Siding in Gracy Farms, Austin, TX

Why did this Gracy Farms home need new siding?

Gracy Farms is full of homes built in the late 1980s and 1990s, and the original wood siding on this one had run its course. Years of Austin sun and storm cycles had taken a toal.

• Sun-baked boards had faded and cupped
• Cracked seams let moisture creep behind the surface
• Aging paint no longer sealed the wood

What did the crew find during inspection?

Once we got close, the damage told a clear story. The south and west faces took the worst of the afternoon sun, and the lower courses showed soft spots where water had wicked up over time. Cedar pollen and grime had also worked into the old wood grain, which made repainting a losing battle. We flagged the fascia for full replacement too, since patching failing wood behind new gutters only buys a season or two. That inspection is why we moved to fiber cement instead of another round of wood.

What materials did we use, and why?

We went with James Hardie HardiePlank Select Cedar Mill in the 8.25-inch profile because it stands up to everything this climate throws at a house. Fiber cement does not warp in 100-plus-degree heat, and it takes a hail hit without denting like softer siding.

• Primed Select Cedar Mill boards with a woodgrain texture
• 6-inch Hardie fascia including 1x2 trim
• New vinyl gable vents, replaced and painted
• Brick painted with two coats plus a sealer-primer coat

How did the gutter and paint work come together?

Once the siding was up, we ran new 5-inch seamless aluminum gutters with 3x4 downspouts sized for both single- and two-story sections. Seamless runs mean fewer joints to leak when a Texas downpour dumps an inch in ten minutes. We hauled off the old gutters and cleaned the yard twice as part of our punch process.

• Leaf-free helmet-style gutter guards installed
• 3x4 downspouts routed at front and back
• Fascia and soffit painted up to 24 inches
• Garage doors repainted to match the new palette

What were the results?

The home now has a clean, uniform exterior that will hold its color and shape for decades. Fiber cement paired with sealed gutters keeps water off the walls and out of the limestone-heavy soil right against the foundation. The homeowner walked away with far less yearly upkeep and a facade that looks brand new.

• Single-day install completed June 12, 2023
• Coordinated paint with Sherwin Williams products
• Full yard cleanup and punch-out before sign-off