Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
James Hardie Kitchen Remodeling: The Fort Lauderdale Owner’s Guide
James Hardie kitchen remodeling in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $14,000 – $45,000 installed, depending on cabinet layout, countertop material, and whether we’re repairing water-damaged HardieBacker substrate or doing a full gut replacement. We stock HardieBacker cement board, James Hardie trim, and the proper fasteners on our trucks, so most repairs start same day. The usual discovery goes like this: a homeowner pulls up a cracked tile near the sink, finds the cement board underneath has gone soft after years of South Florida humidity, and realizes the substrate failed before the tile ever had a chance.
Quick takeaways:
- James Hardie kitchen remodeling in Fort Lauderdale runs $14,000 – $45,000 for full projects
- HardieBacker substrate repair alone is typically a $2,000 – $6,500 line item when we’re already doing countertop or backsplash work
- We stock James Hardie backer board, screws, and seam tape on the truck, so repairs don’t wait on supply runs
- Every job gets a written price before work starts and the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing
Which James Hardie Models This Applies To
James Hardie makes two backer board lines you’ll find in Fort Lauderdale kitchens: HardieBacker 1/4″ (used under tile counters and backsplashes) and HardieBacker 1/2″ (used on floors and some wall applications). The 1/4″ board comes in 3×5 sheets; the 1/2″ in 3×5 and 4×8. If you’re checking what’s behind your tile, look for the printed grid on the board face and the James Hardie stamp along the edge. That stamp tells us the batch and thickness, which matters because a 1/4″ board installed where code called for 1/2″ is a common failure point we see in older Fort Lauderdale kitchens.
The OEM versus aftermarket question is simpler with James Hardie than with hardware brands. HardieBacker is the substrate, not a finished surface, so there really isn’t an aftermarket equivalent worth buying. Generic cement boards from big-box stores exist, but they don’t have the same fiber-cement density or the same printed fastener schedule. We install James Hardie board specifically because its 1/4″ product is rated for countertop use, which generic boards frequently are not. Penhallow Remodeling is an independent contractor in Fort Lauderdale, not a James Hardie dealer or affiliate. We buy the product from local supply houses and install it to the manufacturer’s published specs.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your James Hardie Kitchen Remodeling Is Failing
- Grout cracking along the countertop backsplash seam. This usually means the HardieBacker behind the tile is flexing, either because the wrong fasteners were used or the board wasn’t bedded in thinset. Once the board moves, the grout goes first.
- Tiles lifting or sounding hollow when tapped. Hollow-sounding tile means the bond between thinset and HardieBacker has broken. In Fort Lauderdale kitchens, this often traces back to the board absorbing moisture because seams weren’t taped and floated correctly.
- Soft or swollen wall area around the sink or dishwasher. This is the classic Florida failure: water found its way behind the backsplash through an unsealed seam, soaked the board, and the board swelled. HardieBacker resists moisture, but it’s not waterproof; the seam treatment is what keeps it intact.
- Discoloration blooming through grout lines near plumbing. Efflorescence or brown stains in the grout indicate water migrating through the substrate. By the time you see it, the board behind has been wet for months.
- Mold or mildew smell that won’t go away. A humid Fort Lauderdale kitchen with a compromised backer board will hold moisture in the wall cavity. The smell doesn’t improve with cleaning products because the source is behind the tile.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
A full James Hardie kitchen remodel in Fort Lauderdale runs $14,000 – $45,000. The spread comes down to cabinet line (KraftMaid and Wellborn are both brands we install, and KraftMaid’s semi-custom line pushes the number higher), countertop material (Silestone and Caesarstone quartz both carry their own manufacturer warranties and sit at the upper end), and how much substrate has to come out before new board goes in. A small kitchen refresh with HardieBacker replacement, new countertops, and a backsplash might land around $9,000 – $20,000. A full gut with new cabinets, island, counters, and flooring goes up from there.
Every number we write includes parts, labor, debris disposal, and the permit when the scope calls for one. Before we touch a wall, you get a written price, not a verbal ballpark. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the work for a full year: if the tile cracks, the grout separates, or the board fails because we made an error, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s in writing, every job. Trevor Nash has seen too many Fort Lauderdale homeowners get burned by low-ball estimates that climb after the walls come open. Our price on day one is the price on the final invoice.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterDIY or Call Us?
You can safely check a few things yourself. Tap tiles with the back of a butter knife and listen for hollow sounds. Inspect grout lines for cracks. Shine a flashlight under the sink after running the dishwasher and look for any damp staining on cabinet sides. Those are diagnostic steps, not repairs.
Where DIY goes wrong is cutting out and replacing HardieBacker behind existing tile. This is not a weekend job. Cutting fiber-cement board requires a carbide blade and proper dust control (silica dust from cement board is a genuine respiratory hazard). Getting the board bedded in thinset, taped at the seams with alkali-resistant tape, and fastened to the right stud spacing matters more than most people expect. Get any of it wrong and the new tile fails within a year. We tell Fort Lauderdale homeowners straight: replacing substrate behind finished tile is a two-person job with a specific skill set. If you’re not sure what’s behind your tile, call (754) 551-2922 and we’ll tell you what we think over the phone, for free.
FAQs
A properly installed HardieBacker substrate in a Fort Lauderdale kitchen should outlast most finished surfaces put on top of it; we’re talking 30 years or more with correct seam treatment and fasteners. The failure we see is almost never the board itself; it’s the installation. Call (754) 551-2922 for an exact evaluation of your kitchen.
Small isolated sections of damaged HardieBacker can sometimes be cut out and replaced in place, but if water has run behind the board the affected area is usually bigger than what’s visible. We’ll know within 20 minutes of opening the wall. Estimates are free; call (754) 551-2922.
For a standard backsplash-sized repair, we can typically remove the failed board, install new HardieBacker, retile, and grout in two to three working days assuming we have the matching tile. Full kitchen remodels in Fort Lauderdale run two to six weeks depending on scope. Call (754) 551-2922 for a timeline on your specific project.
Yes. Our Fort Lauderdale trucks carry HardieBacker 1/4″ and 1/2″ board, James Hardie screws, and alkali-resistant seam tape as standard inventory. We also source James Hardie trim from local supply houses on a same-day basis. Call (754) 551-2922 to schedule a free estimate and we’ll confirm what’s in stock before we arrive.
Get a Written Price Before Any Work Starts
If you’re in Fort Lauderdale and your kitchen has failed tile, a soft backsplash, or a substrate that’s seen better days, call (754) 551-2922. We’ll answer the phone, talk through what you’re seeing, and schedule a free estimate. You’ll get a written number before we pick up a single tool. Tell me what you need, I’ll tell you what it costs, then we’ll get it done.
Written by Trevor Nash, Owner, Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale at Penhallow Remodeling Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas.
