James Hardie in Farmington MI | Timber Bark Siding Install Day One | Level Up Improvement
James Hardie in Farmington, MI is underway and this one is going to be a standout when it is finished. We kicked off day one on Power Road, right in the heart of downtown Farmington, and the transformation this home is going to go through over the next several days is exactly the kind of project we love talking about. Timber Bark HardiePlank fiber cement siding going over a complete tear off, paired with the Moire Black CertainTeed Landmark PRO roof we already completed on this home. Black roof, white siding, clean lines. This one is going to stop traffic on a street that already gets plenty of it.
Day one was mostly tear off. The old siding came off, the substrate got exposed, and we started setting the stage for the installation to come. We will be posting updates as this project progresses, so bookmark this page if you want to see the full before and after. For now, here is a breakdown of what we are doing, why we chose these products, and what homeowners in Farmington and across metro Detroit should know about James Hardie fiber cement siding and CertainTeed Landmark PRO roofing.
The Project: Power Road, Farmington, MI
Power Road runs right through downtown Farmington and is one of the more visible stretches in the city. When a home on a main road gets a full exterior overhaul, it is noticed. This homeowner is getting a complete exterior refresh, new siding and a new roof system, both already completed or currently in progress by Level Up Improvement.
The roof was done first. We installed CertainTeed Landmark PRO in Moire Black, a deep charcoal with subtle warm undertones that gives the home a substantial, grounded look from the street. Now we are going back in with James Hardie Timber Bark HardiePlank on the siding, and the contrast between the two is going to be sharp. White siding, black roof, clean trim. It is a classic combination that works on nearly any home style and holds up visually for decades.
James Hardie in Farmington: What It Is and Why It Works
HardiePlank fiber cement lap siding is the most widely installed siding product in the United States, and for good reason. It is not vinyl. It is not wood. It is a fiber cement composite that behaves differently than both and outperforms both in most of the ways that matter to a Michigan homeowner.
Timber Bark is one of the most popular colors in the James Hardie lineup. It reads as a clean, bright white with just enough depth to avoid looking flat on a sunny day. The color is applied using ColorPlus Technology, which is fully cured onto the boards in a controlled factory environment, so the boards arrive at the job site ready to install year-round. That is different from field-painted siding where the color quality depends on weather conditions, the painter, and how well the surface was prepped. With ColorPlus, none of that is a variable.
The boards are rated HZ5, which means they are engineered to withstand temperature fluctuations, snow, ice, freezing temperatures, and hail, all of which are realities for a home in Farmington, Michigan. James Hardie calls this Engineered for Climate, and it is not a marketing phrase. The product is specifically formulated for the region where it is installed. What goes on a home in Michigan is not the same product that goes on a home in Arizona.
The boards are noncombustible and rated ASTM E136, meaning the material will not attract pests including termites and woodpeckers. For a home on a tree-lined street in Farmington, that matters.
Pros of James Hardie Timber Bark HardiePlank
The durability is the first thing. Fiber cement does not rot, warp, or swell the way wood does. It does not crack or become brittle in cold weather the way vinyl can over time. The boards carry a 30-year limited warranty on the substrate and a 15-year warranty on the ColorPlus finish. That is a combined warranty package that vinyl siding manufacturers are not matching.
The look is the second thing. The Cedarmill texture gives the board the appearance of real cedar grain without any of the maintenance that comes with real wood. On a home on Power Road where the exterior is visible from the street daily, that curb appeal carries real value.
The fire resistance matters too. James Hardie is a noncombustible product. In a residential neighborhood with homes close together, that is a meaningful difference from a combustible siding material.
Cons of James Hardie Timber Bark HardiePlank
Fiber cement is heavier than vinyl. It requires more labor to install correctly, and it has to be cut with the right equipment outdoors to manage the silica dust the material produces during cutting. That means the installation cost is higher than vinyl. It is not a product that gets installed fast and cheap. If a contractor is quoting James Hardie at a price that seems too good to be true, the installation is likely being cut somewhere.
Timber Bark specifically is a color that shows dirt more than a mid-tone or darker color would. On a high-traffic road like Power Road, the siding will need to be washed periodically to keep it looking the way it did on day one. That is not a knock on the product. It is just the reality of white on a busy street.
The product also requires proper installation technique including correct nailing, appropriate clearance from grade, and properly lapped and sealed joints. A James Hardie installation that is done incorrectly can lead to moisture intrusion at the joints, which defeats the entire purpose of choosing a moisture-resistant product. We have seen it on homes where another contractor did the work and the homeowner came to us after the fact. Installation matters as much as the product itself.
CertainTeed Landmark PRO in Moire Black: What Was Already Done
Before we ever touched the siding on this home, we completed the roofing system. Moire Black is a deep, dimensional charcoal that reads almost black in most lighting conditions. The Landmark PRO is engineered with two laminated layers to replicate the dimensional appearance of true wood shake, and carries CertainTeed’s lifetime limited warranty backed by over 100 years of manufacturing history.
The combination of a dark roof and white siding is intentional on this home. It gives the exterior a strong visual hierarchy where the roof anchors the top of the home and the siding brightens the walls below it. Neither element fights the other. They work together, which is exactly what you want when you are doing a full exterior refresh.
Pros of CertainTeed Landmark PRO Moire Black
The depth of color in Moire Black is one of the best in the Landmark PRO lineup. It is not a flat black. It has dimension and variation that makes it look like a premium product from the street. The shingle carries a 15-year 110 mph wind resistance warranty, a lifetime limited transferable warranty, and a 10-year StreakFighter warranty against algae streaking and discoloration. Both of these can be upgraded with a certified contractor installation.
Dark roofs also absorb heat, which can help with snow shedding in Michigan winters. On a home that deals with ice dam risk, a darker shingle that absorbs solar energy more efficiently can reduce how long ice and snow sit on the roof surface after a storm.
Cons of CertainTeed Landmark PRO Moire Black
Dark shingles absorb more heat in summer, which can increase attic temperatures if the ventilation system is not properly sized. We always assess attic ventilation when we are doing a roof replacement, and this home was set up correctly before the Moire Black went down. If you are considering a dark shingle on your home, make sure your contractor is talking to you about ventilation. If they are not, ask.
Dark shingles also show granule loss more visibly than lighter colors as the shingle ages. That is not a structural problem in the early years of the shingle’s life, but it is something to be aware of when you are doing your annual roof inspection.
Day One: What Tear Off Actually Means
The photos from today show the home mid-process. The old siding is off, the substrate is exposed, and the job is staged for installation. This is the part of an exterior project that homeowners rarely see in the finished project photos, but it is where a lot of the important decisions happen.
When the old siding comes off, we can see what is underneath. We check the sheathing for rot, moisture damage, and structural issues. We look at how the existing wrap or building paper was installed and whether it needs to be replaced before the new siding goes on. We assess window and door flashing to make sure water is not going to find its way behind the new siding at the most vulnerable spots. A proper siding installation starts with what is behind the siding, not with the siding itself.
On a home on Power Road in downtown Farmington, we are doing this right. The new James Hardie Timber Bark going on this home is going on over a substrate that we have inspected and prepared correctly. That is the difference between a siding job that looks great for a few years and one that looks great for thirty.
Why Level Up Improvement for Siding and Roofing in Farmington
We are a metro Detroit exterior contractor based in Royal Oak. We serve Oakland County, Wayne County, and Macomb County, and Farmington is a community we work in regularly. We install James Hardie siding, CertainTeed roofing, and Polar Seal windows, and we handle full exterior packages like this Power Road project where the roof and siding are all being addressed together.
If your home in Farmington or anywhere in Oakland County is overdue for new siding, a roof replacement, or a full exterior update, reach out to Level Up Improvement for a free estimate. We will be posting more content from this project as the Timber Bark HardiePlank goes up, so check back for the progress updates and the finished result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Level Up Improvement install James Hardie siding in Farmington, MI? Yes. We are currently completing a James Hardie Timber Bark HardiePlank installation in Farmington on Power Road. We serve Farmington and the surrounding Oakland County area including Royal Oak, Southfield, and surrounding communities.
What is the difference between James Hardie fiber cement and vinyl siding? James Hardie fiber cement is a heavier, denser product that resists rot, warping, cracking, and pest damage in ways that vinyl siding cannot match over time. Vinyl is a lower upfront cost but has more limitations in extreme cold. Fiber cement carries longer warranty coverage and holds paint and factory color finish better over its lifespan.
What does Timber Bark look like on a home with a dark roof? The contrast between Timber Bark siding and a dark roof like CertainTeed Landmark PRO Moire Black is one of the most popular exterior combinations in metro Detroit right now. The white brightens the walls while the dark roof anchors the top of the home. It gives the exterior a clean, finished appearance that holds up well visually for years.
What happens during the tear off phase of a siding installation? Tear off is when the existing siding is removed and the substrate beneath it is exposed. This is when a qualified contractor inspects the sheathing, assesses the building wrap or vapor barrier, checks window and door flashing, and identifies any rot or moisture damage that needs to be addressed before new siding is installed.
Do you serve Farmington Hills and other Oakland County communities? Yes. Level Up Improvement serves Farmington, Farmington Hills, and communities throughout Oakland County including Royal Oak, Southfield, Beverly Hills, and Birmingham. Contact us for a free estimate.
More photos and updates from this project are coming as the James Hardie Timber Bark installation progresses. Follow Level Up Improvement for the full reveal or get in touch with us for a FREE estimate.