Siding in Milwood, Austin, TX (October 2023)

Why did this Milwood home need new siding?

Milwood is full of homes built in the 1980s and 1990s, and the original cladding on this one had reached the end of its run. Decades of Austin sun and spring storms take a real toll on older exteriors.

• The home dated to the same 80s-90s wave common across the 78729 ZIP
• Sun-baked panels had lost their ability to shed water and hold paint
• Wood-based cladding in this climate invites rot and pests over time
• The homeowner wanted a lasting fix, not another short-term patch

What did the crew find on site?

When we pulled the old cladding, we saw exactly why fiber cement made sense here. Limestone soil and decades of thermal cycling had left the exterior tired and inconsistent. Some areas showed the slow damage you only catch once the siding comes off. That is the part homeowners usually miss: the surface may look fine while the wall behind it quietly ages. Catching it during a full re-clad meant we could correct it before new siding ever went up, instead of trapping problems under a fresh face.

What materials did we use, and why?

We installed HardiePlank Select Cedar Mill in the 8.25-inch profile, delivered through ABC Supply Co. The Cedar Mill grain mimics real wood, but it won't warp in 100-plus-degree heat or split under hail. Fiber cement also refuses to feed the pests and rot that plague timber in our humidity.

• Primed Select Cedar Mill lap siding in an 8.25-inch reveal
• Factory priming for a stronger paint bond and cleaner topcoat
• Fiber cement rated to resist fire, impact, and cedar-pollen buildup
• Materials staged through ABC Supply with a scheduled delivery

Hardie's deep grain was a big reason the homeowner signed off. It gives that classic Central Texas wood look without the annual sanding, sealing, and repainting real cedar demands.

How did the painting go?

Once the new siding was up and inspected, our painters moved in with Sherwin-Williams coatings. We wanted every surface to read as one finished exterior, not a patchwork of old and new.

• Painted the new fiber cement across the full body of the home
• Coated fascia and soffit up to 24 inches
• Finished gutters and downspouts by the linear foot
• Painted garage doors and entry doors to match the scheme
• Two rounds of yard cleanup plus a punch-out pass to catch details

What were the results?

The home went from dated and weather-worn to sharp, sealed, and low-maintenance. The primed Hardie surface holds its Sherwin-Williams color tight under relentless Texas UV. The whole exterior now works as a single, cohesive package built to last.