Siding in East Austin, Austin, TX

Why did this East Austin home need new siding?

The old cladding had taken years of abuse from Austin's climate. Cracks, fading, and soft spots were showing up across the walls.

• Original siding was worn and no longer sealing well
• The homeowner wanted a cleaner, more modern look
• 78702 sits in an area of aging homes due for exterior upgrades
• Board and batten gave the house vertical lines and fresh curb appeal

What did we find when we inspected the home?

When the crew walked the exterior, the story was familiar for this part of town. Older wood-based cladding had swelled and warped in spots where moisture had crept behind it. Central Texas swings hard between dry heat and sudden storms, and that cycle slowly wrecks wood siding. Limestone-heavy soil and shifting foundations had also opened small gaps at a few corners. Fiber cement was the clear fix, because it does not rot, feed pests, or soak up water the way the old material did.

What materials did we use, and why?

We installed James Hardie board and batten, a vertical fiber cement system. Fiber cement is the right call here because it handles 100-plus degree summers and hail without cracking or warping.

• Vertical board-and-batten profile for a modern facade
• Fiber cement composition resists rot, fire, and pests
• Rated to hold up against wind-driven rain and cedar pollen buildup
• Panels wash clean, so seasonal pollen rinses right off

How did the installation and painting go?

We set the siding over multiple days in mid-April, working panel by panel to keep the battens straight and evenly spaced. Getting the vertical lines plumb matters more than people think, because any lean shows badly once the paint goes on. After the cladding was up and sealed, we came back to paint the full exterior in Nebulous White. Painting after install let us coat every batten edge and seam, so no raw fiber cement was left exposed. A homeowner doing this alone often paints too soon or skips priming the cut edges, which is exactly where fiber cement fails first.

• Battens spaced evenly for a clean, repeating rhythm
• All seams and edges sealed before the first coat
• Sherwin Williams exterior paint chosen for UV and color hold
• Nebulous White reflects heat and brightens the whole facade

What were the results?

The home now wears a durable, unified exterior that should need little upkeep for years. The soft white finish looks sharp against East Austin's blend of historic and updated houses.

• Full facade recladded and repainted in one project
• Low-maintenance surface that rinses clean each season
• Modern vertical look that lifted the home's curb appeal
• Materials picked to outlast Austin's heat-and-hail cycle