Built for Calgary weather
Few cities are as hard on a house as Calgary. Chinooks swing the temperature dozens of degrees in a day, freeze-thaw cycles work water into every gap, the sun is strong at altitude, and summer hail can strip siding and shred a roof in minutes.
The August 2024 hailstorm alone caused an estimated $2.8 billion in insured damage. When we design an exterior, we choose materials and details that hold up to those conditions for years. Our guide to what chinooks do to Calgary homes explains why.
Siding options
- Fibre-cement siding, such as Hardie, resists impact, fire and rot far better than vinyl. Installed, it typically runs $12 to $22 per square foot in Calgary.
- Engineered wood siding gives the warmth of wood with better moisture resistance.
- Stone and manufactured stone add weight and texture, often on the lower part of a facade or around the entry.
- Stucco remains common in Calgary. It can be repaired, patched or fully redone with a modern finish.
- Vinyl is the least expensive, but it can crack in cold-weather hail.
What exterior work costs
- Replacing the siding on an 1,800 square foot home runs $28,000 to $65,000.
- Replacing 12 to 18 windows runs $22,000 to $55,000.
- A new roof on an average home runs $14,000 to $38,000.
- A 200 square foot composite deck runs $22,000 to $45,000.
Roofing and hail
Impact-resistant roofing is rated Class 4 under the UL 2218 test. Asphalt, metal and synthetic roofs are all available with a Class 4 rating, and many Calgary homeowners now choose one when replacing a roof. Some insurers offer a discount, so ask yours and keep the product certificate on file.
The City of Calgary does not require a permit to replace roofing materials, but structural changes do.
Windows, doors and entries
New windows change how a house looks from the street and how it feels inside. We look at frame materials, glass packages and how the window sits in the wall, because the flashing and air sealing around a window matter as much as the window itself. A redesigned front entry, with a new door, lighting and stone or wood details, is often the single biggest change in curb appeal. Our guide to double or triple pane windows compares the options.
A full facade redesign
Sometimes the best answer is to change the whole look of the house. A facade redesign can combine new siding, stone, windows, a reworked roofline and a new entry, so a dated home looks current again.
In Lower Springbank, Kay2 gave a home a completely new modern exterior with new windows, roof and doors as part of a main-floor addition. In Mayland Heights, the exterior was rebuilt along with three additions, and that project was named Renovator of the Year.
Timing exterior work in Calgary
Most exterior work happens between spring and fall, when temperatures suit sealants, paint and stucco. Good contractors book up early in the year, so planning your exterior over the winter gives you the best chance of a spring or early summer start.
Permits
Re-siding and re-roofing usually do not need a building permit in Calgary. New window or door openings, structural changes, larger decks and work combined with an addition or renovation can. Kay2 confirms what your project needs and takes care of the permits when they apply.
