Exterior Remodeling in Waltham, MA

Exterior work on Waltham houses: what the job involves

Many homes in Waltham were built between the late 1800s and the mid-1900s, so wood-framed colonials, capes and two-family houses are common. On older houses, the original siding and trim often show their age first: peeling paint, soft spots from trapped moisture, and gaps that let in drafts. Roofs on these homes take a beating from freeze-thaw cycles and nor'easters, and asphalt shingles that have curled or lost their granules can no longer shed water reliably.

Newer houses from the 1970s through the 1990s tend to wear out at the roof edges and soffits before the siding fails. Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow at the ridge and the water refreezes at the cold eaves, pushing under the shingles and into the fascia. The fix means adding ice and water barrier along the eaves and valleys and making sure the attic is properly vented, not just replacing the shingles. The Massachusetts building code requires both when you reroof.

Planning and running the job in Waltham

One project manager handles your job from the first measurement to the final walk-through. We apply for the building permit with the city, order materials, and install with our own crew, not subcontractors.

• A project manager measures the house at a free in-home visit.
• We put the exact materials and colors in writing so the estimate and the installed job match.
• We file the permit and meet the town inspection.
• The people who install are on our payroll. We do not hand the job to a subcontractor.
• We walk the finished work with you before we close the job.

Siding, roofing and windows: what to decide for your house

For siding on a Waltham house, the material you choose affects how the exterior handles freeze-thaw cycles and nor’easter rain. CertainTeed vinyl siding, for example in a medium denim blue, holds up without repainting. Fiber cement and composite siding resist moisture and do not warp when temperatures swing, so we install them often on Waltham homes.

Roofing decisions in this climate start with a full ice and water barrier along the eaves and valleys, plus synthetic underlayment under the shingles. We install asphalt shingle systems from GAF and CertainTeed most often. Flat and low-slope sections, found on some Waltham additions and dormers, need PolyIso insulation above the deck to meet the Massachusetts energy code.

Replacement windows in an older Waltham home often mean bringing a double-hung unit up to current egress and Energy Star requirements. Andersen and Pella windows in black pair with both traditional and modern trim. Casement and picture windows give you more glass area and a tighter seal against wind-driven rain.

Fascia, soffit and trim: what wears out first

Fascia, soffit and window trim sit at the edges of the roof and walls, right where water from ice dams and wind-driven rain hits hardest. On Waltham houses, these boards often rot years before the siding or shingles give out.

When we replace siding or roofing, we inspect every fascia board and soffit run and repair the soft sections with durable materials such as AZEK PVC trim, which holds up to freeze-thaw cycles without painting or swelling. Addressing trim during the main project saves you a second round of repairs.