Siding in Crestview, Austin, TX (October 2025)

Why did this Austin home need new siding?

The old cladding had taken years of punishment. Austin summers push past 100°, and that heat cycle slowly breaks down softer siding materials.

This was a repeat client who already trusted our crew from a past job. That relationship is part of why the project moved so smoothly.

• First contact May 14, 2025, from a previous customer
• Original walls showed heat fatigue and moisture wear
• Goal was a full exterior refresh, not a patch

What did the crew find during inspection?

When we opened up the walls, the sheathing behind the old siding was no longer doing its job. That's a common find on homes of this era around North Austin, where limestone soil movement and decades of thermal swings stress the whole envelope. We stripped the exterior back and installed new 7/16" OSB wall sheathing as the foundation for everything that followed. Skipping that step is the mistake we see most often, since new siding over bad sheathing just hides the real problem. Getting the substrate right is what makes fiber cement actually perform for the long haul.

• Removed failing exterior and inspected the wall structure
• Replaced sheathing across the affected walls
• Confirmed a solid, flat plane before any siding went up

What materials did we use, and why?

We chose James Hardie fiber cement in Custom Colonial Smooth, sized 8" with a 6.75" reveal. Fiber cement doesn't rot, doesn't feed insects, and won't warp when the mercury climbs. That matters a lot here, where hail and hard sun tag exposed walls year after year.

• Product line: James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding
• Profile: Custom Colonial Smooth for a clean, classic face
• Reveal spacing set at 6.75" for consistent shadow lines
• Finished with Sherwin Williams SuperPaint for color hold

How did we handle the deck rebuild?

The back deck got fully rebuilt in Trex Select composite decking with matching Trex railing. We went composite instead of wood for one big reason: upkeep. Real lumber in Austin fights a losing battle against 100° afternoons, cedar pollen season, and dry-to-wet swings that split boards. Trex holds its shape and color with just a rinse now and then. An electrician was brought in to handle the wiring tied to the deck area, so the outdoor space stays both good-looking and functional.

• Decking: Trex Select composite planks
• Railing: coordinating Trex system
• Electrician coordinated for deck-related wiring
• Built for zero sealing or staining

What were the results?

Both scopes were completed on October 13, 2025. The home now has a fresh, uniform exterior and a solid outdoor space ready for years of use.

• Two rounds of yard cleanup and punch-out items completed
• Permits pulled and closed properly
• Materials sourced through ABC Supply, Home Depot, and BMC