How Chris & Jennie Lost $38,000 on Hardie Siding (And How We Fixed It)
February 7th, 2025 | 4 min. read
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As you know, we’re big fans of James Hardie siding.
In fact, it’s the only siding product we’ll sell.
But there’s one thing that Hardie won’t save you from...
A bad contractor.
And that’s exactly what two of our clients, Chris and Jennie, ran into before they found us.
Chris and Jennie wanted to replace their 20-year old cedar wood siding, and they loved the look and longevity of James Hardie.
But they didn’t want to pay too much for the installation, so they found a company that seemed reliable and said they could do it on the cheaper side.
Unfortunately, things went wrong almost from the moment they wrote the check.
Crews showed up late – or not at all.
They couldn’t get a hold of a project manager.
At one point, materials left on the job site inexplicably disappeared, taken by random contractors that Chris and Jennie didn’t recognize.
And the entire project dragged on for months, with work happening sporadically.
Fed up and worried, Chris and Jennie called Southwest Exteriors on the recommendation of a family member.
At first, they thought that just a few things were wrong, but once our design consultant arrived on the scene, he quickly realized that almost everything was wrong.
He walked them through the numerous shortcuts and flaws he uncovered. The company they had trusted had not only cut corners but had installed the siding improperly at every level.
One of the most egregious mistakes was with the underlayment. Instead of using the correct substrate behind the siding, the company had simply installed felt paper, completely ignoring industry standards.
Our consultant spent multiple visits explaining the extent of the damage, helping the homeowners grasp just how deeply they had been misled.
The realization left them feeling betrayed, manipulated, and furious.
When they finally kicked the contractor off their property, the company disappeared without a trace, leaving them with a half-finished job. Worse yet, they had already paid the full balance upfront - and their old contractor simply vanished.
We were left with no choice but to remove all of the improperly installed siding.
In the end, Chris and Jennie invested another $58,000 with us to get the job done right. Today, their house is in excellent shape, thanks to a proper installation, but they never for their their original $38,000 back.
Choosing the right siding matters—but choosing the right contractor matters even more.
We’ve seen too many homeowners like Chris and Jennie pay the price for trusting the wrong company, and we don’t want that to happen to you.
With Southwest, there are no shortcuts, no ghosting contractors, and no nasty surprises. Just high-quality James Hardie siding installed by certified experts who show up on time, communicate clearly and regularly, and treat your home like their own.
That’s why we offer free, no-obligation consultations—so you can ask questions, explore your options, and get honest advice from the start. No pressure, no gimmicks—just straightforward answers.
Click here to schedule your free consultation today and let’s get your project done right the first time.