Siding in Shady Hollow, Austin, TX (January 2023)

Why did this Shady Hollow home need new siding?

Many homes in this pocket of 78748 date back to the 1980s and 1990s. Their original siding takes a beating from our summers and spring hail. This home was no exception.

• The old boards showed wear typical of decades in the Texas sun
• Cedar pollen and moisture had settled into worn seams
• The homeowner wanted a fix that would not need constant repainting or repair

What did the crew find during inspection?

When we walked the exterior, the story was familiar for older Shady Hollow builds. The existing siding had lost its ability to hold paint well, and the surface was tired. Sun exposure on the south and west walls had done the most damage over the years. That kind of wear is not just cosmetic. Once boards start failing, water and pollen find their way behind them, and small problems grow. We planned a full replacement rather than a patch so the whole wall system would age evenly.

What materials did we use, and why?

We chose James Hardie HardiePlank in the Cedar Mill 8.25-inch profile. Fiber cement is the right material for Austin homes for a few clear reasons. It does not warp when temperatures push past 100 degrees, and it stands up to hail far better than wood or vinyl. Cedar pollen wipes off its painted surface instead of staining it. The Cedar Mill texture gives a natural wood-grain look without the upkeep real cedar demands in this climate. For a home that sees limestone-soil ground movement and hard sun, that durability matters.

• Full-home HardiePlank lap siding install
• 8.25-inch board exposure for a clean, traditional line
• Fiber cement rated for the heat, hail, and humidity swings here

How did the installation go?

The siding phase ran over three days. Our crew removed the old material, checked the wall for any hidden issues, and set the new HardiePlank course by course.

• Old siding removed and disposed of
• New fiber cement fastened and sealed at seams and edges
• Walls left ready for paint prep

How did the exterior painting finish the job?

Paint followed the siding and took two days. We prepped and primed the new boards before applying Sherwin Williams coatings. That order matters. Painting fiber cement properly means clean, dry boards and the right primer, so the color bonds and resists UV fade for years. Skipping prep is the mistake homeowners often make on their own, and it shows within a season. Our finish gave the home even coverage and a unified look.

• Full surface prep on new siding
• Primer coat before topcoat for adhesion
• Sherwin Williams products chosen for sun and weather resistance

What were the results?

The home now has a fresh, cohesive exterior that will need far less maintenance than the original. The siding and paint work together as one weather-tight system. It looks sharp on the street and is built to hold up.

• Uniform, hail-tough facade
• Low-upkeep surface that sheds pollen and resists fade
• Completed on schedule by January 5, 2023