Douglas County · WI
Siding replacement in Superior, WI.
Superior homes take wind straight off the harbor and snow that lands heavy and wet. New siding here starts by stripping the wall back to the sheathing and ends with LP SmartSide, vinyl or metal laps fastened to ride out both.
What does a siding replacement on a Superior home involve?
On a Superior home, siding replacement means removing every old layer down to the sheathing, repairing any soft or water-stained boards, wrapping the wall in a weather-resistant barrier lapped to shed wind-driven rain, flashing each window and door, then installing LP SmartSide, vinyl or metal lap siding. Covenant Builders holds Wisconsin dwelling contractor credential 4013-DCFR.
Overview
Why siding works harder in Superior
Superior is built on flat ground at the western tip of Lake Superior, and there is very little between the harbor and the houses to slow the wind down. When a storm comes across the bay, rain is pushed sideways into lap joints, window trim and the gaps around outlets and hose bibs. Siding that looks fine from the sidewalk can be letting water into the wall every time that happens.
Winter adds its own load. Lake-effect snow off the big lake tends to be wet and heavy, and on flat city lots it drifts against the lower courses of siding and sits there until it melts. That puts the bottom few feet of every wall through repeated soaking and freezing, which is where old wood siding tends to rot first and where a poorly detailed install gives out.
Much of the city's housing went up before the Second World War, on narrow lots in neighborhoods like the North End, Billings Park and the East End. Those houses can carry more than one generation of siding, with newer material hung over the original wood clapboard, and some side yards are only a few steps wide. Both shape how a Superior siding job is planned before the first panel comes off.
Siding in Superior at a glance
- Materials
- LP SmartSide engineered wood, vinyl and metal
- Wisconsin credential
- Dwelling contractor 4013-DCFR
- County
- Douglas County
- Season
- Year-round, winter included
- Pictured
- A lap siding replacement in Superior
Scope
What a Superior siding job covers
- Protection for the neighboring house, fence and plantings on a tight side yard
- Removal of every existing layer, down to bare sheathing
- Sheathing checked board by board, with soft or stained sections replaced
- Weather-resistant barrier lapped from the bottom up so wind-driven rain runs out
- Flashing at every window, door and roof-to-wall intersection
- Bottom course held clear of grade, where drifted snow and splashback sit
- LP SmartSide, vinyl or metal lap siding with matching corners and trim
- Dumpster placement and daily cleanup planned around the lot's access
Superior, WI
In Superior the wind decides where the water goes. The barrier behind the siding decides whether it gets in.
Covenant Builders · WI 4013-DCFR
How it is done
How a Superior siding replacement runs
Before anything comes off, the job is staged around the lot. On a narrow Superior side yard that means agreeing where ladders, scaffolding and the dumpster go, protecting the house next door and keeping walkways open. Permit requirements are confirmed with the City of Superior so the schedule accounts for them.
Tear-off goes all the way to the sheathing. On an older home that can mean two or three layers, such as vinyl or aluminum over the original wood. With the wall open, each sheathing board gets checked, and anything soft, delaminated or stained by old leaks is cut out and replaced.
The weather-resistant barrier goes on next, starting at the bottom of the wall so each course overlaps the one below it. Seams are taped, and the flashing at windows, doors and roof lines is woven into the barrier, so water that gets behind the siding in a harbor storm is carried back out.
Siding goes up last, fastened the way each manufacturer specifies so the panels can move with Superior's temperature swings without buckling, and with the bottom course kept up out of the snow. Corners and trim are fitted to shed water, and the site is cleaned up at the end of every day.
Choosing siding for a Superior home
LP SmartSide, vinyl and metal, weighed against harbor wind, wet snow and close neighbors.
| Material | Where it fits in Superior | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| LP SmartSide engineered wood | Stands up to knocks, so it suits walls along a driveway or a narrow side yard. Takes any paint color, including period schemes on older houses. | Needs repainting over time, and has to be kept clear of the ground and roof surfaces, which matters where snow drifts against the wall. |
| Vinyl | No painting, with the color running through the panel. A practical fit for a pre-war house where the goal is low upkeep. | Stiffens in deep cold, so winter installs take more care in cutting and handling. Foam-backed panels are stiffer and add some insulation. |
| Metal | Sheds wet snow and wind-driven rain well and will not rot or warp, which suits the most exposed side of the house. | A hard hit can dent it, and the panels and trim need careful detailing at every opening. |
What homeowners say
Work that earns the referral.
Reviews left by Covenant Builders customers on Google.
“Went with Covenant Builders as they were the least expensive of 3 estimates. They did the roof on my house and garage in one 12 hour day with high quality products. Their cleanup was also great. I literally found just one nail after they were done. Roof looks great and so far has been leak free.”
Matthew ZemlerRoof replacement · via Google “Jared was great to work with. Out of all the contractors that gave a bid on doing the roof of my house, he did the best inspection to help minimize surprise costs. He is professional, polite, and respectful. I had a great experience working with him!”
Abby DuggerRoof replacement · via Google “I had an excellent experience from start to finish with Jared and Covenant builders. The estimate process was easy to understand; I new exactly what I was getting and what I would be paying for it, no pressure at all. The work crew was efficient and took extra care not to damage my garden. I look forward to saving monry on my homeowners insurance with class 4 rated shingles.”
Karen St. GeorgeRoof replacement · via Google
FAQ
Superior siding questions
Does Covenant Builders install siding in Superior, Wisconsin?
Yes. Covenant Builders works out of Saginaw, Minnesota and comes over the bridge to Superior for siding replacement, as well as roofing and other exterior work. The company holds Wisconsin dwelling contractor credential 4013-DCFR, the Wisconsin credential a contractor holds to take out building permits on one- and two-family homes.
Can siding be replaced in Superior during the winter?
Yes, siding replacement continues through the colder months. Cold weather mostly changes how the materials are handled: vinyl stiffens below freezing, so it is cut and fastened with more care, and an opened wall is wrapped promptly so blowing snow cannot get into it.
Should new siding go over the old siding?
Not on the older homes common in Superior. Hanging new siding over old hides whatever is wrong with the sheathing, adds another layer for every fastener to pass through and throws off the trim depth at windows and doors. Taking it all off is the only way to see the wall and fix what is there.
Will a siding job affect the house next door?
On Superior's narrow lots it can, so it is planned for. Ladders, scaffolding and the dumpster are placed to keep the neighbor's walls, windows and walkways clear, debris is kept on your side of the lot line, and a magnet sweep picks up stray nails before the crew leaves.
Keep reading
More for Superior homeowners
Thinking about new siding in Superior?
Call, or send the address and a few notes about what the current siding is doing, and we will follow up to set a time to look at the walls in person.
Mon-Sat 7:00 am to 7:00 pm · Closed Sunday