Anacortes Siding Siding Built for Guemes Island's Salt Air and Rain
Guemes Island sits just across the water from Anacortes, and while the ferry ride over feels like a step away from the mainland, the exterior of a home there has to deal with an even tougher version of what the rest of Skagit County faces. Homes on the island get more direct exposure to wind off the Strait, more salt-laden air, and long stretches of shade under fir and cedar canopy that keep siding damp far longer than it should be. If you own a home or cabin on Guemes, you already know the exterior takes a beating that a house a few miles inland doesn't.
What Guemes Island Homes Face
Three things drive most of the siding problems we see on island properties:
- Salt air. Homes closer to the shoreline take on airborne salt that accelerates corrosion of fasteners, trim hardware, and any exposed metal, and it can also break down paint film and wood fiber faster than a typical inland exposure.
- Driving, wind-driven rain. Storms coming off the water don't just fall straight down — they push rain sideways into wall assemblies, seams, and butt joints. Siding that isn't detailed and finished correctly at those joints is where moisture finds its way behind the cladding.
- A long moss and algae season. Tree cover and the general dampness of a Pacific Northwest fall through spring keep north-facing and shaded walls wet for months at a time. That's exactly the environment moss, mildew, and algae need to take hold, and it's hard on any siding material that depends on a painted or coated surface to keep water out.
None of this is unique to any one house on the island — it's the baseline every exterior on Guemes has to hold up against, year after year.
Why We Only Install James Hardie Fiber Cement
We install James Hardie fiber cement siding exclusively — not LP SmartSide, not vinyl, not Cemplank, not Allura, not primed spruce or cedar. That's a deliberate standard, not a limitation. Fiber cement doesn't have wood fiber at its core that can absorb moisture and swell, rot, or feed fungal growth the way wood-based and engineered wood siding products can over time, especially in a damp, shaded, salt-exposed setting like Guemes Island. It's also non-combustible, which matters anywhere with tree cover and a history of dry-season wildfire concern in the region.
Hardie's HZ5 product line is engineered specifically for wetter, harsher climates like ours, and the ColorPlus factory finish is baked on under controlled conditions rather than field-painted, which gives it better resistance to fading, moisture intrusion, and the kind of grime and moss staining that shaded coastal walls tend to accumulate. It also comes with a strong transferable warranty — worth something on an island where homes often change hands and buyers want documentation that the exterior was done right.
Product Lines We Work With
- HardiePlank lap siding — the most common choice for full re-sides and new construction.
- HardiePanel vertical siding — often used for accent walls, gables, or a more modern look.
- HardieTrim — for corners, fascia, and window and door trim that holds a crisp line and resists the same moisture and rot pressure as the field siding.
None of these are magic — they still require correct flashing, proper clearances off grade and decks, and tight, well-caulked joints to perform the way they're designed to. That installation detail is where a lot of exterior failures actually start, regardless of what material is on the wall.
A Local Crew That Knows the Island
Working on Guemes means working around the ferry — material deliveries, crew scheduling, and job sequencing all have to account for it. A crew that only occasionally works island jobs tends to underestimate that, which shows up as delays or rushed work to make a ferry window. Because we're based in Anacortes and work Skagit County regularly, we plan island projects with that reality built in from the start: staging materials ahead of time, scheduling around ferry availability, and not treating a Guemes job like a mainland job with an extra step tacked on.
Beyond Siding: Roofing, Windows, and Decks
Siding is only one piece of an exterior that has to hold up to this environment. We also handle roofing, windows, and decks, and on an island property those three tend to take the same kind of punishment as the siding does:
| Exterior Component | Guemes Island Concern |
|---|---|
| Roofing | Wind-driven rain and moss buildup on shaded slopes |
| Windows | Salt air affecting seals and hardware over time |
| Decks | Constant dampness and shade accelerating wear on decking and framing |
Addressing these together, rather than one at a time with different contractors, usually means fewer gaps where water can get in and a more consistent look across the whole exterior.
If you're planning a siding project — or want a second opinion on an exterior that's showing its age — on Guemes Island, we're happy to come take a look. Reach out for a free, no-pressure estimate using the form below.