can become brittle and discolored over time	Coatings degrade faster; needs frequent repainting	Non-combustible core; factory finish resists fading
Driving rain / moisture	Can warp or buckle at seams if water gets behind it	Prone to swelling, cupping, rot if water penetrates	Doesn't absorb and swell like wood-based products
Moss / sustained dampness	Moss grows on surface but material doesn't rot	Feeds mold and rot if moisture is sustained	Resists moisture-driven deterioration
Finish longevity	Color molded in but can fade and chalk	Requires repainting/restaining on a regular cycle	ColorPlus factory finish, long repaint intervals
Fire resistance	Can melt or deform under heat	Combustible	Non-combustible

What to Ask Before Hiring Anyone for This Job

• Are they a certified or experienced James Hardie installer, and can they explain their fastening and clearance approach?
• Will they inspect the sheathing once old siding is off, before installing new siding?
• What water-resistive barrier and flashing details do they use at windows, doors, and roof lines?
• Do they carry current licensing and insurance for exterior work in Washington State?
• Will the estimate specify the exact Hardie product line and color, in writing?
• Do they have experience with homes in salt-air, marine-influenced settings like March Point?

Maintenance Once Your New Siding Is Installed

Fiber cement is low-maintenance compared to wood, but "low-maintenance" isn't "no-maintenance," especially in this climate. A periodic rinse to knock off salt residue and organic buildup, keeping gutters clear so water isn't overflowing onto siding below, and trimming back vegetation that keeps a wall shaded and damp all help the siding perform the way it's designed to over the long run. Watch for caulking that's cracked or pulled away at joints and have it refreshed before it becomes an entry point for water.

Get a Free Estimate for Your March Point Home

If you're weighing a siding replacement on March Point and want a straight answer about what your home actually needs given its exposure, we're glad to come take a look. There's no pressure and no obligation — just a clear assessment and a written estimate you can think over. Use the form below to get started.