MORRISON, CO HOMEOWNERS ARE ALREADY SPENDING $40K ON WILDFIRE MITIGATION. YOUR SIDING SHOULD BE PART OF THAT PLAN.
A few weeks ago, I watched a news story about a Morrison couple who had spent over $40,000 on wildfire mitigation at their home — removing trees, installing metal sheeting, meshing their vents, creating defensible space. They were all-in on protecting their property. And they were right to be.
Morrison sits at the mouth of Bear Creek Canyon in Jefferson County. The terrain, the vegetation, the canyon wind behavior — it’s a fire environment that demands serious preparation. Jefferson County’s wildfire risk is 98% above the national county average. The foothills communities along the Front Range, Morrison included, are in the crosshairs.
But here’s the thing I noticed watching that story: the couple hadn’t talked about their siding.
I don’t say that to be critical. Most homeowners, even very prepared ones, think about defensible space, vegetation removal, and vents — the things the county has been talking about for years. What’s newer is the recognition that the exterior cladding on your home — the siding — is itself a fire mitigation decision. And as of July 1, 2026, it’s a building code decision too.
What Changed on July 1, 2026
Jefferson County’s Wildfire Resiliency Code went into effect on July 1 of this year. It’s stricter than the Colorado state minimum, approved by the Board of County Commissioners, and it applies directly to renovation projects in WUI zones — which covers virtually all of Morrison’s residential areas.
The key trigger: alterations or additions exceeding 500 square feet in a WUI zone now require code-compliant materials. For most Morrison homeowners, a siding replacement, roof replacement, or deck rebuild will exceed that threshold. When it does, the materials you choose are no longer just a preference — they have to meet the code.
What the code requires:
- Exterior wall siding: Class 2 structure-hardening materials in WUI Intermix zones — must resist ignition from radiant heat and ember contact. Vinyl siding and untreated wood do not meet this standard.
- Roofing: Class A fire-rated assemblies in Moderate and High Fire Intensity zones — which includes most of Morrison’s foothills areas.
- Deck surfaces and framing: noncombustible or fire-resistant materials. Standard wood decking does not qualify without fire-retardant treatment.
The couple from the news story who spent $40,000 on mitigation? If they’re planning a siding project this year, they now need to make sure their siding contractor understands this code and is specifying compliant materials.
Why James Hardie HZ5 Is the Right Siding for Morrison
I’ve been installing James Hardie fiber cement siding in the Jefferson County foothills for over 20 years. Before I get into the fire code angle, let me explain something about the product specification that most contractors don’t talk about — and that matters specifically for Morrison.
James Hardie produces products in different climate zone designations. HZ10 is designed for coastal, high-humidity markets. HZ5 is designed for Colorado’s interior climate — the freeze-thaw cycling, the lower humidity, the high-altitude UV, the temperature extremes. When you install the wrong climate zone product in Colorado, you’re getting a product engineered for conditions that don’t match your actual environment.
5280 Exteriors installs James Hardie HZ5 — the correct specification for Morrison and the Front Range foothills.
Now, the fire code case: James Hardie HZ5 fiber cement is non-combustible. It carries a Class A fire rating under ASTM E84 testing. It is explicitly recognized by the Jefferson County Wildfire Resiliency Code as a compliant Class 2 structure-hardening material for WUI Intermix zones. When you install Hardie on your Morrison home, you are simultaneously satisfying the building code and installing a product that genuinely performs as a fire barrier — not just a material that passes a test.
Beyond fire, here’s why HZ5 fiber cement is the right material for Morrison on its own merits:
- Dimensionally stable through freeze-thaw cycling — it doesn’t crack, warp, or pull away from trim in the foothills temperature extremes
- ColorPlus Technology factory finish is kiln-baked and UV-stabilized — holds color through Colorado’s high-altitude sun without fading or chalking the way painted vinyl does
- Does not absorb water, rot, or delaminate under the spring moisture cycling that comes with Bear Creek Canyon snowmelt
- Impact resistant — stands up to canyon wind-driven debris and hail without cracking or denting
- 30-year warranty when installed by an Elite Preferred Contractor — a warranty that matters on an $875,000 Morrison property
The Full Exterior Picture: Roofing, Decking, Windows
Siding is where most exterior conversations start in Morrison, but it’s rarely the only scope that needs attention. Here’s how the rest of the exterior fits under the same code framework.
GAF Roofing — Class A Fire Rating Required
Your roof faces everything Morrison can throw at it: wildfire embers from the canyon terrain, Colorado’s severe hail, canyon wind loading, and spring snowmelt. Under the new Jefferson County code, Class A fire-rated roofing is now required in most of Morrison’s fire intensity zones. GAF roofing systems meet that standard and are selected specifically for the hail impact resistance and snow load performance that Front Range foothills roofs require. When we do roofing and siding together, we treat the wall-to-roof transition as a single flashed system — which is where standalone projects most often fail.
TimberTech Composite Decking — WUI Code Now Covers Decks
This is the one that surprises most homeowners: deck surfaces are now subject to WUI code requirements in Jefferson County. Wood decks in WUI Intermix zones don’t meet the noncombustible or fire-resistant standard under the new code. We install TimberTech composite decking — a fire-resistant system that satisfies the code and delivers the Bear Creek canyon views and outdoor lifestyle Morrison homeowners want, without the fire risk or the annual maintenance burden of wood. We added TimberTech to our product line in 2026 specifically because WUI code compliance on decks is now a live issue for our foothills customers.
Pella Windows — Foothills Performance
Window quality matters more in a canyon environment than most homeowners expect. The temperature differential between sun and shade on a Bear Creek property can be dramatic. UV intensity at elevation degrades standard window seals faster than metro installations. We install Pella windows — Pella windows installer — and when we’re replacing windows and siding together, we coordinate the rough opening flashing as a unified system. That integration is where budget window installations leak.
Who We Are
5280 Exteriors has been serving the Jefferson County foothills for over 20 years. We are a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor — the top 1% of siding contractors nationally, and the only designation that unlocks the full 30-year Hardie warranty. We are back-to-back James Hardie Presidents Club Award winners for 2024 and 2025 — one of the only companies in Colorado to earn back-to-back recognition.
We know Morrison. We know Bear Creek Canyon. We know the Jefferson County permit process. And we know how to install HZ5 fiber cement correctly in the foothills climate — which is a different job than installing it at sea level.
If you’re planning a siding, roofing, decking, or window project in Morrison this year, call us for a free estimate. The mountain season is short and we’re already booking out.
Call us at (720) 707-6964. We come to you.
