Siding in Milwood, Austin, TX (September 2023)

Why did this Milwood home need new siding?

Milwood is full of homes built in the 1980s and 1990s, and their original cladding has taken decades of abuse. Austin summers push past 100 degrees, and hail seasons chip away at older surfaces year after year.

This home showed the usual signs of age:

• Old cladding that had lost its ability to hold paint
• Boards affected by moisture and heat cycling
• A tired, dated look on a solid, well-built house

What did the crew find on site?

When we opened up sections of the exterior, we found what we expected on a home of this era: material that had reached the end of its service life. Decades of expansion and contraction in the Texas heat had loosened boards and opened gaps where water could sneak in. That kind of slow moisture intrusion is exactly what homeowners miss, because it hides behind a fresh coat of paint. We flagged the vulnerable spots, made sure the framing underneath was sound, and planned the new layout so the siding would sit flat and true. Getting that base right is the difference between siding that lasts and siding that telegraphs every flaw down the road.

What materials did we use, and why?

We went with James Hardie Lap Siding in the 8.25" Prime Smooth profile. Fiber cement is the right call for Austin because it does not warp, rot, or feed pests the way wood can.

Here is what made this product the fit:

• 8.25" Prime Smooth gives a clean, modern reveal without heavy texture
• Fiber cement resists hail impact and holds up under intense UV
• The prime coat gave our painters a stable surface to work on
• The material handles Austin's freeze-and-bake temperature swings without cracking

You can see more about our full siding work and how we spec it for local homes.

How did the installation go?

We installed the siding over multiple days in mid-August, working through some of the hottest stretches of the year. Fiber cement demands careful cutting and fastening, so the crew took the time to keep every course level and tight.

Key steps on this job:

• Material staged and delivered through ABC Supply Co.
• Boards cut and fastened for straight, consistent lap lines
• Seams and joints detailed to keep out wind-driven rain
• Surfaces prepped and cleaned ahead of the paint phase

How did the exterior painting finish the job?

Paint was the final step, and it locks in the whole system. We used Sherwin Williams coatings chosen for high-UV Central Texas exposure, so the color stays true through years of sun. A quality coating on Hardie board is not just about looks; it seals and protects the surface.

The painting scope covered:

• Full prep and priming of new board surfaces
• Even topcoat application across the entire exterior
• Clean cut lines at trim, corners, and edges
• A uniform, streak-free finish from the street

We handle exterior painting as part of many siding projects for exactly this reason.

What were the results?

The home went from dated and worn to sharp and protected. The new James Hardie shell and Sherwin Williams finish now carry this Milwood house through Austin's toughest weather.