Fiber Cement — James Hardie
Hardie’s HZ10 line is formulated for northern freeze-thaw — fire- and pest-resistant, dimensionally stable, with a baked-on ColorPlus finish.
Siding & Exteriors
Siding Contractors in the Twin Cities
New siding, stucco replacement, and storm repair built for Minnesota — James Hardie, LP SmartSide, steel, stone, and more, installed over a proper weather barrier by one in-house crew.
James Hardie & LP SmartSide installer4.9★ / 72 reviewsBBB A+MN GC #BC76063820+ years experience
New siding is the single biggest jump in curb appeal you can make — and in Minnesota it’s also your home’s armor against freeze-thaw, ice, hail, and wind-driven rain. We re-side homes across the Twin Cities the right way: the correct material for our climate, over a proper weather barrier, with the flashing and details that keep walls dry for decades.
Siding Materials We Install
Engineered Wood — LP SmartSide
Tough engineered wood that flexes on hail instead of cracking. Available with Diamond Kote’s 30-year no-fade finish — the best fade warranty made.
Premium & Insulated Vinyl
The most budget-friendly, low-maintenance option. Insulated vinyl adds R-value and rigidity to hold up through Minnesota cold.
Steel & Metal
Modern, durable, and won’t burn, rot, or feed pests — a clean contemporary look gaining fast in the Twin Cities.
Stone Veneer Accents
Manufactured stone on entries, columns, and wainscots adds instant high-end character — perfect mixed with lap siding.
Wood, Shake & Board-and-Batten
Cedar, shake, and board-and-batten accents to add texture and modernize a tired facade.
Brick & Full Masonry
Timeless full brick and brick accents — plus tuckpointing/repair of existing brick and manufactured stone work.
Log & Timber Look
Cedar, half-log, and timber-look siding for warm cabin character — sealed and finished for our climate.
Brands & Finishes We Install
Premium Siding Products, Professionally Installed
Choosing Your Siding
Siding Materials Compared: Advantages & Trade-offs
There’s no single “best” siding — only the best fit for your home, budget and goals. Here’s an honest look at every option we install in the Twin Cities, so you can choose with confidence.
Vinyl Siding
The budget-friendly, low-maintenance standard.
Advantages
- Lowest upfront cost
- Never needs painting
- Huge range of colors & profiles
- Easy, fast installation
Trade-offs
- Can crack in extreme MN cold
- Color can fade over time
- Less premium look & lower resale
- Dents/warps near heat
Best for: Budget-conscious homeowners who want low upkeep.
Fiber Cement (James Hardie)
The premium, Minnesota-rated workhorse.
Advantages
- 30–50 yr lifespan, extremely durable
- Fire-, rot-, pest- & hail-resistant
- HardieZone HZ10 built for MN freeze-thaw
- ColorPlus baked-on finish; #1 resale ROI
Trade-offs
- Higher material cost
- Heavy — requires experienced installers
Best for: Owners who want the best long-term value & curb appeal.
Engineered Wood (LP SmartSide)
Real-wood warmth, lighter and tougher.
Advantages
- Authentic wood grain look
- Lighter & easier to work than fiber cement
- Diamond Kote 30-yr no-fade finish
- Strong impact resistance & value
Trade-offs
- Must be properly sealed at cut edges
- Needs correct flashing to avoid moisture
Best for: Homeowners who love a wood look without cedar upkeep.
Steel Siding
Modern, dent- and hail-tough metal.
Advantages
- Outstanding hail & impact resistance
- Fire-proof & very long life
- Clean, modern aesthetic
- Low maintenance, won’t rot
Trade-offs
- Higher cost than vinyl/LP
- Can dent under severe impact
- Fewer qualified installers
Best for: Hail-prone areas & contemporary homes.
Cedar & Real Wood
Classic, natural, high-end beauty.
Advantages
- Timeless natural appearance
- Premium, characterful finish
- Renewable material
Trade-offs
- Highest maintenance — re-stain/seal every few years
- Vulnerable to rot, insects & moisture
- Higher lifetime cost
Best for: Character homes where authentic wood is a must.
Brick
Permanent, virtually maintenance-free.
Advantages
- 75–100+ yr lifespan
- Fire-, weather- & pest-proof
- Almost zero maintenance
- Excellent resale value
Trade-offs
- High upfront cost
- Tuckpointing of mortar needed eventually
- Hard to change the color later
Best for: Owners wanting a permanent, timeless exterior.
Stone & Manufactured Stone Veneer
Show-stopping curb appeal, often as an accent.
Advantages
- High-end, custom look
- Very durable & weather-resistant
- Veneer is lighter & far cheaper than full stone
- Perfect for fronts, columns & wainscots
Trade-offs
- Premium price
- Must be installed over proper moisture barrier & flashing
- Usually an accent, not whole-home
Best for: Elevating the front elevation & entry.
Stucco
Seamless, monolithic, energy-smart.
Advantages
- Smooth, seamless appearance
- Durable & energy efficient when done right
- Common & fitting on older MN homes
Trade-offs
- Can crack with freeze-thaw movement
- Moisture intrusion risk with poor flashing (esp. 1990s Dryvit/EIFS)
- Repairs require a stucco specialist
Best for: Older St. Paul/Mpls homes & Mediterranean styles.
Not sure which is right for your home? Get a free siding consultation and we’ll walk every option with you.
Ready to transform your home’s exterior?
We’ll assess your walls, talk materials and looks, and give you an honest, itemized quote.
What’s Behind Your Siding Matters Most
Anyone can hang panels. Keeping a Minnesota wall dry for 30 years is about the system underneath — and it’s where corners get cut.
- Weather-resistive barrier — code-required house wrap, fully taped and flashed.
- Rainscreen / drainage gap — lets the wall drain and dry so sheathing never rots.
- Sheathing repair — we replace water-damaged decking before new siding.
- Flashing & trim metal — windows, doors, and every penetration sealed into the drainage plane.
All in-house electrical. Our sister company 3 Rivers Electric detaches, resets, and re-trims around meters, disconnects, outlets, installs new exterior lighting (sconces, soffit/eave, security), and upgrades fixtures while the wall is open.
Stucco Replacement
Older Minneapolis and Saint Paul homes — and a lot of 1990s–2000s Dryvit/EIFS — trap moisture. When water gets behind stucco it sits in the wall for months, quietly rotting the framing. We diagnose the moisture, strip the stucco to the sheathing, replace rotted wood, install a proper drainage barrier, and re-clad in modern fiber cement or engineered wood. A permanent fix, not a patch.
Repair, Storm & Hail Claims, and Fade Protection
Siding Repair
Cracked or loose panels, woodpecker and pest holes, rot, and color-matched replacements — blended in cleanly.
Storm & Hail Insurance Claims
Minnesota hail and wind crack and dent siding. We document the damage and help you work the claim. Storm restoration →
Sun-Fade Protection
South and west walls fade first. Factory finishes like Diamond Kote (30-yr no-fade) and Hardie ColorPlus hold color far longer than field paint.
Built to Take Hail
Engineered wood and steel flex or resist impact better than brittle old vinyl or rigid fiber cement — we match the material to your exposure.
2026 Looks
Brighten Up an Older Home
Turn a tired rambler or two-story into current curb appeal: bold or dark body colors, crisp white or black trim, board-and-batten and shake accents, stone veneer at the entry, and black windows. Mixed materials are the trend — and they photograph (and sell) beautifully.
Doing windows or a roof too? We handle siding, windows, roofing, gutters, and electrical in-house — the whole exterior on one schedule.
What to Expect — Our Process
From the first visit we guide you through materials and colors, write a clear itemized proposal, and handle the logistics — permits, delivery, the dumpster, and old-material removal — so the project runs clean start to finish.
1
Initial site visit & scope
We measure, assess condition, and define the exact scope of work.
2
Design consultation
Choose materials and coordinate colors to fit your home.
3
Itemized proposal
A clear, line-by-line quote and agreement — no surprises.
4
Permits
We pull every required city permit before work begins.
5
Tear-off & sheathing repair
Remove old siding and replace any water-damaged sheathing.
6
Weather-barrier inspection
Minnesota requires the house wrap (WRB) and flashing to be inspected before any siding goes on.
7
Siding install & electrical reset
We install the siding; 3 Rivers Electric reinstalls and flashes meters, disconnects, and lights.
8
Electrical & final inspection
The reset electrical is inspected, then the final building inspection — followed by cleanup and warranty registration.
Typical Timeline
3–10 days depending on home size and detail.
Permits
MN State Building Code requires a permit for siding — we pull it. Licensed MN contractor #BC760638 (verify at DLI).
Inspections
Three stages in Minnesota: weather-barrier before siding, electrical after meters/lights are reset, then the final building inspection. We schedule all three.
Built for the MN Season
Cold affects adhesives, sealants, and brittle vinyl — we schedule and install in the right conditions so it bonds and lasts.
Safety in Older Homes
Asbestos & Lead — Handled the Right Way
Older Twin Cities homes can contain asbestos (cement siding/shingles, old insulation) and lead paint (anything pre-1978). As an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, we keep a certified renovator on site and follow full RRP practices; where asbestos is suspected we test (MDH-licensed inspector) or treat it as presumed and bring in licensed abatement with MPCA notification before anything is disturbed.
Re-siding is the right time to refresh your soffit & fascia too — the trim that frames your roofline. See soffit & fascia →
Done Right the First Time
Built to Last
We install premium materials over a proper system so your siding lasts decades — do it once, the right way.
Real Craftsmanship
Trained in-house crews who sweat the details others skip — flashing, trim, and finish work that stands up to Minnesota.
Warranties in Writing
Manufacturer material warranties plus our own written workmanship warranty.
Support Before, During & After
One local team that answers the phone and stands behind the work for years.
Siding FAQ
James Hardie or LP SmartSide — which is better for Minnesota?
Both are excellent. Hardie (HZ10) is fiber cement — rock-solid and fire-resistant, but rigid, so direct hail can crack it. LP SmartSide is engineered wood that flexes on hail and runs in longer lengths. We install both and help you choose.
Should I repair my stucco or replace it?
If moisture has gotten behind it (common on older Twin Cities and Dryvit homes), patching hides the problem. We test for moisture; if the wall is wet or framing is compromised, full replacement with a modern drainage system is the lasting fix.
What keeps siding color from fading?
A factory-baked finish. Diamond Kote carries a 30-year no-fade warranty and Hardie ColorPlus is finished in the factory — both far outlast field paint on sun-baked walls.
Does new siding add insulation?
It can — insulated vinyl and added continuous foam/house wrap improve comfort and performance. We’ll talk options when we re-side.
Do you handle the electrical around meters and lights?
Yes — 3 Rivers Electric detaches/resets meters and disconnects, re-trims outlets, installs new exterior lighting, and upgrades fixtures while the wall is open. All in-house.
Can you do siding, windows, and roofing together?
Absolutely — bundling means one crew, one schedule, perfectly integrated flashing, and usually a better price.
Get your free siding estimate
We’ll assess your walls, talk materials and looks, and give you an honest, itemized quote.