If you live in Southern California, there’s a good chance you live in a California Craftsman home! This popular home style has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s and features gorgeous exterior detailing made from natural materials, like wood and stone.
If you love the architectural appeal of your Craftsman home but hate the high-maintenance upkeep required to keep your wood siding looking great—we have the perfect solution for you! Approved Contractor can help you replicate the authentic appearance of your California Craftsman home with modern products, like fiber cement siding.
What Is a Craftsman House?
Craftsman homes emerged in the United States from 1900–1930 as an artistic alternative to mass-produced home styles from the Industrial Revolution. They originated from an Arts and Crafts Movement in Europe that trickled into the United States. Craftsman homes were particularly popular in California and the Midwest. In fact, California even has its own bungalow-style variation of this popular home style called the “California Craftsman.”
Craftsman homes were designed to emphasize artistry, displaying unique detailing and high-quality materials when most popular home styles only used products that could be made by machine. Craftsman homes aren’t typically large but are well-known for their functionality, style, and longevity.
Characteristics of Craftsman-Style Homes
Craftsman homes can normally be identified by the following features:
- Low-pitched hip or gable roof with overhanging eaves
- Covered front porch with thick columns
- Practical one-story layout
- Exposed beam, brackets, or rafters on the exterior
- Large dormer(s) on the front of the home
- Large bay or picture windows on the front of the home
- Wood, stone, and stucco accents on the exterior and interior
- Earthy and neutral exterior colors
What Is the Best Type of Siding for California Craftsman Homes?
Lap siding, also called clapboard siding, is one of the most popular siding styles for Craftsman homes across the United States. Lap siding is applied horizontally on your exterior from the bottom up, so the boards overlap (hence the name). This siding style can be made from various materials, including wood, vinyl, and fiber cement.
Craftsman homes rely on natural-looking materials for authenticity. Traditionally, these homes were made with wood siding and decorative exterior features, like stone or stucco detailing. However, wood is a high-maintenance siding material prone to damage from moisture, pests, fire, rot, and more. Fortunately, there’s a modern alternative that can easily replicate natural wood to give your exterior a beautiful, durable finish—fiber cement siding!
Upgrade Your California Craftsman House with James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
Craftsman homes are known for using high-quality natural materials, like wood and stone, so the sturdy makeup of fiber cement is the perfect match. Fiber cement siding is made from cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers to offer homeowners durable performance and long-lasting curb appeal.
James Hardie is North America’s #1 siding brand, and they produce various fiber cement siding products. Hardie siding can mimic the appearance of wood, but unlike natural wood, it is fire-resistant, pest-resistant, low-maintenance, and weather-resistant. Hardie siding is also Engineered for Climate, so it even resists fading the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays to keep your Southern California exterior bright, vibrant, and beautiful!
Which James Hardie Siding Product Will Look Best on My California Craftsman Home?
James Hardie manufactures dozens of fiber cement siding products, so choosing the right ones is crucial to replicate your home’s current look for the most authentic appearance.
HardiePlank lap siding is a timeless, traditional siding option that looks great on Craftsman homes. It comes in the following styles:
- Select Cedarmill—This natural-looking siding mimics the woodgrain texture of cedar and features precise edges that overlap for a clean, classic finish.
- Beaded Cedarmill—This charming siding looks great on coastal homes, like the ones found in Southern California. It also has a woodgrain texture but features a beveled edge that adds an extra layer of architectural appeal.
- Smooth—If you want to add a modern touch to your home, this siding style boasts a sleek surface and clean-cut edges.
- Beaded Smooth—This siding also features a smooth surface, but the rounded edges on each board add a cozy flair ideally suited for Craftsman homes.
- Colonial Roughsawn—This traditional siding is popular among Colonial and Craftsman homes. It features a woodgrain finish with strong shadow lines from the distinctive curve at the top of each board.
- Colonial Smooth—If you’re looking for a subtle way to add attractive architectural appeal to your exterior, you’ll love this siding product’s dramatic shadowing and sleek surface.
Craftsman homes are known for their creative details, so you can even mix and match your lap siding with other products to create eye-catching appeal. For example, California Craftsman homes often feature wood shakes, so adding HardieShingle siding on your dormers and gables may complement your new lap siding.
James Hardie also offers a wide range of colors in The Statement Collection, made with long-lasting ColorPlus Technology. Many shades, like Mountain Sage and Monterrey Taupe, feature the earthy tones popular for California Craftsman homes.
Transform Your California Craftsman Home with Approved Contractor
Suppose you’d like to eliminate the time, money, and hassles spent maintaining your California Craftsman home while maintaining its authentic natural appearance. In that case, we highly recommend replacing your exterior with durable, long-lasting fiber cement siding!
Approved Contractor is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, so you can be confident we won’t cut corners during your installation. We exclusively use James Hardie products to provide your home with the ultimate level of durability and long-lasting performance.
Take a peek at the hundreds of colors and styles available when you upgrade your Craftsman home with HardiePlank horizontal lap siding!
