Key numbers
45 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Denver County from 1984 to 2026 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1984 to 2026 | 1980s: 1, 1990s: 4, 2000s: 12, 2010s: 17, 2020s: 11 Source: Storm library: Denver metro hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $2.3 billion insured losses (2017 dollars), May 8, 2017 Source: RMIIA |
| 15.65 million | Stucco was the main exterior wall material on 15.65 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
| 0 | Fiber cement and brick have a flame spread rating of 0 (Class I), while western red cedar rates 55-73 (Class II). Source: U.S. DOE / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 2021 |
| 40% | Vinyl siding's share of new U.S. homes peaked at almost 40% in 2001 and has held around 25% since 2015. Source: National Association of Home Builders (analysis of Census Survey of Construction), 2001-2025 |
A storm counts when the library lists Denver County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Engineered wood siding gives the look of painted wood lap siding at a lighter weight than fiber cement, but it is still a wood-based, combustible product, so on the Front Range its limits are moisture at edges and cuts, hail dents and splits, and wildfire codes on mapped parcels. It can be a reasonable choice on a lot with no wildfire mapping when installed with sealed cuts and proper clearances. Integrity Roofing and Painting mainly installs James Hardie fiber cement on siding replacements; this page is a general comparison to help you decide.
What engineered wood is made of
Engineered wood siding is made from wood strands or fibers, bonded with resins and binders, pressed into lap boards, panels and trim, and usually treated and factory primed or prefinished. Brands differ in their recipes and warranties, so read the specific product’s installation instructions and evaluation report. Older hardboard siding is a different, denser fiberboard; section R703.5 of the residential code ties it to the ANSI A135.5 standard. Some older Denver homes still have hardboard, and swollen bottom edges are the usual sign it is wearing out.
How it performs here
Moisture. Any wood product fails at its edges first. Field-cut ends must be sealed, boards kept clear of roofs, decks and grade, and the wall needs a water-resistive barrier and flashing behind it (R703.2 and R703.4). Paint is part of the protection, so a failing finish is a maintenance item, not just looks.
Sun. Denver’s strong sun breaks down paint faster on south and west walls. A good factory finish helps, but expect to repaint over the siding’s life. See exterior paint chalking and fading.
Hail. Haag Engineering’s independent ice-ball tests covered vinyl, aluminum and steel, not engineered wood or fiber cement. One engineered wood maker reports its own impact testing, but researchers could not retrieve the underlying report, so we do not repeat those claims. Expect dents and split edges in large hail, as on other wood siding; see hail on fiber cement and wood siding.
Fire. The Building America Solution Center’s comparison lists flame spread indexes of 0 for fiber cement, 55 to 73 for western red cedar and 150 for OSB. Engineered wood products vary, but they burn.
Wildfire codes
On mapped moderate and high parcels where the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code is adopted, wall coverings must be noncombustible, fire-retardant-treated wood or tested ignition-resistant material, and replacing 25 percent or more of the wall area triggers the rule. A standard engineered wood product does not qualify unless it carries that testing. In the Colorado Springs WUI, the fire department’s approved siding list does not include wood-based sidings; see WUI siding rules in Colorado Springs.
Engineered wood or fiber cement?
| Question | Engineered wood | Fiber cement |
|---|---|---|
| Weight on the wall | Lighter | Heavier |
| Burns | Yes | No (noncombustible by ASTM E136) |
| Edge moisture risk | Swelling if cuts or edges stay wet | Freeze-thaw damage if edges stay wet |
| Paint | Required over its life | Required on primed boards; factory finish option |
| Mapped wildfire walls | Only if tested and listed | Generally accepted |
Both reward careful installation. For the full comparison, read how to choose siding for Colorado, vinyl siding and James Hardie fiber cement.
Replacing old wood or hardboard siding
If your hardboard or engineered wood is swelling, peeling or soft, our Denver siding replacement page explains how we tear off and rebuild the wall. Rotted exterior trim and water behind siding help you tell a surface problem from a wall leak.
Get a siding recommendation
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred roofing contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call our Denver office at (303) 209-0152 or book a free inspection; we respond the same business day.
Sources: 2021 IRC sections R703.2, R703.4 and R703.5 (UpCodes); Building America Solution Center, Fire-Resistant Wall Assemblies; Haag Engineering, Ice Ball Impact Testing of Siding, 2012 (IIBEC); Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (DFPC); Colorado Springs Fire Department, Ignition Resistant Construction Design Manual.
