Siding in Cavalier Park, Austin, TX

Why did this Cavalier Park home need new siding?

The original cladding had reached the end of its life. Older exterior boards in this part of Austin tend to cup, crack, and let moisture in after years of 100-degree summers and spring hail. This homeowner came back to us as a repeat client, and the goal was clear: stop patching and replace the shell for good.

• Prior siding tested positive for asbestos, so removal followed proper abatement steps
• New 7/16" x 4' x 8' OSB sheathing replaced worn substrate before any siding went up
• Vinyl gable vents were pulled, replaced, and painted to match

What did the crew find on site?

Once we opened up the walls, the story got bigger than a simple re-side. The old material had to be removed as asbestos, which changes the whole demolition plan and adds real safety protocol on a two-story home. We also found openings that needed reframing before anything new could go in — the front door and garage door jambs both needed work. On top of that, one bedroom window opening sat too high, so we lowered it in the siding to meet egress code. Skipping that step is where a lot of quick jobs go wrong; an undersized emergency exit fails inspection and puts people at risk.

• Reframed the front door and garage door jamb for square, plumb openings
• Cut back eaves and installed a 2 x 4 nailer to carry the new fascia
• Added 1" x 4" brick pockets where siding meets masonry

Why James Hardie fiber cement?

HardiePlank Select Cedar Mill in the 8.25-inch width was the clear choice for this exterior. Fiber cement doesn't feed the rot or insect problems that plague wood siding in Central Texas humidity, and it holds paint far longer through cedar pollen season and blistering summer sun. The Cedar Mill texture gives the wood-grain look the neighborhood expects without the maintenance headache. We primed and painted it with Sherwin Williams SuperPaint — two coats — so the color stays locked down through years of UV and storm cycles. That combination is why fiber cement outlasts almost anything else you can hang on an Austin home.

• Matching JH 6" fascia and JH soffit with H-mold completed the trim package
• Fascia and soffit painted up to 24" for a clean, unified line
• Brick surfaces got two coats plus a sealer/primer coat per square

How did the window installation go?

We set the windows first, then ran siding over them — the right order for a watertight wall. Doing it this way lets us flash each opening and tuck the fiber cement over the flanges so nothing leaks. The Simonton 5500 line handles Austin's temperature swings well and trims energy loss in summer.

• Removed and hauled off all old windows
• Installed Simonton 5500 units in white, including a three-light slider
• Set a 6' sliding patio door and a standard entry door
• Sealed every joint with Geocel 2300 TriPolymer sealant

What roofing work was included?

The scope also covered a full shingle roof replacement to match the fresh exterior. We tore off the old comp shingles, hauled them away, and rebuilt the system from the deck up with GAF materials.

• GAF Timberline Natural Shadow AR shingles over FeltBuster synthetic underlayment
• StormGuard Ice & Water Shield and ProStart starter strip at the edges
• Z-Ridge cap, drip edge, step flashing, and new box vents installed

What were the results?

The home now wears a complete, sealed exterior — siding, windows, trim, and roof all replaced in one coordinated project. Every layer is rated for the heat, hail, and hard storms that hit 78724. The client closed out satisfied on November 30, 2023.