Siding Installation in the Boise Foothills
Non-combustible fiber cement, cement plaster and stone veneer — siding for Foothills hillside homes under the City of Boise Permit 428 hillside and WUI requirement.
Quick answer
The City of Boise issues re-siding under Permit 428, and under that permit roof coverings and siding installed in the hillside area or the Wildland Urban Interface must be non-combustible as regulated by the City of Boise Fire Prevention Code.
Siding installation in the Boise Foothills starts with one code fact. The City of Boise issues re-siding under Permit 428 (Residential Roofing, Siding and Windows), and under that permit roof coverings and siding installed in the hillside area or the Wildland Urban Interface must be non-combustible as regulated by the City of Boise Fire Prevention Code. Fiber cement qualifies. Portland cement plaster (traditional stucco) and stone veneer qualify. Cedar shake, cedar lap, T-111 plywood and vinyl do not, and neither does engineered wood — LP states its SmartSide product is Class C (Class III) under ASTM E84 and is not an ignition-resistant material under IWUIC Section 503.2. Fire-retardant-treated wood is still wood; it does not satisfy a non-combustible requirement. Whether your specific address falls inside the hillside or WUI boundary is a question for the Boise Building Division at (208) 608-7070, and we confirm it in writing before we specify a material. Iron Crest installs James Hardie fiber cement (the most common and most cost-effective qualifying option), three-coat traditional stucco, and natural stone veneer for feature walls. Every project includes weather-resistant barrier (WRB) integration and flashing details suited to Foothills conditions — grade transitions, drainage, snow at the higher streets, and wildfire smoke during the late-summer season.
Siding strategy in the Foothills depends heavily on era of original construction, what's currently on the home, and what's required by current WUI code.
Pre-1970 Foothills (Highlands originals)
Original siding typically cedar lap or T-111 plywood — neither qualifies as non-combustible, so neither can be reinstalled where Permit 428's hillside/WUI requirement applies. Homes typically have additional issues including original windows, lead paint, and aging weather barriers. Common scope: full re-skin to James Hardie fiber cement matching cedar lap profile, complete WRB and flashing replacement, sometimes including window replacement during the same project for proper integration.
1970s–1980s Foothills
Cedar shake, board-and-batten cedar, or T-111 plywood typical. Some 1980s homes have stucco (which often needs re-coat or repair). Common scope: full re-skin to a non-combustible material, sometimes preserving stucco systems with maintenance work.
1990s–2000s custom Foothills
Stucco systems most common, fiber cement (James Hardie) introduced mid-1990s, natural stone veneer accents. These are generally already non-combustible. Common scope: maintenance painting of stucco, fiber cement repaint, sometimes spot repairs.
2010s–present custom and Hidden Springs
James Hardie fiber cement standard. Hidden Springs has specific architectural style requiring fiber cement in coastal aesthetic with lap, shingle, and trim variations. Stucco less common in this era. Generally already non-combustible from original construction.
Foothills siding projects cluster into recognizable shapes by scope and existing siding type.
1. The Full Cedar-to-Hardie Re-Skin
Removal of original cedar lap or T-111 plywood and installation of James Hardie fiber cement lap or panel. New WRB. New flashing at all penetrations and transitions. New window and door integration. Often combined with other exterior work (windows, deck, paint).
Target homes: Pre-1990 Foothills homes with combustible siding. Permit: building permit; WUI compliance verification.
2. The Stucco System Renewal
Removal of original stucco and installation of new three-coat traditional stucco. Rare scope but appropriate where original stucco is failing extensively. New WRB. New flashing.
Target homes: Foothills homes with extensively failing original stucco. Permit: building permit.
3. The Stucco Maintenance and Repair
Repair of cracking, spalling, or failed sections of original stucco. New scratch coat over repair areas, color coat over entire stucco surface, new caulking and flashing details. More cost-effective than full removal.
Target homes: Foothills homes with localized stucco issues but otherwise sound system.
4. The Natural Stone Veneer Accent
Addition of natural stone veneer (limestone, basalt, sandstone, manufactured stone) to feature walls — typically front entry, fireplace exterior, or signature elevations. Combined with body siding (typically Hardie or stucco).
Target homes: Foothills homes wanting architectural enhancement on a signature elevation.
5. The Hardie Refresh
Repair, replacement, or repainting of existing James Hardie fiber cement. Sometimes specific board replacement for damaged areas. Repaint with premium product (Sherwin-Williams Duration). Caulking refresh.
Target homes: 1990s-present Foothills homes with existing fiber cement.
The Boise Foothills is made up of distinct sub-neighborhoods, each with its own remodeling personality.
Highlands / Castle Hills
The original Foothills neighborhood directly above the North End, climbing the slopes north of Hill Road and Highland Drive. Mix of mid-century ranches, 1970s-80s contemporaries, and significant tear-down-rebuild activity since 2010. Steep streets, dramatic city/valley views to the south, mature pine and juniper landscaping, narrow lots that follow the topography. Homes typically 2,200–4,500 sq ft.
Hidden Springs
Master-planned village community 8 miles north of downtown Boise off Cartwright Road, developed beginning in 1999 by Hidden Springs Development. Distinct New-Urbanist design with central village, schools, parks, and trails. Hardie-siding craftsman and farmhouse aesthetic, narrower lots than other Foothills areas, deliberate architectural cohesion, active HOA architectural review. Homes typically 2,000–3,800 sq ft on 0.10–0.25 acre lots.
Quail Hollow / Quail Ridge
Subdivision area off State Street and Pierce Park Lane in the western Foothills. Mostly 1980s and 1990s construction, traditional Foothills aesthetic with shake or composition shingle roofs, exterior wood or stucco. Lots are larger than Highlands (0.25–0.50 acre), grading is gentler, family-focused community character.
Foothills East / Warm Springs Mesa
The eastern Foothills above Warm Springs Avenue and Table Rock Road, climbing toward the geologic feature of Table Rock. 1960s-70s ranches, 1990s-2000s contemporary infill, and ongoing custom-home construction on irregular lots. Wildfire-prone vegetation surrounds, panoramic city and Owyhee Mountain views, often substantial site grading.
Crane Creek / Bogus Basin Road corridor
The remote upper-Foothills areas along Bogus Basin Road and Crane Creek Road, climbing to elevations of 4,500–5,000 feet. Mostly custom homes on multi-acre parcels, sometimes tucked into canyons or perched on ridgelines. Strong wildfire exposure, well/septic infrastructure on the most remote properties, dramatic seasonal road conditions.
Most Boise siding projects run $8,500 to $32,000, the range published on our Boise siding page. Foothills work sits in the upper half of that band and can run past it, for reasons specific to these streets: the non-combustible requirement rules out the cheapest materials, hillside elevations need lifts or scaffolding rather than ladders, and the housing stock here is larger than the Boise median. Every figure below is priced from measured wall area at the installed per-square-foot rates published on the Boise siding page — $10 to $16 per square foot for James Hardie fiber cement — rather than from a flat package price.
Boise Foothills siding installation ranges
Hardie refresh (Repair and repaint of existing James Hardie fiber cement): $2,800–$18,000 repaint + board replacement / 3–5 weeks end to end
Natural stone veneer accent (Stone veneer addition to a feature wall; no published per-foot rate, so priced per elevation): Quoted per elevation / 4–7 weeks per wall end to end
Stucco maintenance and repair (Crack repair, color coat, caulking refresh; priced from measured repair area): Quoted from measured area / 5–9 weeks end to end
Full cedar-to-Hardie re-skin (Complete cedar removal and James Hardie installation — 2,600–4,200 sq ft of wall at $10–$16 per square foot installed): $26,000–$70,000 / 10–16 weeks end to end
Full stucco system renewal (Complete removal of original stucco and installation of a new three-coat system; priced from measured wall area): Quoted from measured area / 10–16 weeks end to end
Pricing assumes Iron Crest's standard scope: a non-combustible material specification where the hillside/WUI requirement applies, full City of Boise building permit, proper WRB integration (typical Tyvek HomeWrap or Tyvek CommercialWrap), comprehensive flashing at all penetrations and transitions, lead-safe practices for pre-1978 homes during demolition, hillside access including bucket lifts where needed, HOA Architectural Review submittal where applicable, and a 3-year workmanship warranty. James Hardie's own terms cover the substrate for 30 years non-prorated, and ColorPlus factory finish for 15 years — those are Hardie's terms, not ours; confirm the current text on jameshardie.com before you rely on it.
Much of the Boise Foothills falls inside the City of Boise hillside area or the Wildland Urban Interface, and the requirement we have verified in writing is specific: under City of Boise Permit 428 (Residential Roofing, Siding and Windows), roof coverings and siding installed in the hillside area or the WUI must be non-combustible as regulated by the City of Boise Fire Prevention Code. Fiber cement, Portland cement plaster (stucco) and stone veneer qualify. Cedar, T-111, vinyl and engineered wood do not — LP states its SmartSide product is Class C (Class III) under ASTM E84 and is not an ignition-resistant material under IWUIC Section 503.2 — and fire-retardant treatment does not make wood non-combustible. Whether your specific address falls inside the boundary, and which additional assemblies (eaves, vents, glazing, decks) are reached, is a question for the Boise Building Division at (208) 608-7070. We confirm it before specifying rather than after, and defensible-space landscaping is worth doing regardless of where the line falls.
Foothills construction sites frequently require geotechnical investigation due to slope conditions, expansive clay soils on some upper lots, and seasonal groundwater. Geotechnical reports cost $2,500–$6,500 and may dictate engineered foundation systems including helical piles, deepened spread footings, or stepped foundations. Iron Crest coordinates geotechnical work as part of standard pre-construction for any Foothills project on a slope above 15%.
The City of Boise Hillside Development Ordinance applies to construction on slopes greater than 15%. Plan review is more rigorous, with grading plans, drainage plans, and erosion control plans required as part of building permit submittal. Hillside permit timelines run several weeks longer than a standard review. Iron Crest's design team prepares Hillside Development submittals as part of standard project management.
Some Foothills neighborhoods (Hidden Springs, sections of the Highlands, parts of the Foothills East) have HOA architectural review committees. Hidden Springs review is among the most rigorous in Boise — full architectural plans, exterior material samples, and color samples are typically required. ARC review typically adds several weeks. Iron Crest handles HOA submittal as part of standard project management.
EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program applies to any work involving paint disturbance in pre-1978 Foothills homes — common in the original Highlands streets and parts of Foothills East. Iron Crest follows EPA RRP lead-safe work practices. Asbestos testing is recommended for pre-1980 homes during the demolition phase.
Siding material specification for Foothills homes starts with the non-combustible requirement, then balances aesthetic and durability against high-UV and seasonal weather extremes.
James Hardie fiber cement (primary recommendation)
Non-combustible, and the most cost-effective material that satisfies the hillside/WUI requirement. HardiePlank lap siding (5.25-inch or 7.25-inch exposure), HardieShingle for shake aesthetic, HardiePanel for vertical board-and-batten. Factory-pre-finished ColorPlus colors or field-painted. Available in cedar-replicating profiles for 1970s-80s home matching. Cost: $10–$16 per square foot installed, the rate published on our Boise siding page.
Three-coat traditional stucco
Portland cement plaster — non-combustible, and appropriate for a Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, or contemporary aesthetic. Three coats: scratch, brown, color. Proper expansion joints, stress relief details, flashing at all penetrations. Crack repair using elastomeric fillers. We publish no per-foot stucco rate; stucco is quoted from measured wall area after the substrate assessment.
What does not qualify in the hillside and WUI area
Cedar shake and lap, redwood, T-111 plywood and vinyl are combustible and do not meet Permit 428's non-combustible requirement. Neither does engineered wood: LP's own technical bulletin puts SmartSide at Class C (Class III) under ASTM E84 and answers "no" to whether it is an ignition-resistant material under IWUIC Section 503.2. Fire-retardant treatment changes a flame-spread class; it does not make wood non-combustible. If a contractor offers you treated cedar as a hillside-compliant option, ask to see the listing the Building Division will accept.
Natural stone veneer
Limestone, basalt, sandstone, or quartzite veneer for feature walls — non-combustible. Typically full-bed (3.5-inch thick) or thin veneer (1.5-inch). Mortar-set with proper drainage plane. Quoted per elevation rather than per square foot; the site publishes no stone rate.
WRB (Weather Resistant Barrier)
Tyvek HomeWrap or Tyvek CommercialWrap is standard for residential Foothills work. Sometimes upgrade to Tyvek DrainWrap for enhanced drainage in elevation conditions. Proper flashing tape (3M flashing or Tyvek Tape) at all transitions, window/door rough openings, and penetrations.
Flashing details for hillside conditions
Foothills siding requires careful flashing for grading, drainage, snow loads at higher elevation streets, and wildfire ember protection. Proper kickout flashing at roof-wall intersections. Z-flashing at horizontal transitions. Pan flashing at all rough openings. Premium flashing at base of wall systems.
Color and aesthetic strategy
Hidden Springs HOA palette typical: warm earth tones, taupes, sage greens, charcoals. Other Foothills neighborhoods more flexible. ColorPlus is the factory finish; Hardie's published ColorPlus warranty runs 15 years against peeling, cracking and chipping (it is not a fade warranty) — confirm the current terms on jameshardie.com. Field-painted Hardie offers unlimited colour selection and is covered by our 3-year workmanship warranty like the rest of the work.
Foothills siding projects surface specific issues during demolition.
- •Pre-1978 lead-based paint in original siding. Common in original Highlands homes. Lead-safe demolition: $4,500–$15,500 cost addition.
- •Asbestos in original underlayment, paper, or pre-1980 siding products. Some pre-1980 homes have asbestos in roofing felt, building paper, or asbestos cement siding. Testing $300–$700 per sample. Abatement: $4,500–$22,500.
- •Failed sheathing requiring replacement. Original plywood sheathing sometimes shows water damage. Replacement: $8–$15 per square foot of sheathing.
- •Failed WRB requiring complete replacement. Original WRB (typically asphalt felt or first-generation house wrap) has likely failed. Replacement is standard with full re-skin: $1.20–$2.20 per square foot of wall surface.
- •Window and door integration issues. Original window flashing often inadequate. Sometimes warrants window replacement during siding work for proper integration. Window replacement: $1,500–$4,500 per window.
- •Termite or wood-destroying organism damage. Less common in Boise than wetter climates but occasional in Foothills work. Repair: $2,500–$15,000 depending on extent.
- •Foundation transition and capillary break. Original construction sometimes lacks proper capillary break at foundation-to-wall transition. Detailing addition: $1,800–$4,500.
- •HOA Architectural Review (Hidden Springs, parts of Highlands). Mandatory ARC submittal for siding type or color change. Plan revisions: $2,500–$8,500. Timeline addition: 3–6 weeks.
- •Hillside access requiring scaffolding or bucket lift. Tall elevations and steep approach grades sometimes require equipment beyond standard ladders. Equipment: $4,500–$15,000 for project duration.
Discovery and design (Weeks 1–3)
On-site walkthrough including substrate condition assessment. Lead and asbestos pre-screening. Material direction. Color consultation. WUI compliance verification.
HOA submittal and permitting (Weeks 3–8)
Hidden Springs or applicable HOA submittal. City of Boise building permit submittal. Plan revisions per City and HOA feedback. Permit issued.
Materials ordering (Weeks 6–12)
James Hardie or specified material delivery. ColorPlus or field-paint selection finalized. Ordering 4–8 weeks lead time on premium materials.
Site preparation (Day 1 of work)
Plant and outdoor space protection. Hillside access setup. Site logistics. Owner property access protocols.
Demolition (Days 1–7)
Lead-safe and asbestos containment as needed. Existing siding removal. Substrate inspection. Sheathing replacement if needed.
WRB and flashing (Days 7–14)
WRB installation. Flashing detail at all penetrations, transitions, and rough openings. Inspection.
Siding install (Days 14–60)
Siding installation per material requirements. Stucco system requires staged scratch, brown, and color coats with cure time between. Hardie installs more quickly. Stone veneer install with proper drainage plane and weep system.
Trim, painting, and finishing (Days 60–80)
Trim installation. Caulking. Field painting (if not factory-pre-finished). Final flashing details.
Punch and walkthrough (Days 80–110)
Final inspection. Owner walkthrough. Punch list resolution. Site cleanup. 3-year workmanship warranty begins.
Foothills siding installation requires WUI compliance fluency, premium material expertise, hillside access experience, EPA RRP lead-safe work practices for older homes, and HOA architectural review where applicable.
- City of Boise Planning & Development Services — Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits, plus Hillside Development applications for slopes above 15%.
- Boise Fire Department — Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) inspections, defensible space assessments, fire-prevention guidance.
- Idaho Department of Lands — Fire Management — State-level WUI policy and wildfire-mitigation resources for Foothills homeowners.
- EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program — Required certification and work practices for renovation in pre-1978 homes (older Highlands and Foothills East streets).
- Idaho DOPL — Contractor Search — Verify any contractor's RCE registration through the official Idaho DOPL license search.
- Idaho Power — Rebates & Offers — Idaho Power's residential incentives: the Heating and Cooling Efficiency Program (heat pumps, central air conditioners, duct sealing, smart thermostats, heat pump water heaters, whole-house fans and similar equipment), the A/C Cool Credit, and the Shade Tree Project. Windows and insulation are not covered.
Why does Foothills siding have to be non-combustible?
The City of Boise issues re-siding under Permit 428, and under that permit roof coverings and siding installed in the hillside area or the Wildland Urban Interface must be non-combustible as regulated by the City of Boise Fire Prevention Code. Fiber cement, Portland cement plaster (stucco) and stone veneer qualify. Cedar shake, wood lap, T-111 plywood and vinyl do not, and neither does engineered wood — LP puts SmartSide at Class C under ASTM E84 and states it is not an ignition-resistant material under IWUIC Section 503.2. Whether your address falls inside the hillside or WUI boundary is a question for the Boise Building Division at (208) 608-7070; we confirm it before specifying.
How much does it cost to re-skin a cedar Foothills home with Hardie?
It is priced from wall area, not floor area. A 3,000–4,500 sq ft Foothills home typically presents 2,600–4,200 square feet of wall, and Boise fiber-cement work runs $10–$16 per square foot installed, so the siding itself lands at roughly $26,000–$70,000. That covers complete cedar removal, new WRB, new flashing, James Hardie installation, finish colour (ColorPlus or field-painted) and trim. Pre-1978 lead-safe demolition adds $4,500–$15,500, and sheathing repair, window integration and hillside access are quoted from what the walk-through finds.
How long does a Foothills siding project take?
3–5 weeks for Hardie refresh and repaint; 5–9 weeks for stucco maintenance and repair; 10–16 weeks for full cedar-to-Hardie re-skin; 10–16 weeks for full stucco system renewal. James Hardie installs faster than three-coat stucco; stucco requires cure time between coats.
What's the difference between James Hardie and stucco?
Hardie is fiber cement board that installs much like wood lap siding but is non-combustible, at $10–$16 per square foot installed. Hardie's own terms cover the substrate for 30 years non-prorated and the ColorPlus factory finish for 15 years — verify on jameshardie.com. Stucco is a continuous Portland cement plaster system, also non-combustible, suited to a Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial or contemporary aesthetic; it takes longer to install because each coat has to cure, and it needs careful expansion-joint detailing. We publish no per-foot stucco rate, so stucco is quoted from measured wall area.
Can you match the look of cedar in a non-combustible material?
Yes. James Hardie produces profiles that replicate cedar lap (HardiePlank with cedar woodgrain texture) and cedar shake (HardieShingle), and colour matching to original cedar tones is straightforward. The trade is texture at close range for a material the Building Division will accept where the hillside/WUI non-combustible requirement applies.
Do you handle Hidden Springs HOA review?
Yes. Hidden Springs operates an architectural review committee, and siding type and colour are within its scope. Confirm the current standards and review turnaround with the association — they set them, not us. Iron Crest prepares the ARC submittal as part of standard project management; plan preparation and revisions run $2,500–$8,500 depending on scope.
What happens to existing windows during siding replacement?
Existing windows can sometimes be retained, but their flashing integration with the new WRB and siding is critical. Often it's logical to combine siding replacement with window replacement to ensure proper flashing details and window upgrade to current performance standards. Iron Crest provides recommendations during pre-construction.
What about wildfire smoke during siding installation?
Active wildfire smoke conditions affect installer safety and material handling. Iron Crest monitors air quality (Boise AirNow, BLM fire status) and reschedules work during severe smoke events. Schedule contingency built into Foothills project timelines for August-September smoke season.
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