Lewis County, WA
Siding, Roofing, Windows & Decks in Morton, WA
The median home in Morton was built in 1961, which puts many houses in town at an age where the original exterior deserves a close look. Builders Service Company replaces siding, roofing and windows and builds decks for homeowners across Lewis County. This page walks through each of those four projects for homes like yours: what is likely on the house today, how weather in the Cascade foothills affects material choice, and which options we usually recommend. Each section ends with a link to a page with more detail, and the free in-home consultation is where we settle the right choice for your house.
Homes in Morton: what’s on them now
Census data counts 587 housing units in Morton, with a median year built of 1961. The largest group, 49%, went up between 1950 and 1979, and another 32% predates 1950. Only 13% dates from 1980 to 1999 and 6% from 2000 or later.
That age profile says a lot about what is on the walls and in the window openings. Houses built before 1950 likely started with wood lap siding and single-pane or early windows, and older painted surfaces may contain lead paint. Homes from 1950 to 1979 typically carry cedar, T1-11 or asbestos-cement shingle siding, often with aluminum or early vinyl windows. Asbestos-cement shingles may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
Detached houses make up 80% of homes, mobile homes 10%, attached homes 7% and apartments 3%. The median home value is about $300,000, 13% below the Lewis County median. Census data also shows 76% of homes are owner-occupied, which points to many long-term owners investing in their exteriors.
Permits for exterior work in town are handled by the City of Morton.
Siding in Morton
Nearly half the homes in Morton (49%) were built between 1950 and 1979, so the siding we replace here is most often cedar, T1-11 or asbestos-cement shingle. Years of rain wear on wood siding, and asbestos-cement shingles should be tested before anyone removes them. Before new siding goes on, our crew checks the walls for hidden moisture damage and uneven surfaces, then installs weather barriers and flashing so water stays out of the wall assembly.
We usually recommend three siding types, and none of them is wood, so rot and repainting come off your list:
- Vinyl siding is the most versatile and least expensive option. With home values here 13% below the Lewis County median, it is a practical, durable choice, especially on larger wall areas.
- The Evergreen Shield Siding System is our exclusive insulated composite siding, designed for the Pacific Northwest climate. Its insulating graphite membrane gives a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding, which matters where 75% of homes heat with electricity. The composite panels are also built for water resistance through long wet seasons.
- Metal siding is a premium, long-term option for owners who prefer its look.
- Stacked stone or stone veneer accents on a wainscot, entry, column or chimney add a durable base course and curb appeal alongside any of the three.
Wind-rated siding suits the east winds this area sees, and we install to match. Composite siding remains a popular request, and the right type for your house is something we work out together during the free in-home consultation. Read more about siding replacement in Morton.
Roofing in Morton
Roofs in Morton face weather the lowlands see less of. The Cascade foothills bring ice storms and east winds, and snow load becomes a real factor on higher lots, so wind-rated roofing and a sound roof structure matter as much as the material on top.
We install two main roof types and give them equal weight:
- Asphalt shingle roofing suits most pitched roofs. Underlayment, flashing and ventilation details do much of the work of keeping water out when ice storms hit.
- EDCO metal roofing sheds snow, which helps on higher lots where snow load is a concern.
Before either type goes on, we check the roof structure so it is ready for the load. Two local details also shape the job. Census data shows 17% of homes here heat with wood, so chimney flashing and the cricket behind the chimney get a close inspection on every reroof. Mobile homes make up 10% of local housing, and manufactured-home roofs are often low-slope, which calls for detailing suited to that pitch rather than to a standard pitched roof.
If your house still has an old cedar shake roof, moss and rot are the usual complaints, and a metal or asphalt replacement ends that cycle of repairs.
Learn more about roof replacement in Morton.
Windows in Morton
About a third of homes in Morton (32%) were built before 1950. Houses that old often still have single-pane glass, aluminum frames or early vinyl windows, and replacing them is the most common window project we see on homes of this age. Painted trim around window openings on pre-1950 houses may contain lead paint, so we plan for that when old frames come out.
We install Preservation 9000 vinyl replacement windows, and Builders Service Company is the exclusive provider of Preservation 9000 windows in Washington.
Heating cost is a strong reason to upgrade here. Census data shows 75% of homes heat with electricity, and where heating is electric, the payback from efficient windows is larger. Electricity in town comes from Lewis County PUD, so check with the utility for current programs before you start.
Styles to match the house and the room:
- Double-hung windows keep a classic profile on older homes.
- Sliders or casements work well on upper floors and under tight eaves.
- Casement, awning or hopper windows help ventilate kitchens and baths.
- Picture, bay and bow windows open up a view.
- Garden windows and custom shapes fit special openings.
Read more about window replacement in Morton.
Decks in Morton
A deck in Morton has to handle a lot of rain, and on higher lots it may carry snow load too. Those two conditions drive our material advice.
We build with wood, vinyl and composite decking:
- Composite and vinyl decking do not rot and need no staining, a good fit for wet or shaded yards where moss takes hold. A textured surface helps footing when the boards are wet.
- Wood decking gives a natural look at a lower budget, with regular sealing to keep moisture out.
Under the boards, we plan drainage so water runs off instead of pooling, and we size framing for snow load where your lot calls for it. Census data shows 76% of local homes are owner-occupied, and long-term owners often favor boards that need little upkeep. Wildfire risk here is rated moderate, at the 68th percentile statewide, so keeping the space under the deck clear of debris is a sensible habit.
Read more about deck building in Morton.
Get a free in-home consultation
Schedule a free in-home consultation and we will look at your house, talk through materials and answer your permit questions. Call our Tacoma office at 253-777-0866 or contact us online. We offer discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders, financing is available, and our work carries a lifetime warranty. Washington contractor license BUILDSC027JN.
Morton siding, roofing, window and deck FAQ
Do I need a permit to replace siding or a roof in Morton?
Permits for exterior work here are handled by the City of Morton, so that is the office that decides what your project needs. Requirements depend on the type and scope of work, and we do not guess at them. During the free in-home consultation we talk through your siding, roofing, window or deck plans and help you confirm with the city what applies before work starts.
My house has a wood stove. What should be checked when the roof is replaced?
Have the chimney flashing and the cricket behind the chimney inspected, because the chimney is a key detail on any roof over a wood-heated home. Census data shows 17% of homes here heat with wood, so we look at every chimney and roof penetration during a reroof. Replacing that flashing at the same time as a new asphalt shingle or EDCO metal roof avoids opening the roof twice.
Can I get help from Lewis County PUD to pay for new windows?
Check with Lewis County PUD for current programs, since the utility sets its own offerings and we do not quote them on its behalf. What we can say is that homes heated with electricity see a larger payback from efficient windows. Our Preservation 9000 vinyl replacement windows are made for replacing older single-pane and aluminum-framed windows, and financing is available through us if you want to spread out the cost.
Will I have to keep repainting new siding?
No, none of the three siding types we usually recommend, vinyl, the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal, is wood, so repainting is off the schedule that older cedar and T1-11 walls demand. The Evergreen Shield Siding System comes in 20 built-in, fade-resistant colors that resist chipping, peeling and fading, so no repainting is needed. We settle the best type for your home during the free in-home consultation.
Is wildfire risk in Morton high enough to change my material choices?
Wildfire risk here is rated moderate, at the 68th percentile statewide, so it is usually not the main driver for a project. Owners who want extra fire resistance can choose the Evergreen Shield Siding System, which has a Class A fire rating, the highest fire-resistance rating for construction materials. Stacked stone or stone veneer at the base of the walls is noncombustible and adds a durable base course as well.
How do ice storms affect a new roof?
Ice storms put the focus on underlayment, flashing and ventilation, the details that keep water from working under the roof covering. This area sees more ice storms than the lowlands, so we give those details extra attention on every reroof. Both asphalt shingle roofing and EDCO metal roofing can be detailed for these conditions, and we check the roof structure before installing either one.
