Siding

Each trades off appearance, upkeep, and budget differently. Vinyl is usually the most budget-friendly and never needs paint. Composite cladding such as Alside ASCEND adds an insulated backing and a wood-inspired look. Fiber cement such as James Hardie is noncombustible, comes primed or factory-finished, and is heavier to install. Engineered wood offers a real wood look but its finish needs periodic attention. No one material is best for every home, so we bring samples and talk through what fits yours.

ASCEND is Alside’s composite cladding: lightweight panels with integrated insulation, available in horizontal plank and board-and-batten profiles with a wood-inspired look and no painting. It suits homeowners who want more depth and rigidity than standard vinyl while keeping upkeep low. An ASCEND exterior can include coordinating hidden-vent vinyl soffit and aluminum fascia and roofline wraps. Those trim pieces are separate products, not ASCEND, and each carries its own warranty.

Often, yes. Storm-damaged, cracked, or loose pieces can usually be replaced individually. The challenge is matching: older siding may be discontinued, the profile may differ slightly, and weathered color rarely matches new material exactly. We look for the closest available product and tell you honestly how noticeable the repair is likely to be. Sometimes replacing one full wall or elevation gives a better result than patching.

In most cases we recommend it. Removing the old siding lets us see the sheathing, repair damage, install new housewrap, and flash windows and doors properly. Installing over existing siding hides those problems and can create an uneven wall. There are exceptions depending on the material and the manufacturer’s instructions, and the proposal will say exactly what is removed.

We stop, photograph it, and show you before covering anything up. Soft or rotted sheathing, framing damage, or failed window flashing needs to be repaired so the new siding has a sound, dry wall behind it. Your proposal lists a unit price for sheathing replacement and explains how other hidden repairs are handled, so you approve extra work before it’s done.

They should be listed in your proposal, because they’re what keep water out behind the siding. Our siding scopes typically include housewrap or the manufacturer-specified water-resistive barrier, flashing at windows, doors, and roof lines, and trim. Soffit, fascia, and gutters can be included or priced separately. Ask us to point out each item in the proposal. See gutters, soffit, and fascia for related work.

Yes. We help you coordinate siding, trim, soffit, roof color, windows, and doors so the exterior works as a whole. We bring physical samples, because colors look different outdoors than on a screen, and we can point you to manufacturer visualizer tools to preview combinations on a photo of your home. If you’re also planning a roof replacement, it helps to choose both together.

Every material needs some care. Plan on rinsing siding periodically, keeping sprinklers and mulch away from the wall, and checking caulk joints and trim. Painted or stained finishes need repainting over time. Manufacturer warranties differ by product and cover specific defects. Alside ASCEND carries a lifetime limited warranty for the original owner with transfer provisions, and James Hardie separates substrate and finish coverage. Riley’s workmanship warranty is separate, 5, 10, or 15 years depending on the project, and your proposal lists each one.