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    Project Case Study

    Custom Hardie-Siding Outbuilding — Metairie, LA

    A ground-up backyard outbuilding built like a house — pressure-treated framing, Hardie plank siding, custom barn doors, and a navy paint scheme that proved itself through a historic Louisiana snowstorm.

    Project Background

    The homeowners wanted a backyard outbuilding that would actually last — not a kit shed from a big-box parking lot. They had a long, narrow Metairie lot in Jefferson Parish with a fence-to-fence build envelope and needed real storage, a workshop bay, and a separate side-entry door, all under one roof.

    We scoped this as a ground-up outbuilding addition built to residential standards: pier-block foundation, pressure-treated wall framing, full roof sheathing with rafter framing, Tyvek house wrap, real Hardie plank siding, and double pressure-treated barn doors built on site.

    This is not a kit shed assembled in a weekend. It is a small structure built the way Cajun builds a home addition — substrate, weather barrier, fastening schedule, paint system, and trim details all detailed correctly. The snowstorm photos at the end of the gallery are the proof.

    Scope of Work

    • Site prep, layout, and pier-block foundation on graded pad
    • Pressure-treated wall framing with full corner posts and headers over openings
    • Rafter framing with OSB roof sheathing and white drip edge / fascia detailing
    • Tyvek house wrap with taped seams under siding
    • Two new vinyl windows with flashed and trimmed rough openings
    • Real James Hardie fiber-cement plank siding over wrap (not vinyl, not T1-11)
    • Custom-built pressure-treated double barn doors with strap hinges, plus a factory pre-hung side-entry door
    • Full prime + two-coat navy exterior paint system on siding, white on trim and fascia
    • Drainage trench and final yard grading after the structure was closed in

    Build Sequence

    Like every Cajun project, this was managed through our JobTread workflow — daily photo updates, one point of contact, and documented inspections at each phase.

    Phase 1 — Foundation & Wall Framing

    A pier-block foundation was set on a graded pad. Pressure-treated bottom plates and wall studs were laid out, raised, and braced. Corners were doubled and headers were sized for the door and window openings before any sheathing went up.

    Phase 2 — Rafters & Roof Sheathing

    Rafters were cut, set, and braced from inside. OSB roof sheathing was nailed off to the rafters, then trimmed with a white aluminum drip edge and fascia detail. This is what keeps water tracking off the wall plane instead of behind the siding.

    Phase 3 — Weather Barrier & Windows

    Tyvek house wrap went on with taped seams. Two new vinyl windows were set into flashed rough openings, with sill pans and head flashing detailed before any siding touched the wall. Every penetration was treated like a residential wall — because that is what it is.

    Phase 4 — Hardie Plank Siding

    Real James Hardie fiber-cement plank siding was installed over the wrap with proper overlap and a stainless fastening schedule. Hardie is heavier, more weather-resistant, and far more fire-resistant than vinyl or T1-11. For South Louisiana sun, humidity, and storm load it is the right material.

    Phase 5 — Custom Doors & Trim

    A factory pre-hung side-entry door was set on the gable end. The main face got double barn-style doors built on site from pressure-treated lumber, hung on heavy strap hinges. Window and corner trim were detailed in clean white before paint.

    Phase 6 — Paint & Finish

    The full envelope was primed and rolled in a deep navy, with white on every trim board, corner, and fascia. Cut-in work on the drip edge was hand-brushed from a ladder, not sprayed. Final yard grading and a drainage trench at the fence line closed out the build.

    Materials & Systems Used

    Foundation

    Pier blocks on graded pad with pressure-treated sills

    Framing

    Pressure-treated stud walls, doubled corners, sized headers

    Roof

    OSB sheathing over rafters with white drip edge & fascia

    Weather Barrier

    Tyvek house wrap with taped seams

    Siding

    James Hardie fiber-cement plank — real Hardie, not lookalike

    Doors

    Pre-hung side entry + custom on-site barn doors w/ strap hinges

    Paint System

    Prime + two coats exterior — navy field, white trim

    Documentation

    JobTread daily photos through every phase

    Why Hardie on a Shed?

    Most backyard sheds in Jefferson Parish are clad in T1-11 plywood or vinyl. Both fail predictably here. T1-11 wicks moisture along its bottom edge, swells, and rots inside 5–10 years. Vinyl warps under direct South Louisiana sun and cracks at hose-bib temperatures during cold snaps.

    James Hardie fiber-cement plank handles UV, humidity, termites, and impact better than either. It carries a Class A fire rating and holds paint for 15+ years with proper prep. On a structure the homeowner is going to look at every day from their kitchen window, the upgrade is worth it.

    The Snowstorm Proof

    The last two photos in the gallery were taken during the historic January snowstorm that buried Metairie under several inches of snow — a load South Louisiana structures are not designed for. The shed roof held without issue, the fascia stayed tight, and the paint took the freeze-thaw cycle without checking. That is the difference between a structure framed and detailed by a licensed general contractor and a kit shed.

    📸 More outbuilding & addition projects

    Browse other custom outbuildings, home additions, and exterior projects across Metairie, New Orleans, and the Northshore.

    See Home Additions & Outbuildings →

    Project Details

    Location

    Metairie, Jefferson Parish, LA

    Structure

    Detached backyard outbuilding — workshop + storage

    Scope

    Ground-up build — foundation, framing, siding, doors, paint

    Siding System

    James Hardie fiber-cement plank over Tyvek house wrap

    Durability Test

    Held through the historic Metairie snowstorm — see gallery

    Documentation

    Daily JobTread photos, all phases

    Plan Your Outbuilding

    Want a real structure in your backyard — not a kit shed? Call our New Orleans office for a free site visit and estimate.

    (504) 336-2444Request Estimate Online

    Related Pages

    Phase 1 — Foundation & Wall Framing

    Site prep, slab, pier blocks, and pressure-treated wall framing — including drone shots of the crew working the backyard.

    Site prep with pressure-treated form boards set next to existing concrete slab for new Metairie backyard shed

    Site Prep & Slab Forms Set

    Aerial top-down drone view of fresh concrete slab with pressure-treated wall framing started for Metairie outbuilding

    Aerial — Slab Poured, Walls Going Up

    Aerial backyard context drone shot of Cajun Home Services crew framing Hardie-siding shed in Metairie Louisiana

    Aerial — Crew Framing in Backyard

    Pressure-treated wall framing on pier blocks for backyard outbuilding addition in Metairie Louisiana

    Pier Blocks & Wall Framing

    Cajun crew raising first wall on slab for new outbuilding in Metairie Louisiana

    First Wall Raised

    Phase 2 — Rafters & Roof Sheathing

    Rafters cut and braced from inside, then OSB roof sheathing nailed off and trimmed with white drip edge.

    Interior framing of Metairie shed showing rafters, OSB walls, and window rough openings

    Interior Rafter Framing

    OSB roof sheathing installed over rafters on Metairie backyard outbuilding

    Roof Sheathing Over Rafters

    Phase 3 — Weather Barrier & Windows

    Tyvek house wrap with taped seams and two new vinyl windows flashed into the wall plane before any siding went up.

    Metairie LA outbuilding with Tyvek house wrap and new windows installed before Hardie siding

    House Wrap & Windows Installed

    Phase 4 — Hardie Plank Siding

    Real James Hardie fiber-cement plank installed over wrap, primed and ready for paint — interior view through the door opening.

    Hardie plank siding being installed over Tyvek house wrap on Metairie outbuilding

    Hardie Plank Siding Install

    Metairie shed front elevation with primed Hardie siding installed on lower half and exposed Elephant Skin housewrap above before paint

    Hardie Up, Housewrap Above

    Side window pair of Metairie outbuilding with new vinyl windows set into flashed Hardie plank openings before trim and paint

    Windows Set, Flashed & Trimmed

    Interior of Metairie Hardie-siding shed mid-build, viewed through finished door opening with materials staged inside

    Interior View Through Door

    Phase 5 — Custom Doors & Trim

    Pre-hung side-entry door plus custom on-site barn doors hung on strap hinges, with white window casing and corner trim detailed before paint.

    Metairie shed with full Hardie plank siding in primer coat and freshly built pressure-treated barn doors hung but not yet stained

    Custom Barn Doors Just Hung

    Dusk shot of Metairie outbuilding in primer with side entry door open, raw barn doors hung, ready for final paint

    Dusk — Pre-Paint Walkthrough

    Crew member installing pressure-treated barn-style double doors on navy Hardie-siding shed in Metairie backyard

    Custom Barn Doors Built On Site

    Front elevation of Metairie shed showing painted Hardie siding, white window trim, and new pressure-treated door before stain

    Trim & Window Casing Complete

    Rear side elevation of Metairie Hardie-siding shed with navy paint and white corner trim, drainage trench at fence line

    Rear Elevation, Drainage Trench

    Phase 6 — Paint & Finish

    Navy field paint with hand-brushed white fascia and drip edge, plus final yard grading and drainage trench.

    Cajun Home Services crew member on ladder painting fascia and drip edge on navy Hardie-siding shed in Metairie Louisiana

    Hand-Painting Fascia & Drip Edge

    Wide view of nearly completed Metairie shed with extension ladder, lumber stack, and graded backyard ready for sod

    Nearly Complete, Yard Graded

    Completed — Hero Shots & Weather

    Finished navy Hardie outbuilding in full sun, overcast, and a Louisiana rainstorm — the way it actually looks in every condition.

    Completed Metairie outbuilding from three-quarter angle showing navy Hardie siding, white trim, double barn doors, side entry door, and dual windows

    Three-Quarter Hero View

    Completed Metairie backyard shed front elevation with navy Hardie siding, white trim, factory side door, double barn doors, and dual windows

    Completed Front Elevation

    Completed Metairie outbuilding with navy Hardie siding and white trim in full sun

    Hero Shot, Full Sun

    Completed Metairie outbuilding with navy Hardie siding under overcast sky showing true color

    Overcast Color Reference

    Alternate angle of completed Metairie navy Hardie shed showing side elevation and roof line

    Alternate Angle

    Completed Metairie navy Hardie shed front elevation photographed during light rain showing crisp white trim and weather performance

    Front Elevation, In the Rain

    Wide front view of finished navy Hardie shed in Metairie backyard with rainfall, white trim and double barn doors visible

    Wide Front, Rainy Day

    Three-quarter view of completed Metairie outbuilding under overcast Louisiana sky with side entry door and twin windows

    Three-Quarter, Overcast

    Side and rear angle of finished navy Hardie shed in Metairie showing factory side door, twin windows, and barn doors at rear

    Side & Rear Angle

    Completed Metairie Hardie-siding outbuilding viewed from across the backyard with stamped concrete walkway and seating area

    Backyard Context Shot

    Durability Proof — Historic Snowstorm

    The same shed standing through the January snowstorm that buried Metairie — load South Louisiana structures are not designed for.

    Metairie Hardie-siding shed standing through historic January snowstorm with several inches of snow on flat roof and yard

    January Snowstorm — Roof Holding

    Distance shot of Metairie outbuilding during heavy snow showing structure performing through unusual winter load

    Through a Louisiana Snowstorm

    Explore more home additions, ground-up construction, and exterior work. Serving Metairie, Jefferson Parish, New Orleans, and all of Southeast Louisiana.

    Want a Backyard Build Done Right?

    Hardie plank, real framing, custom doors, and documented every step. Call (504) 336-2444 for a free site visit and estimate.

    Schedule a Consultation(504) 336-2444