James Hardie siding in Brentwood: replace it, or just repaint?

Custom Exteriors replaces siding on Brentwood homes with James Hardie fiber cement, and we will tell you honestly if your siding does not need replacing yet. Most Brentwood homes were built since 1990, so a lot of siding here is still young enough to save. When it is time to replace it, our own full-time crews install James Hardie siding, which resists rot, moisture, and pests, is classified as noncombustible, and carries a 30-year non-prorated product warranty. We have served East County from our Pleasanton showroom since 1997, with 30,000+ completed projects.

Brentwood's homes are young, and that changes the question

Brentwood grew quickly over the last three decades, so most of its siding is 15 to 30 years old, not 50. The city went from about 23,300 residents in 2000 to more than 64,000 in 2020. About 41% of Brentwood homes were built between 2000 and 2009, and roughly 20% each in the 1990s and the 2010s.

That means many Brentwood homes fall into one of three groups:

• Homes that already have fiber cement siding. These usually need paint and caulk, not replacement.
• Homes with engineered wood or hardboard siding. These are reaching the age where swelling, soft spots, and failed edges show up, especially near sprinklers.
• Homes with a mix of stucco and siding on gables, bump-outs, or accent walls, where only the siding sections are failing.

New siding or just paint? How to tell

Walk around your house and compare what you see to this table. If everything you find is in the first two rows, you probably need paint, not new siding.

Not sure what your siding is made of? Fiber cement is heavy, rigid, and does not dent when you press a fingernail into a cut edge. Engineered wood and hardboard are lighter and often show swelling or fibers at the bottom edges. We can tell you at a free consultation.

We do not paint homes. If your siding only needs paint, we will tell you, and you will not hear from us again until you need us.

When it is time, why James Hardie

James Hardie fiber cement is the only siding we install, because it fixes the problems that wear out engineered wood, hardboard, and wood siding. After evaluating siding products for nearly three decades, it is what we recommend to every homeowner.

• Will not swell or rot. Fiber cement holds its shape when sprinklers and winter rain keep it wet.
• Pest resistant. It does not attract termites or woodpeckers.
• Built for East County heat. ColorPlus Technology, James Hardie's factory-baked finish, holds color longer than paint applied on site and is backed by a 15-year limited finish warranty.
• Noncombustible. Classified as noncombustible under ASTM E136, with a Class A flame spread rating under ASTM E84.
• A real warranty. A 30-year non-prorated limited product warranty on the siding.

Learn more about James Hardie siding

Siding styles for Brentwood homes

James Hardie profiles suit Brentwood's two-story production homes, ranch homes, and newer custom builds.

• HardiePlank lap siding is the most common replacement for original lap siding.
• HardieShingle siding works well on gables and accent walls next to stucco.
• HardiePanel vertical siding creates a board and batten look, a popular update for farmhouse-style exteriors.
• HardieTrim boards and soffit panels finish the job in the same durable material.

If your home mixes stucco and siding, we can replace just the siding sections and match the trim. Our East Bay siding color guide and full-size displays in our Pleasanton showroom help you choose colors that work with existing stucco.

Grass fires at the edge of town

Brentwood sits where neighborhoods meet open grassland and farmland, and grass fires there can reach homes. In June 2025, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to a fast-moving vegetation fire near Lone Tree Way and Sunrise Drive that heavily damaged one home and displaced six people. A roughly 50-acre vegetation fire burned in Brentwood the month before.

Parts of Brentwood are mapped as Fire Hazard Severity Zones under the State Fire Marshal's 2025 maps, including some Very High areas. Check your address on the State Fire Marshal's Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer.

If your home backs onto open space, noncombustible James Hardie siding and HardieSoffit panels for boxed eaves are strong steps toward a more fire-resistant exterior. No siding is fireproof, and vents, roofing, windows, and the 5 feet around your house matter too.

Permits and HOAs in Brentwood

Siding replacement in Brentwood usually needs a building permit from the City of Brentwood's Permit Center on City Park Way, and Custom Exteriors handles it for you.

Many Brentwood neighborhoods have HOAs with architectural review for exterior colors and materials. Check with yours early. We provide product specifications and color samples for your application, and HOA approval and the City permit are separate steps.

Replacing siding and windows together

If your windows are original builder-grade units, replacing them with your siding usually gives you a better result. With the siding off, we can install new windows using the new construction method, so each opening is fully flashed and sealed.

See our Brentwood windows page for the Infinity by Marvin fiberglass windows we install.

Why Brentwood homeowners choose Custom Exteriors

Brentwood homeowners hire us because we tell them the truth about their siding, and because they can verify who does the work.

• Honest assessments. If you only need paint, we will say so.
• Full-time employee installers, not subcontractors. The crew that installs your siding works for Custom Exteriors. Here is why that matters.
• Since 1997. We have served East County and the Tri-Valley for nearly three decades, with 30,000+ completed projects.
• Third-party recognition. Diamond Certified and BBB Accredited. See our awards and reviews.
• Warranty coverage. James Hardie's product warranties plus our own product and labor warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Q: My house was built in the 2000s. Does it need new siding? A: Not necessarily. If your siding boards are hard and flat and only the paint and caulk are worn, you likely need repainting, not replacement. If boards are swollen, soft, or flaking at the bottom edges, or paint keeps failing, the siding itself is breaking down. We can tell you which at a free consultation.

Q: How do I know if my siding is already fiber cement? A: Fiber cement is heavy and rigid, and a cut edge feels like hard stone. Engineered wood and hardboard are lighter and tend to swell or show fibers at the bottom edges. If you are not sure, we can check during a consultation.

Q: Can you replace just the siding on my gables and accent walls? A: Yes. Many Brentwood homes mix stucco and siding. We can replace only the siding sections, in a James Hardie profile and color that work with your existing stucco, and match the trim.

Q: Is my Brentwood home in a fire hazard zone? A: It depends on your address. Parts of Brentwood, mostly near open grassland and the edges of town, are mapped as Fire Hazard Severity Zones under the 2025 maps. Check the State Fire Marshal's Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer.

Q: Do I need a permit to replace siding in Brentwood? A: In most cases, yes. Permits come from the City of Brentwood's Permit Center. Your HOA may also need to approve the project separately. Custom Exteriors handles the City permit and provides the materials your HOA needs.

Q: How much does James Hardie siding cost in Brentwood? A: Cost depends on how much siding is being replaced, how much old siding has to come off, the condition of the wall underneath, the profile and finish you choose, and how much trim is involved. Partial projects on gables and accent walls cost less than full-home re-siding. See our siding pricing guide for the main factors. We provide free, itemized estimates.

Ready for an honest look at your Brentwood siding?

Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation. We will check your siding, tell you whether it needs replacing or just paint, and if it is time, walk through profiles and colors and give you an itemized estimate, with no obligation.

Schedule a no-pressure consultation | Visit our Pleasanton showroom (2142 Rheem Drive, Suite E, Pleasanton, CA 94588) Phone: (925) 249-2280

Financing options

We offer 18 months with no payments and no interest if the balance is paid in full within the promotional period, or 4.99% financing on approved credit. Ask about options during your consultation.

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Nearby areas we also serve

Custom Exteriors also installs James Hardie siding in Clayton, Concord, and Tracy, and serves nearby Antioch, Oakley, and Discovery Bay. See everything we offer in Brentwood, or view our full service area list.