Siding Replacement in Ocean Shores, WA

Half of Ocean Shores homes were built in 1997 or later, according to Census data on the median year built. So most siding jobs here are not about very old houses. They are about walls that have spent every winter in very high rainfall, coastal storms and salt spray. Wind drives rain sideways into laps and joints, which means installation detail matters as much as the material you pick. Below we cover what is on local homes now, the siding we usually recommend for this coast, and the signs a wall is due.

What’s on Ocean Shores homes now

Census data counts 5,798 housing units in Ocean Shores. Of those, 81% are detached houses, 6% are attached homes and 4% are mobile homes; apartments make up the rest. Most projects here are one house at a time, with every wall open to the weather.

The building era tells you most about the siding you have today:

• 2000 or later (45%): the largest group. These homes typically have fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl that is now reaching its first repaint or replacement.
• 1980–1999 (29%): the era of composite and hardboard siding, including LP siding, which has a known history of moisture failure.
• 1950–1979 (23%): cedar, T1-11 or asbestos-cement shingles were common. Asbestos-cement shingles may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
• Before 1950 (3%): a small group, likely with original wood lap siding and possibly lead paint.

Owners occupy 83% of homes in the city, so many of the people we meet plan to keep their house for years and want an exterior that lasts. Vacation homes are part of the local mix as well.

Choosing siding for Ocean Shores’s conditions

On this coast, any material has to handle salt in the air and very high rainfall. Wildfire risk is rated Low, at the 23rd percentile in the state, so a fire rating is rarely the deciding factor. These are the types we usually recommend; the best fit for your house is settled at the free in-home consultation.

• Vinyl siding stands up to salt air and is the most versatile and least expensive option. With 81% of homes detached, a typical job covers a whole house, and vinyl keeps a large wall area affordable.
• The Evergreen Shield Siding System is our exclusive insulated composite siding, designed for the Pacific Northwest climate, and the other strong match for salt air. Electricity heats 76% of homes here and propane another 12%. Both count as costly heat, so an insulated wall earns back more of its price in this town.
• Metal siding is the durable premium choice. On the coast we pair it with finishes rated for marine exposure.
• Stacked stone or stone veneer can face a wainscot, an entry or a column, used together with any of the siding above.

Home values point the same direction for many owners. Census data puts the median home value near $385,000, 4% higher than the Grays Harbor County median, and homes in that range more often get Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal walls. Unlike the cedar still on some older houses here, none of the three is wood, so none of them rots.

Whatever goes on the wall, the coast calls for corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing, plus rainscreen detailing so water that gets behind the siding can drain away.

Evergreen Shield Siding System in Ocean Shores

Two features of the Evergreen Shield Siding System line up with life on this coast.

It is made for wet seasons. The composite panels are built to resist water, humidity, mold and mildew through long rainy stretches, which is the test every Ocean Shores wall faces from fall to spring. That matters most on the walls that take the brunt of each winter storm. Read more about its water resistance.

It adds insulation to the wall. Behind the panel face sits an insulating graphite membrane rated R-2.0; standard vinyl siding is R-0.61. In a city where most houses run on electric heat, that layer is the reason to weigh it against plain vinyl.

Signs your siding needs replacing

On the 2000s homes that make up the biggest share of town, builder-grade vinyl and fiber cement are reaching their first repaint or replacement. Look for faded or brittle vinyl, cracked or loose courses after a windstorm, and failing paint on fiber cement boards.

On 1980s and 1990s houses, hardboard and LP siding break down from moisture. Check for swollen bottom edges, soft spots and flaking near the ground and below windows.

Across every era, the coastal weather leaves the same clues: peeling, cracking, swelling, and mold or mildew on walls that stay damp. Rust streaks below nail heads point to fasteners that salt air has corroded. Water that gets through damaged siding can rot the sheathing and framing inside the wall, so these signs are worth checking after each storm season.

Get a free siding consultation in Ocean Shores

Schedule a free in-home consultation through our contact page or call 253-777-0866. We look at your current siding and its exposure, listen to what you want, and explain the materials before recommending one. Financing is available. For roofing, windows and decks, see our Ocean Shores home exterior services.