Cowlitz County, WA
Siding, Roofing, Windows & Decks in Longview, WA
Much of Longview was built as a planned city, and housing from the 1920s through the 1950s still lines many of its streets. Houses from that period often keep their original wood lap siding and early windows, so the outside of the house is usually where the age shows first. Builders Service Company is an exterior contractor that replaces siding, roofing, windows and decks for homeowners across Cowlitz County. Below is what is typical on the city’s 16,826 housing units, which materials suit local conditions, and how each project starts with a free in-home consultation at your house.
Homes in Longview: what’s on them now
Census data puts the median year built for local homes at 1967. The era mix looks like this:
- 28% built before 1950
- 46% built from 1950 to 1979, the largest group
- 18% built from 1980 to 1999
- 8% built in 2000 or later
The structure mix is 60% detached houses, 11% attached homes, 25% apartments and 4% mobile homes. Owner-occupied homes make up 55% of the housing, which points to many long-term owners who invest in their exteriors.
What is on your house now depends on when it was built. Homes from before 1950, including the planned-city houses of the 1920s to the 1950s, likely have original wood lap siding, possible lead paint and single-pane or early windows. The 1950 to 1979 group typically has cedar, T1-11 or asbestos-cement shingle siding with aluminum or early vinyl windows; asbestos-cement siding may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal. Houses from 1980 to 1999 come from the era of composite and hardboard siding, including LP siding with its known history of moisture failure, plus first-generation vinyl windows. Newer homes tend to have fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl reaching its first repaint or replacement.
Building permits for exterior work inside city limits go through the City of Longview.
Siding in Longview
With 18% of local homes built between 1980 and 1999, houses from that era may still carry hardboard or LP siding from that era, a product with a known history of moisture failure. Older houses typically have cedar or T1-11. Whatever is on your walls now, the replacement types we usually recommend are vinyl, metal and the Evergreen Shield Siding System, and none of them is wood.
Heating is the detail that sets Longview apart. Census data shows 92% of homes heat with electricity, and where heating is costly, insulated siding pays back more. The Evergreen Shield Siding System is an insulated composite panel with a graphite membrane rated at R-2.0 thermal resistance, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. Its composite material is also built for water resistance through long wet seasons, humidity, mold and mildew.
Home value plays a part too. The median home value of about $360,000 sits 3% above the Cowlitz County median, and owners at that level more often choose premium materials such as the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal siding. Vinyl is the most versatile and least expensive option, and it suits a tight budget or a large wall area, which matters when 60% of homes are detached houses with four exposed sides. Stacked stone or stone veneer can dress up an entry, a wainscot or a column alongside any of the three.
Wildfire risk is rated low, at the 36th percentile statewide, so fire rating is rarely what decides the choice. The best option for your home is something we work out together during the free in-home consultation.
Learn more about siding replacement in Longview.
Roofing in Longview
Wet winters are the main test for a roof in Longview’s Southwest interior climate. Steady rain keeps shingles and roof edges damp, which invites moss and rot, so a replacement here depends as much on the details as on the material: attic ventilation, a sound underlayment, and flashing at walls, valleys and roof penetrations. Clear gutters and roof edges keep that work performing once the new roof is on.
We install two main roof types and give them equal weight. Asphalt shingle roofing is the familiar option for pitched roofs, and EDCO metal roofing is the other. Where a house still has old cedar shakes showing moss or rot, either one makes a clean replacement.
Age matters as well. The median home here was built in 1967, so the roof on your house may not be the first one, and some older homes carry more than one layer of roofing that has to come off before new work goes on. We check the layers and the decking underneath during the inspection.
Mobile homes make up 4% of the local housing, and their low-slope manufactured-home roofs need materials and details suited to a shallow pitch. If yours is one of them, we look at the slope and the existing roof before suggesting either option.
We do not quote a roof’s lifespan or price before seeing it. The free in-home consultation is where we look at ventilation, layers and flashing and talk through asphalt shingles and EDCO metal side by side.
Read more about roof replacement in Longview.
Windows in Longview
Homes built from 1950 to 1979 make up 46% of the housing in Longview, and that era typically left aluminum or early vinyl windows. Replacing single-pane glass and aluminum frames is the usual starting point in homes of that age.
We install Preservation 9000 vinyl replacement windows, and Builders Service Company is the exclusive provider of Preservation 9000 windows in Washington. Styles include double-hung, slider, casement, awning, hopper, picture, garden, bay and bow, and custom shapes. A few common matches:
- Upper floors and tight eaves: sliders or casements
- Kitchens and baths: casement, awning or hopper windows for ventilation
- A living room with a view: a picture window or a bay or bow
Heating strengthens the case. Census data shows 92% of homes heat with electricity, and the payback from efficient windows is larger where heating is costly. Electric service here comes from Cowlitz County PUD, so check with the utility for current rebate programs before you order.
When we assess your windows, we give you a fair opinion on their condition and whether they need replacing at all. We do not believe in selling customers windows they do not need. The free in-home consultation covers measurements, styles and which rooms to start with.
Get details on window replacement in Longview.
Decks in Longview
A deck in Longview spends its winters wet. In the Southwest interior climate, steady rain and shade keep boards damp, so the material decision comes down to how much upkeep you want.
- Composite and vinyl decking do not rot and never need staining, which makes them the practical pick for shaded yards and spots where moss grows.
- Wood gives a natural look and fits a tighter budget, with regular sealing to keep moisture out.
Wet boards also call for slip resistance, drainage between boards and framing that can dry out between storms. We plan those details into every deck, whether it is a low platform off the back door or a raised deck off a second floor.
Owner-occupied homes account for 55% of local housing, and long-term owners are the ones most likely to invest in an outdoor space built to last. We build in wood, vinyl and composite, and we size the plan to your house and yard during the free in-home consultation.
See more about deck building in Longview.
Also serving nearby
Builders Service Company also serves homeowners in nearby Kelso and Ryderwood.
Get a free in-home consultation
Schedule a free in-home consultation and our team, led by founder Mason Ruppel, will look at your siding, roof, windows or deck and talk through the options for your house. Call 253-777-0866 or contact us online. We hold Washington contractor license BUILDSC027JN, back our work with a lifetime warranty, offer financing, and give discounts to seniors, active military, veterans and first responders.
Longview siding, roofing, window and deck FAQ
My Longview house was built before 1950. What should I expect when the siding comes off?
Expect possible lead paint under the old siding, so testing comes before removal. Census data shows 28% of homes in the city were built before 1950, and houses of that age often still have the siding they were built with. We look at what is on your walls during the free in-home consultation, then talk through vinyl, metal or the Evergreen Shield Siding System as the replacement.
Do Longview home values point toward a particular siding?
They lean toward premium materials, but the choice is yours. The median home value of about $360,000 is 3% above the Cowlitz County median, and owners at that level more often pick the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal siding. Vinyl is still the most versatile and least expensive option, and it makes sense for a tight budget or a large wall area.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Longview?
The City of Longview is the permit authority for work inside city limits, so its requirements apply before a reroof starts. We review the scope of your project during the free in-home consultation and talk through what the city may require, though we cannot guarantee any permit outcome. Asphalt shingle and EDCO metal roofing are both covered at that same visit.
Are there utility rebates for new windows in Longview?
Check with Cowlitz County PUD, the local electric utility, for its current programs before you order. Rebate offers change, so we do not quote them. What we can do is measure your openings, recommend Preservation 9000 vinyl replacement window styles for each room and give you the details you need for any application during a free in-home consultation.
Which decking holds up best in a shaded Longview backyard?
Composite or vinyl, because neither one rots or needs staining. Shade and rain keep boards damp and invite moss, so slip resistance and drainage between boards matter too. Wood is the choice for a natural look or a smaller budget, as long as you keep up with regular sealing. We build in all three materials, and financing is available for deck projects.
Do you work in Kelso and Ryderwood as well as Longview?
Yes. Builders Service Company serves homeowners in Kelso and Ryderwood with the same siding, roofing, window and deck work, and every project starts with a free in-home consultation. Call 253-777-0866 to set up a visit, and ask about our discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders.
