Siding Replacement and Exterior Renovation

Cladding Is the Last Layer, Not the Only One

Every siding material lets some water past it. That is expected and it is why a wall is built as a system: cladding, a drainage gap where the material requires it, a water resistive barrier, flashing at every opening and penetration, and a path for water to get back out.

When siding is replaced without addressing that assembly, the new material covers the same failure. The most common defects Praxis Building Group finds on siding removal are missing or improperly lapped house wrap, no flashing above windows and doors, reverse laps that direct water into the wall, and rot at the band joist that has been progressing for years.

Siding replacement is the only realistic opportunity to correct those. It is worth using it.

Typical Project Scope

A typical siding scope includes:

• Evaluation of the existing wall assembly and any visible water damage
• Removal of existing siding and trim
• Inspection of sheathing and framing, with replacement of deteriorated material
• Correction of rot at band joists, sill plates, window openings and penetrations
• Installation of a properly lapped water resistive barrier
• Window and door flashing, including head flashing and sill pans where appropriate
• Flashing at deck ledgers, roof to wall intersections and penetrations
• Rain screen furring where the cladding system calls for a drainage gap
• Insulation improvements where the wall is open and it is warranted
• Siding installation with correct fastening, clearance and expansion allowance
• Corner boards, window and door trim, frieze and soffit detail
• Soffit, fascia and gutter work where included
• Caulking and sealing only where it belongs, as a supplement to flashing
• Cleanup and disposal

Not every project includes every item. Scope is written for your specific house and stated plainly before pricing.

The Praxis Building Group Approach

The wall gets inspected while it is open

Removing siding is the one time the sheathing is visible. We inspect it and document what is found rather than covering it. Band joist rot behind deck ledgers and rot below window corners are the two most common findings and both get worse silently.

Flashing over sealant

Head flashing above windows and doors, kickout flashing where a roof meets a wall, and pan flashing at sills are physical details that direct water. Sealant degrades. A wall that depends on caulk to stay dry has a defined expiration date.

Material selection based on the house

Vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, wood and composite each behave differently in Michigan's freeze and thaw cycling, and they differ in weight, installation requirements, maintenance and cost. We match the material to the house, the exposure and how long you intend to own it.

Trim and detail define the result

Two houses with the same siding can look very different depending on corner treatment, trim width, window casing and frieze detail. These are inexpensive relative to the overall project and they carry most of the visual outcome.

Construction Considerations

Existing insulation and the open wall

When siding is off, adding exterior continuous insulation is possible in a way it never is otherwise. Whether it is worth doing depends on the existing wall, the thickness that can be accommodated at windows and trim, and how long you plan to keep the house. It is at least worth pricing while the opportunity is there.

Mixed materials and partial replacement

Many Southeast Michigan homes combine brick, stone veneer and siding. Replacing only the siding portion is common and reasonable, but the transition between materials is a flashing detail that has to be executed rather than trimmed over.

Older homes and original wood siding

In Ann Arbor and older neighborhoods generally, original wood siding is often in better condition than expected and may be worth restoring rather than replacing. In historic districts, exterior changes may also require review. Both are worth establishing before a material is selected.

Deck ledgers and attachments

Anything bolted through the siding into the structure is a water entry path. Deck ledgers in particular are a known failure point, both for water and structurally. Siding replacement is the right time to inspect and correct them.

Planning This Project

Siding is worth coordinating with roofing, gutters, windows and any exterior trim work. The intersections between those systems are where flashing details live, and doing them under one contract at one time produces a better result than three contractors each terminating at their own boundary.

Expect some sheathing and framing repair as a line item on any siding project over an older home. Pricing it as a unit rate up front is more honest than presenting it as a change order later.