Siding in Spicewood At Bullcreek, Austin, TX (January 2025)

What did we assess at this Spicewood At Bullcreek home?

The homeowner came to us through a James Hardie referral on September 16, 2024. We inspected the home and began the estimate on September 19. The proposed siding work involved more than fastening new boards over the existing exterior: it included tear-off and wall sheathing. That distinction matters on an Austin home, where a neat finish depends on what sits behind the visible siding, not just the paint color you see from the street.

• The removal scope included a double-layer tear-off, so we planned for more than a single layer of existing material.
• The estimate covered siding and windows as separate trades rather than treating new windows as part of a siding-only job.
• Painting extended beyond the siding to fascia, soffit, gutters, and downspouts.

Why use smooth fiber cement siding here?

We used JH 8.25-inch Smooth fiber cement siding for the replacement. Its smooth face set a clear direction for the exterior, while the planned paint work tied it to the home's other finished surfaces. In Austin's 100°+ summers, material choice matters, but the backing matters too. A homeowner comparing siding bids could miss the difference between a scope that addresses wall sheathing and one that covers the old wall without addressing it.

• The sheathing scope specified 7/16-inch OSB, a detail worth checking when you compare proposed work.
• Primed 8.25-inch smooth boards were included in the siding materials before the finish coat.
• The project also called for primed Select Cedar Mill material in the exterior scope; the main siding selection remained smooth.
• Sherwin Williams SuperPaint was specified for the new siding finish.

When were the windows installed, and how did the later work proceed?

The homeowner approved the project on October 11, 2024. We ordered the NT Windows Twinsulator units on October 20, received them on November 7, and installed them on November 25. That window visit was one day; it was not the start of the four-day siding and paint installation in January. Keeping those dates separate gives you a more useful picture of the time crews spent at the house.

• The window portion involved eight aluminum units, not a whole-home window replacement.
• Siding and paint work began on-site January 27 and continued through January 30.
• The siding scope included tear-off, new boards, wall sheathing, and finish work across that later visit.
• Two yard cleanups and punch items were part of the final work, not a substitute for the main installation.

What did the exterior painting cover?

The exterior painting work gave the replacement siding its finished color. We also addressed nearby surfaces so the new boards would not sit beside visibly unfinished trim. That mattered here because the paint scope reached beyond one wall material; it included several parts you notice together when you look at the house.

• Fascia and soffit painting was included up to 24 inches, a defined limit in this project's scope.
• Gutters and downspouts were included by length rather than assumed to be part of the siding boards.
• Siding paint used Sherwin Williams SuperPaint after the primed material was in place.
• The crew's final punch work covered remaining finish items before leaving the site on January 30.

What was finished by January 30?

The crew finished its on-site siding and painting work on January 30, 2025. By then, the November window installation and the later exterior work were both complete. The result was not just a new siding surface: the project brought the window replacement, wall work, and painted details together without calling the earlier planning period installation time.

• The finished exterior paired smooth James Hardie siding with the eight NT Windows units installed earlier.
• Painted fascia, soffit, gutters, and downspouts supported a consistent look around the new boards.
• The January siding-and-paint visit lasted four on-site days, from the 27th through the 30th.