James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding in Wells, Maine

Census estimates put Wells' median home built around 1989, the newest housing stock among the towns in this service area, with only about 8 percent of homes predating 1940 and roughly 18 percent predating 1960. Most of Wells' housing was built from the 1960s onward, as the town grew along its beaches and the Route 1 corridor rather than around an older mill or shipbuilding economy. Beach cottages at Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island Beach range from smaller older camps to larger, newer builds raised up on pilings, while inland neighborhoods hold a straightforward mix of capes, ranches and contemporary homes.

With seven miles of Atlantic coastline, Wells takes nor'easters and wind-driven rain directly along its entire beachfront, and salt air corrodes fasteners, flashing and roofing hardware faster near Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island than it does along the inland stretches of Route 1. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm add extensive marsh and tidal frontage to the town's exposure profile. Winters bring standard Maine freeze-thaw cycling and snow load, and because most of Wells' housing is newer, ice damming at the eaves is less common here than in towns with an older, less-insulated housing stock.

Building permits in Wells go through the Code Enforcement Office on Sanford Road, covering siding, roofing, window and deck work. Because Wells has roughly seven miles of Atlantic coastline, the town maintains an active Shoreland Overlay Zone plus FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps that are directly relevant to construction near the shore, particularly at Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island. Properties near the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge or the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm can face added shoreland-zoning review given the ecological significance of that land.

Fiber cement is a mix of cement, sand and cellulose fiber pressed into planks, shingles and panels. It does not rot, insects do not eat it, it will not burn, and factory-applied finishes hold color far longer than site-painted wood. It is heavier and more exacting to install than vinyl, which is exactly why installation quality shows. The Back Cove home on this site was re-sided with a complete James Hardie package of wood-grain plank.

• Walls are stripped, repaired and wrapped, with flashing at every opening and roof-to-wall joint.
• Boards are cut with dust-controlled tools and fastened to the manufacturer's nailing schedule.
• Required clearances are held above roofs, decks and grade so the ends never sit in water or snow.
• Butt joints get flashing behind them, and cut ends are sealed or primed as the manufacturer specifies.
• Trim, caulk lines and touch-up are finished so the pre-finished color stays uniform.

• You want the look of painted clapboard without the paint cycle
• Wood siding keeps rotting at the bottom courses and around trim
• The house sits in wind and salt exposure that punishes other materials
• You want a non-combustible exterior

• Product line and profile: lap plank, shingle, panel or board-and-batten
• Pre-finished color versus site painting
• Trim package and detailing
• Tear-off, sheathing repair and house height
• Number of windows, doors and corners to flash and trim

Every job is priced from a free on-site visit. Typical ranges for the trade are on our siding page, and the details of this service are on the James Hardie fiber cement siding overview.

For a deeper walkthrough of materials, code details and photos, see our full James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding: Why It Holds Up Through a Maine Freeze-Thaw Cycle guide.

Back to the Wells exterior services overview, or see every town on our service areas page.