Siding & Windows in Balcones Woods, Austin, TX

Why did this Balcones Woods home need new siding?

Homes in this pocket of Austin were mostly built in the 1980s, and their original wood or masonite siding rarely survives four decades of Texas sun. The homeowner wanted a look that felt current and a material that would stop the yearly repaint-and-repair cycle.

• Original siding showed the wear you expect on a 1980s build
• Vertical Board & Batten was picked for a cleaner, more modern face
• Fiber cement was chosen for its long service life in this climate

What makes James Hardie Board & Batten right for Austin?

Fiber cement is one of the few siding materials that truly holds up here, and that drove the whole material decision. Our summers run past 100 degrees for weeks, which cooks and warps vinyl and older wood products. Board & Batten from James Hardie is made of sand, cement, and cellulose fiber, so it won't swell in humidity or crack when hail comes through in spring. It also won't feed termites, which matters on older Austin lots with mature trees and shifting limestone soil. Painted properly, this siding holds its color far longer than the wood it replaced, so the homeowner gets years back between repaints.

• Non-combustible fiber cement stands up to direct sun
• Batten profile adds depth and shadow lines across the wall
• Factory-grade substrate takes paint evenly and holds it

What did the window phase involve?

We tackled the windows first, and the timing tells a real story about that stretch of the market. The units were ordered in mid-August 2022, but manufacturers were still catching up from COVID, so they didn't arrive until mid-November. Once they landed, we scheduled the install right away and worked through the openings over multiple days. Each window was set square, sealed, and flashed to keep out drafts, water, and the cedar pollen that blankets Austin every winter.

• Ordered mid-August 2022; received mid-November 2022
• Installed over several days in late November 2022
• Sealed and flashed for tight, energy-efficient openings

How did the two phases come together?

After the windows went in, the homeowner asked us to pause the siding for personal reasons, so we held the schedule. That flexibility matters on retail jobs, and we kept the project ready to resume when the timing worked. We came back and completed the full siding phase over several days in June 2023.

• Windows and siding split into two separate work windows
• Siding installed, painted, and detailed in June 2023
• Materials sourced through ABC Supply, Lansing Building Products, and Sherwin Williams

What did the finished home look like?

The combination of fresh Board & Batten and new windows completely reset the home's curb appeal. Crisp vertical lines, clean paint, and tight modern glass replaced a dated, weathered exterior. Final paint and punch-out wrapped the job in September 2023.

• Full exterior repaint tied the new siding together
• Punch-out walkthrough caught every last detail
• Project closed out in mid-September 2023