Siding & Exterior Painting in Milwood, Austin, TX (October 2023)

Why did this Milwood home need new siding?

Milwood is packed with homes from the 1980s and early 1990s, and their original cladding shows its age. Decades of heat cycling, wind-driven rain, and hail leave surfaces cracked and faded.

This home was ready for a full exterior refresh, not a patch job.

• Original siding had lost its weather seal after years of sun
• Owner found us through an internet search back in March 2023
• Goal was durability plus a cleaner, updated look
• Fiber cement was the clear fit for the local climate

What did we find during the inspection?

Our walkthrough showed the kind of wear you expect on a house this age in Central Texas. The old cladding had soaked up too much sun and no longer shed water the way it should. We also flagged the fascia, soffit, gutters, and garage doors as surfaces that needed refinishing to match a new siding install. Skipping those areas is the mistake most homeowners make, because fresh siding next to faded trim looks unfinished and dates the whole project. We built the scope to cover the full exterior as one job.

What materials did we use, and why?

We went with James Hardie Select Cedar Mill in the 8.25-inch profile, primed and ready for paint. Fiber cement is the right call for Austin homes, and here is why.

The material stays stable when summer temps push past 100 degrees, and it does not swell or rot the way wood does. It also holds up far better than vinyl against hail. Our limestone soil shifts with the seasons, so a rigid, dimensionally stable board matters. The wood-grain Cedar Mill face gave the home real texture without the constant upkeep of natural cedar.

• Boards delivered through ABC Supply with a scheduled delivery fee
• 8.25-inch lap creates deeper, cleaner shadow lines
• Primed surface locked in the finish coat and improved adhesion
• Two rounds of yard cleanup and punch items kept the site tidy

How did the painting tie it together?

Once the siding was set, our painters moved in to finish the full exterior. We used Sherwin Williams coatings picked to bond with primed fiber cement and resist sun fade.

The paint scope reached every visible surface for one cohesive look.

• Fascia and soffit painted up to 24 inches
• Garage doors coated to match the body color
• Gutters and downspouts finished per linear foot
• Field surfaces painted per square for full coverage

What were the results?

The home now has a crisp, modern face that fits right into the Milwood streetscape. The siding will hold its shape through the next round of Texas summers, and the paint pulls trim, gutters, and doors into a single color story.

• Final punch out completed before handoff
• Project invoiced October 10, 2023, and closed by November 30
• Total investment landed in the $15k-$20k range