Burlington Siding in Bow, Washington
Bow sits in the part of Skagit County where the land meets saltwater — close enough to Samish Bay and Padilla Bay that homes here deal with a mix of coastal air, low-lying moisture, and the same relentless Skagit Valley rain that soaks the rest of the county for months at a time. That combination is harder on a home's exterior than most people realize until they're dealing with the results: soft trim, peeling paint, and siding that's held onto moss and mildew so long it's changed color.
What the Bow climate actually does to a house
Three things work against exterior materials here, and they work together, not separately.
- Salt air. Even a few miles inland from the water, airborne salt accelerates corrosion on fasteners and metal trim, and it speeds up the breakdown of finishes that aren't built to handle it.
- Driving rain. Storms coming off the water don't just fall straight down — wind pushes rain sideways into walls, which means siding needs a real weather barrier and correct flashing, not just water-resistant material.
- A long moss season. Shaded, damp exteriors in this part of Skagit County can stay wet for weeks at a stretch in fall, winter, and spring. Anything organic — wood, wood-based composites, or a surface where moisture can sit — gives moss and algae a place to take hold.
None of that is unique to Bow, but the combination shows up here in a very specific way: homes closer to the water and low-lying areas tend to show wear on their siding, trim, and paint years before homes in drier parts of the state.
Why we install James Hardie fiber cement — and nothing else
We made the decision to install James Hardie fiber cement siding exclusively, on every job, in every part of our service area. We don't install vinyl, LP SmartSide, primed spruce or cedar, or other fiber cement brands. That's not a marketing angle — it's a standard we hold because of exactly the conditions Bow homeowners deal with.
Fiber cement is non-combustible and doesn't feed moss and rot the way wood-based products can when they stay damp for weeks on end. James Hardie's ColorPlus finish is baked on at the factory under controlled conditions, rather than field-applied, which matters in a climate where paint failure and moisture intrusion are the two most common complaints we hear about existing siding. Hardie also engineers different product lines for different climate zones (HZ5 for our region), which is a level of climate-specific engineering that most other exterior products simply don't offer.
We're upfront that fiber cement isn't the cheapest option up front, and it has to be installed correctly — proper clearances, flashing, and fastening matter more with fiber cement than with some more forgiving materials. That's exactly why installation quality is where we put our attention, and why a strong transferable warranty backs the material once it's on your house.
What correct installation looks like here
In a place like Bow, correct installation isn't optional detail work — it's the difference between siding that lasts decades and siding that fails early. That means proper rain-screen or drainage plane behind the panels, flashing at every window, door, and butt joint, and fastener spacing that accounts for wind-driven rain rather than just vertical rainfall. It also means keeping siding clear of grade and vegetation contact so moss and moisture don't have a place to start.
Beyond siding: roofing, windows, and decks
Siding doesn't work in isolation — it's one part of a home's exterior envelope, and in Bow's climate the whole envelope needs to work together. We also handle roofing, windows, and decks for the same reason we're particular about siding: a roof with poor flashing, an old window with failed seals, or a deck built without moisture management will undercut even a well-installed siding job. When we're on-site for a siding project, we're looking at how the roofline, window trim, and any deck structures interact with water, because that's usually where problems actually start.
Why a local crew matters
A crew that works throughout Skagit County — not one flown in from out of the area for a single job — understands how this specific stretch of coastline behaves differently than siding jobs 30 miles inland. That means knowing which details to double up on near the water, how much moss pressure to expect on north-facing walls, and how the Skagit Valley's rain patterns affect scheduling and sequencing on a job site. It also means being reachable afterward — for warranty questions, for maintenance advice, or just to look at something that's bothering you a year or two down the road.
Get a free estimate
If you're noticing moss buildup, peeling paint, or soft spots on your Bow home's siding, trim, or roofline, we're happy to take a look. There's no pressure and no obligation — just an honest assessment of what your exterior actually needs and what it would take to fix it right. Fill out the form below to schedule your free estimate.