Siding is a system, not just a covering
Most siding failures aren’t failures of the siding material — they’re failures of what’s underneath it. The house wrap, the flashing at windows and doors, the kickout flashing where the siding meets a roof, the J-channel details around penetrations. When water gets behind siding, it stays there and rots whatever wood it can find. By the time it shows up on the outside, the OSB sheathing behind it has been wet for years.
Our siding installation is built on the assumption that water will get behind the siding eventually. That’s why every element of the install — wrap, flashing, drainage gaps — exists to give the water somewhere safe to go.
What we install
Fiber cement (James Hardie / HardiePlank)
The premium standard for residential siding in the Southeast. Fiber cement is essentially concrete board pressed and cured to look like wood lap siding. It doesn’t burn, doesn’t rot, doesn’t get eaten by termites, and holds paint for 12-15 years before needing a refresh.
- Lifespan: 30-50 years
- Maintenance: repaint every 12-15 years; otherwise minimal
- Profiles: lap siding, vertical (board and batten), shingle, panel
- Best for: mid-range and high-end residential, especially homes you plan to keep for 10+ years
James Hardie is the most common brand and what we install most often. The installation requirements are specific — fastener type, blind nailing, gap details — and Hardie’s warranty depends on correct installation. We’re trained on Hardie’s spec.
Vinyl
Still the most-installed siding in the country and a perfectly reasonable choice when budget matters. Modern vinyl is dramatically better than what was installed in the 1990s — the colors hold up, the thickness is improved, and good installations look genuinely good from the street.
- Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Maintenance: none (no painting)
- Profiles: lap, Dutch lap, shake/shingle, board and batten
- Best for: rental properties, starter homes, budget-conscious replacements
We install premium-grade vinyl (CertainTeed, Mastic) — not the thin contractor-grade stuff that warps in the summer heat.
LP SmartSide (engineered wood)
A middle ground between fiber cement and vinyl. Engineered wood with a treated coating that resists rot and termites. Lighter than Hardie, easier to work with, but has a real wood appearance and texture.
- Lifespan: 30-50 years
- Maintenance: repaint every 7-10 years
- Best for: specific architectural styles, modern farmhouse builds
Cedar shake and natural wood (specialty)
We install real cedar shake on historic homes and specific custom applications. It’s high maintenance and high cost but there’s nothing else that gives that look.
What’s actually in a proper siding install
- Full tear-off of existing siding (we don’t install over existing siding except in specific re-side scenarios)
- Sheathing inspection and replacement of any rotted OSB or plywood
- House wrap (Tyvek or equivalent) properly lapped and taped
- Window and door flashing with peel-and-stick membrane at the head, jambs, and sill
- Kickout flashing where siding meets a roof — the single most common detail done wrong on older homes
- Z-flashing at horizontal joints in lap siding
- Trim work — corners, frieze board, water table, window and door surrounds
- Caulking at appropriate joints, left intentionally open at others (drainage gaps)
- Final paint for Hardie installations (when ordered primed)
Common siding problems we fix
- Water damage behind siding — usually traceable to missing kickout flashing, bad window flashing, or wrap that wasn’t taped
- Buckling or warped vinyl — improper fastening (nailed too tight; vinyl needs to float)
- Failing paint on Hardie or wood — past the maintenance interval, or the original install was painted before it cured
- Termite or carpenter ant damage behind wood siding — replace, treat, and re-side with non-wood
- Old aluminum siding — still common on 1960s and 70s homes; we replace with Hardie or vinyl
- Hailstorm or impact damage — often an insurance claim, especially on vinyl
Why Mid Atlantic for siding
- Hardie-trained installation crew — we know the spec because Hardie’s warranty depends on it
- Full wrap and flashing detailing — not the “wrap with random staples” install you see on cheap jobs
- Trim and finish carpentry — we handle the entire envelope, not just the field siding
- Window flashing replacement when the existing flashing is suspect
- 3-year workmanship warranty
- Color and profile selection at your home, with physical samples
Schedule a siding estimate
Call (336) 671-5208 or request an estimate online. Siding estimates typically take 45-60 minutes for a full whole-house walk.