Siding & Windows in Milwood, Austin, TX (January 2023)

Why did this Milwood home need new siding and windows?

Many Milwood homes date to the 1980s and 1990s, and their original exteriors show it. This home's old cladding and windows were tired, drafty, and no match for Austin weather. The homeowner wanted a full refresh that would last decades, not a patch job.

• Original windows leaked air and let in summer heat
• Old siding showed wear from years of sun and storms
• Goal: a unified, durable exterior in one coordinated project

What did we find when we inspected the home?

Our evaluation confirmed the exterior was ready for a complete overhaul. The window openings needed careful measuring so the new NT units would sit square and seal tight. Central Texas homes fight two enemies at once: relentless summer heat and sudden hail. Both punish cheap materials fast. We planned the scope to address the whole envelope so the homeowner would not revisit these issues in a few years.

• Full exterior walls slated for new siding
• Every window opening measured for replacement units
• Paint scheduled as a sealing step, not an afterthought

What materials did we use, and why?

We chose James Hardie HardiePlank fiber cement for the walls. Fiber cement is the right call for Austin because it does not warp in triple-digit heat and it resists hail far better than vinyl or old wood. It also holds paint well and stands up to moisture and pests. That combination means fewer callbacks and a longer service life. For the windows, we installed NT Presidential double-hung units, a vinyl line that helps block solar heat gain and cuts down on drafts.

• HardiePlank fiber cement: hail-resistant and non-combustible
• Factory-grade paint applied on site by our crew
• NT Presidential double-hung windows: energy-efficient vinyl frames
• Paint materials sourced through Sherwin Williams

How did the installation go?

The windows came first. Our crew set them over four days starting November 6, 2022, working opening by opening to keep each unit square and sealed. Supply timing was a real factor here, which we cover below.

• Windows ordered April 20, 2022; received October 4, 2022
• Window install: 4 on-site days from Nov 6
• Siding install: 2 days in mid-December, paint following shortly after
• Punch-out walkthrough completed early January 2023

How did COVID-era delays affect the timeline?

This project ran long, and the reason matters. The windows were ordered in April 2022 but did not arrive until October, thanks to manufacturer backlogs that hit the whole industry during that period. We kept the homeowner informed the entire time rather than starting work we could not finish. Once materials landed, the on-site pace was steady and predictable. Patience on the front end let us do the job right instead of rushing around missing parts.

• Roughly six months between order and delivery on windows
• No siding started until windows were in hand
• Sequenced work to avoid rework and wasted trips

What were the results?

The home now wears a clean, durable James Hardie exterior with fresh paint and efficient new windows. On-site work wrapped by January 5, 2023. The homeowner ended up with an exterior built to handle whatever Central Texas throws at it.