Full siding removal and re-side with premium vinyl, insulated vinyl or James Hardie — owner-led by Hamilton Exterior Renovations
Hamilton Exterior Renovations replaces siding on homes in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and Chestermere. A siding replacement in Calgary means stripping the aged vinyl, hail-damaged panels, stucco, aluminum or wood off the house, repairing the sheathing, installing new house wrap and flashing, and re-siding with premium vinyl, insulated vinyl or James Hardie fibre cement. Hamilton Exterior Renovations never installs new siding over old siding. Owner Brandon Hamilton assesses, quotes and inspects every replacement personally, and every re-side is backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty in addition to the manufacturer’s product warranty.
A full siding replacement is a tear-off and rebuild of the wall envelope, not a cosmetic overlay. Every Hamilton Exterior Renovations re-side starts with complete removal of the existing cladding down to the sheathing, so the crew can see and fix what the old siding was hiding. The house wrap, flashing, trim, soffit and fascia are all replaced as part of the job — they are the components that fail first in Calgary’s freeze-thaw cycles, and reusing them behind new siding shortens the life of the whole installation.
Contractors who “cap over” old siding skip the removal, the sheathing check and the weather barrier. Hamilton Exterior Renovations does not install over existing siding under any circumstances: trapped moisture, uneven substrate and buried rot are the three most common reasons a re-side fails within ten years. If your existing siding is sound and the damage is limited to one wall or a few panels, a siding repair in Calgary is the right scope instead — Brandon will tell you which one you need at the site assessment.
Existing vinyl, aluminum, wood or stucco is stripped to the sheathing, bagged or binned on site and hauled to a licensed disposal facility. Nothing is left behind the new siding.
Every sheet of OSB or plywood is checked for moisture, delamination and rot. Damaged sections are cut out and replaced before any new material goes on the wall.
A new breathable weather-resistive barrier is installed over the whole envelope, with self-adhered flashing at every window, door, deck ledger and penetration.
New starter strip, corner posts, J-channel, window and door trim and utility trim, sized to the profile and expansion requirements of the siding you choose.
Vented aluminum soffit and matching fascia are replaced with the siding so the roof edge, attic ventilation and eavestrough line finish as one system.
Not every failing wall needs a full re-side. If the damage is confined to one elevation or a handful of panels and the rest of the siding is sound, a siding repair is the right scope. The eight signs below are the ones that point to replacement — and if you recognise more than two of them, Brandon Hamilton will confirm it at a free site assessment.
Cracked, punctured or dented panels across two or more walls after a Calgary hailstorm. One damaged wall is a repair; whole-house damage is a replacement and usually an insurance claim.
Builder-grade vinyl from the 1980s–2000s goes brittle with UV exposure. When panels crack on contact or leave chalk on your hand, the material is at end of life across the house.
Widespread waving or panels pulling out of their locks point to over-nailing or heat distortion. Refastening one section is a repair; a whole elevation is a replacement.
Map cracking, bulges where the lath has separated, staining below windows and paint that will not hold. Common on Calgary homes built between the 1970s and 1990s.
Soft sheathing, staining on interior drywall, or a musty smell in exterior walls means water is getting behind the cladding. The weather barrier has failed and must be replaced, not patched.
Gaps at panel joints, failed house wrap and uninsulated walls leak heat. A re-side with insulated vinyl or new wrap and flashing is the point at which the wall envelope is corrected.
If you have paid for siding repairs more than once in the last few years, the underlying material has reached the point where replacement is cheaper over ten years than continuing to patch.
Discontinued colours that cannot be matched, patchwork from past repairs, or a pre-sale refresh. A full replacement resets the whole envelope and the home’s street presence.
Stucco-to-siding conversion is one of the most common siding replacements Hamilton Exterior Renovations performs, and it is concentrated on Calgary homes built between the 1970s and the 1990s. Stucco from that era was applied over paper and wire lath with minimal flashing, and after thirty to fifty years of freeze-thaw cycling it shows the same failures across the city: hairline and map cracking, bulges where the lath has separated, staining below windows, and chalking that no longer holds paint. Patching stucco treats the surface; replacing it with siding replaces the weather barrier underneath.
Stucco removal adds two to four days to a standard re-side and carries a disposal cost that vinyl and aluminum tear-offs do not, because stucco is heavy and goes to landfill by weight. Once the stucco and lath are off, the sheathing is inspected and repaired, new house wrap and flashing are installed, and the home is sided with premium vinyl, insulated vinyl or James Hardie. Insulated vinyl is a frequent choice on a stucco conversion because it adds a continuous layer of rigid foam to walls that were typically insulated to 1980s standards.
The finished result is a lighter, better-drained wall assembly that can be repaired panel by panel in the future — something stucco never allows after hail. If you are weighing whether to keep the stucco, Brandon will tell you at the site assessment whether the base coat is sound enough to leave or whether the conversion is the better long-term spend.
Most vinyl-to-James Hardie upgrades in Calgary follow a hail claim. Insurance typically covers the damaged elevations at like-for-like value — the cost of replacing the vinyl that was there — and the homeowner pays the difference to move up to fibre cement. Because the tear-off, house wrap, flashing and trim are already part of the covered scope, the upgrade cost is the material and labour difference only, which makes a claim the most economical moment to change materials.
James Hardie fibre cement is rated for hail, will not crack in cold-weather impacts the way builder-grade vinyl does, and carries a 30-year non-prorated product warranty. It weighs more than vinyl, requires blind-nailed installation on a properly flashed substrate, and takes longer on site — two to three weeks for a full re-side compared with one to two weeks for vinyl. Profiles, colours and full product details are on the James Hardie siding Calgary page.
If your vinyl is undamaged and you simply want a different look, the same removal-first process applies. Hamilton Exterior Renovations does not install James Hardie over existing vinyl.
Thicker-gauge PVC with a stronger locking system and UV-resistant cap layer. The most cost-effective full re-side and the fastest on site. Learn more about premium vinyl siding →
Premium vinyl bonded to contoured rigid foam. Adds continuous insulation, stiffens the panel against hail and quiets the wall. The usual upgrade on stucco conversions. Learn more about insulated vinyl →
Hail-rated, non-combustible fibre cement with a 30-year product warranty. The longest-lasting replacement siding available in Calgary. Learn more about James Hardie siding →
Hamilton Exterior Renovations installs three replacement siding systems in Calgary. All three are installed on the same removal-first, house-wrap-and-flashing foundation; the choice comes down to budget, hail exposure and how much you want to raise the wall’s insulation value.
Brandon will bring samples of each to the site assessment and quote all three on request so you can compare the numbers on your own home rather than on averages.
Siding replacement cost in Calgary is quoted per home after a site measurement, because two houses with the same floor area can have very different wall areas, removal requirements and repair needs. Every Hamilton Exterior Renovations quote is written, itemised and based on measured wall area rather than a per-square estimate. The factors below are what move the number.
| Cost driver | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| Wall area, not floor area | A 2,000 sq ft two-storey home typically has 2,400–3,000 sq ft of wall once gables and openings are counted. Storeys, roof pitch and bump-outs all add area. |
| Existing siding type | Vinyl and aluminum strip quickly. Wood takes longer. Stucco adds two to four days of removal plus disposal by weight. |
| Replacement material | Premium vinyl is the baseline. Insulated vinyl costs more than premium vinyl on the same house, and James Hardie costs roughly double. |
| Sheathing repair | Rot found after tear-off is priced per sheet replaced. Brandon inspects for moisture before quoting to keep surprises to a minimum. |
| Trim, soffit and fascia | Included on every re-side. Wide window trim, decorative gables and belly bands add material and labour. |
| Access and site | Three-storey walls, walk-out basements, tight lot lines and steep grades add scaffolding or lift time. |
| Insurance vs. private | After hail, insurance typically covers the damaged elevations at like-for-like value; you pay only the difference for an upgrade. |
Hamilton Exterior Renovations offers financing on siding replacement for homeowners who are not working through an insurance claim. Request a written quote and you will receive itemised pricing for the material you choose, with the option to see all three systems side by side.
A premium or insulated vinyl re-side on a standard detached Calgary home takes one to two weeks on site. A James Hardie re-side takes two to three weeks because fibre cement is heavier, is blind-nailed to a specific schedule and requires more cutting. Stucco removal adds two to four days to either timeline. Weather, sheathing repairs uncovered after tear-off and the number of elevations being replaced move the schedule within those ranges.
Sequencing with other exterior work matters. If you are also planning new windows and doors, they should be installed before or during the siding replacement so the new flashing and trim wrap the new units rather than the old ones. A roof replacement should be completed first so the drip edge, fascia and soffit finish as one system. Hamilton Exterior Renovations coordinates all three trades on the same project when the scope calls for it.
A siding replacement is one of the largest exterior projects a Calgary home goes through, and the sequence matters as much as the product. Brandon Hamilton runs every job from the first site visit to the final inspection, so the person who quoted the work is the person who signs off on it.
The six steps below are the same for a vinyl re-side, a stucco conversion or a James Hardie upgrade; only the removal time and the fastening details change.
Brandon Hamilton measures the home, inspects the existing cladding, sheathing and flashing, checks for moisture damage and identifies whether the job is a repair or a full replacement before quoting.
You choose between premium vinyl, insulated vinyl and James Hardie, confirm colours and profiles, and lock in a start date. Insurance paperwork is handled at this stage if the replacement follows a hail claim.
The crew strips the existing siding, trim and soffit to the sheathing. Stucco removal takes an additional two to four days and is scheduled and priced separately from a vinyl or aluminum tear-off.
Rotted or delaminated sheathing is replaced, a new weather-resistive barrier is wrapped and taped, and every opening is flashed so water is directed out of the wall, not into it.
New siding is installed to the manufacturer’s fastening and expansion specifications, with new corners, channels, window trim, soffit and fascia completing the envelope.
Brandon walks the finished home with you, checks every elevation, registers the manufacturer warranty and issues the Hamilton Exterior Renovations 10-year workmanship warranty.
Siding replacement is one part of the siding services Hamilton Exterior Renovations provides in Calgary, alongside repair and new installation. Hamilton Exterior Renovations replaces siding across Calgary — from the 1970s and 1980s stucco homes of Ranchlands, Dalhousie, Marlborough and Midnapore to the hail-belt vinyl of the northeast and the newer communities of the deep south and west. The same crew and the same owner-led process serve Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and Chestermere.
Every replacement in every community is assessed, quoted and inspected by Brandon Hamilton and carries the 10-year workmanship warranty. If you are outside these areas, call 587-318-0864 — Hamilton Exterior Renovations regularly takes on full re-sides in the surrounding rural municipalities.
Siding replacement in Calgary is quoted per home after a site measurement. The price is driven by wall area (not floor area), the siding being removed, the replacement material, sheathing repairs and access. Premium vinyl is the baseline, insulated vinyl costs more on the same house and James Hardie costs roughly double. Hamilton Exterior Renovations provides written, itemised quotes and can price all three systems side by side. Financing is available for non-insurance projects.
In most cases a like-for-like siding replacement on a single-family home does not require a building permit from the City of Calgary, but changes to the wall assembly, structural repairs or work in certain overlay districts can. Hamilton Exterior Renovations confirms the permit position for every address before work starts and handles any application that is needed.
Yes. Stucco-to-siding conversion is one of the most common siding replacements Hamilton Exterior Renovations performs on Calgary homes built between the 1970s and the 1990s. The stucco and lath are removed, the sheathing is repaired, new house wrap and flashing are installed, and the home is re-sided with premium vinyl, insulated vinyl or James Hardie. Stucco removal adds two to four days and a disposal cost compared with a vinyl tear-off.
A premium or insulated vinyl re-side on a standard detached Calgary home takes one to two weeks on site. A James Hardie re-side takes two to three weeks. Stucco removal adds two to four days to either. Sheathing repairs found after tear-off and the number of elevations being replaced can extend the schedule.
Hamilton Exterior Renovations never installs new siding over existing siding. Capping over old cladding traps moisture, hides rot and leaves an uneven substrate that shortens the life of the new siding and voids most manufacturer warranties. Every replacement is stripped to the sheathing so the sheathing can be inspected and the weather barrier and flashing replaced.
After a hail event, insurance typically covers the damaged elevations at like-for-like value — the cost of replacing what was there with an equivalent product. If you want to upgrade from vinyl to insulated vinyl or James Hardie, you pay the material and labour difference only. Hamilton Exterior Renovations documents the damage, prepares the scope for the adjuster and installs to the approved claim.
Repair when the damage is localised — a few cracked panels, one elevation of hail damage, a loose corner post — and the rest of the siding is sound. Replace when damage spans multiple elevations, panels are brittle or chalking across the house, moisture has reached the sheathing, or the stucco base coat has failed. Brandon Hamilton makes that call at the site assessment. For localised damage, see the siding repair in Calgary page.
Yes. Vinyl-to-James Hardie upgrades usually follow a hail claim, when the tear-off, house wrap and flashing are already part of the covered scope and the homeowner pays only the difference to move to fibre cement. The existing vinyl is removed completely; James Hardie is never installed over it.
Rot and delaminated sheathing are common under failed siding and stucco in Calgary. Brandon inspects for moisture before quoting so most repairs are anticipated, and any additional sheathing found after tear-off is priced per sheet replaced and approved with you before it is installed. Nothing is covered over.
Yes, with adjustments. Vinyl is cut and fastened with extra expansion allowance in cold temperatures, and James Hardie has a minimum installation temperature that the crew works around. Hamilton Exterior Renovations replaces siding year-round in Calgary; scheduling is easier and lead times shorter in the winter months.
If your windows are due, replacing them before or during the siding replacement is the most cost-effective sequence, because the new house wrap, flashing and trim wrap the new windows rather than the old ones. Hamilton Exterior Renovations installs windows, doors, roofing and siding and coordinates them as one project.
Every Hamilton Exterior Renovations siding replacement carries a 10-year workmanship warranty in addition to the manufacturer’s limited product warranty on premium vinyl, insulated vinyl or James Hardie (30-year non-prorated on James Hardie). Brandon registers the manufacturer warranty at the final inspection.
