Siding in Newton, MA

Re-siding a house in Newton means choosing a material and a method that can handle New England winters, historic district reviews in some neighborhoods, and the lead-safe rules that apply to most of the city’s older wood-framed homes. We install fiber cement, vinyl, polymer shakes, composite and cedar siding on colonials, capes, ranches and multi-family houses across the city. Here is what the job involves, from the first measurement to the final walk-through with the town inspector.

What siding replacement involves on a Newton house

On a Newton home the work starts with tearing off the old siding down to the sheathing. Our crew checks the OSB or plywood for rot around window sills, door thresholds and the bottom course, then replaces any damaged sections. With many houses built before 1978, Massachusetts lead-safe rules apply when exterior paint is disturbed. We contain the work area and follow the required practices.

• The old siding, nails and trim are removed and loaded into a dump trailer on site.
• We repair or replace sheathing where moisture got in, most often along the eaves and around window openings.
• A continuous layer of house wrap or a drainage plane is fastened over the sheathing, taped at the seams and integrated with window and door flashing.
• New trim boards, corner posts and a starter strip are set so the siding courses run straight and lock into each other.
• Siding panels or clapboards go up course by course, with the overlap, fastener pattern and expansion gaps the manufacturer specifies for our climate.
• The crew reflashes exterior outlets, hose bibs and light blocks, then hauls away all debris and sweeps the site.

Siding materials we install and what suits Newton

Most Newton houses take one of four materials: James Hardie fiber cement, CertainTeed vinyl and polymer shakes, Everlast or Ascend composite, or cedar. All four handle our freeze-thaw winters and wind-driven rain. The right choice usually depends on the age and style of the house, not the catalog.

• Fiber cement lap siding suits colonials and older two-family homes, and it holds paint for many years.
• Vinyl and polymer shakes work well on capes and ranches, with Cedar Impressions adding shake texture without upkeep.
• Composite and cedar fit split-levels and homes where a natural or deeper profile matters.

How the project runs, from measurement to walk-through

One of our project managers visits your home to measure every wall, check the sheathing, and note the trim, flashing and meter locations that affect the layout. You get a written proposal that lists the exact siding product, color, trim profile and scope, with no surprises later.

We take out the building permit from the city of Newton and order the materials. The crew on our payroll handles the tear-off, any sheathing repair, the house wrap and flashing, and the siding installation. After the final piece is up, we haul away all debris and walk the finished job with you. The town inspector then signs off on the permit.

What to look for when you compare siding quotes in Newton

Two proposals for the same house can differ because one leaves out work you need anyway. Read each line before you compare the numbers.

• Tear-off and disposal of the old siding.
• Sheathing repair and house wrap.
• Flashing at windows, corners and roof lines.
• Trim, soffits and fascia included.
• The building permit in Newton.
• Who does the work: our own crew or a subcontractor.