James Hardie Siding Installation in East Austin

The Project

This 1930s frame house in East Austin had original wood siding that was rotting at the corners and behind the gutters where water had been sitting for years. The homeowners were preparing to sell and wanted an exterior that would hold up to Texas sun and pass a buyer's inspection without a long punch list.

Working near the historic overlay zone meant we needed to match the existing profile and detail as closely as possible, while upgrading to a material that would actually last.

What We Found

• Rot at every outside corner where water wicks into end grain
• Peeling paint on the south and west walls from UV breakdown
• No moisture barrier behind the original siding - common on homes this age
• Fascia and soffit rot behind the gutters

What We Did

We removed the old wood siding and installed a weather-resistant barrier across the entire wall surface. James Hardie fiber cement panels and boards went up with the ColorPlus factory finish in a color the homeowners chose to complement the original character of the home.

We matched the reveal and board sizing to the original wood siding profile so the house still looks right in the neighborhood. Every board was installed to Hardie spec with proper clearance from grade, flashing at all penetrations, and a rainscreen gap where the wall needed to breathe.

We also replaced the rotted fascia and soffit while the ladders were up, and installed new vented soffit to improve attic airflow.

The Result

The project took five days. The new siding carries a 30-year product warranty and the ColorPlus finish is rated to hold its color for 15 years. The homeowners passed their pre-sale inspection without a single exterior call-out, and the house sold within two weeks of listing.