Ellensburg, WA
Siding Replacement in Ellensburg, WA
The median home in Ellensburg was built in 1991. That puts a large share of the city’s siding in the age range where it starts to crack, fade or let water behind the wall, in a place with real fire exposure: Ellensburg’s wildfire risk is rated High, at the 97th percentile in Washington. This page walks through what is on local houses today, how vinyl, the Evergreen Shield Siding System and metal compare under these conditions, and the signs that tell you it is time to reside.
What’s on Ellensburg homes now
Ellensburg has 9,508 housing units, and Census data shows they span every era of siding. The biggest group, 36%, was built in 2000 or later. Many of those houses went up with fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl that is now reaching its first repaint or replacement.
Another 24% date from 1980 to 1999. That was the era of composite and hardboard siding, including LP siding, which has a known history of moisture failure. About 27% were built between 1950 and 1979, when cedar, T1-11 and asbestos-cement shingles were common. Asbestos-cement shingles may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
The oldest 14% predate 1950. Those homes likely started with wood lap siding, and the paint layers on them may contain lead.
The type of building matters too. Detached houses make up 44% of Ellensburg’s housing units, attached homes 21%, apartments 32% and mobile homes 3%. We reside detached houses, attached homes and mobile homes, and every consultation starts with your home’s exterior as it stands, your specific requirements and your budget.
Choosing siding for Ellensburg’s conditions
Vinyl, the Evergreen Shield Siding System and metal are the three siding types we usually recommend here. They are not the only possibilities, and the best fit for your house is settled during the free in-home consultation. This is how each one lines up against Ellensburg data.
Fire exposure: Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal
At the 97th percentile for wildfire risk, fire resistance should shape the decision. The Evergreen Shield Siding System carries a Class A fire rating, the highest fire-resistance rating for construction materials. Metal siding is the second type we pair with fire risk this high, and if protection from embers is your top concern, we will usually price both side by side.
Budget and large walls: vinyl
Vinyl is the most versatile siding we install and costs the least. Ellensburg’s median home value is about $405,000, roughly 10% under the Kittitas County median. For homes in that range, a durable, cost-effective material usually makes the most sense, and vinyl keeps the cost down when there is a lot of wall to cover. It comes in a wide range of colors and styles, and it never needs painting.
Premium long-term upgrade: Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal
If you plan to stay for many years or want a higher-end finish, the Evergreen Shield Siding System and metal are the premium choices. The Evergreen Shield Siding System adds insulation, which matters in a city that heats mostly with electricity. The next section covers that.
Accents near the foundation: stacked stone and stone veneer
Stacked stone and stone veneer go on wainscots, entries, columns and chimneys, paired with the main siding. They are noncombustible, which makes them a practical base course on a house in a high wildfire area.
Evergreen Shield Siding System in Ellensburg
Beyond its fire rating, the Evergreen Shield Siding System answers two other local conditions.
The first is heating cost. Census data shows 74% of Ellensburg homes heat with electricity, and the panels’ insulating graphite membrane gives them a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. Where heat is electric, the payback from that insulation is larger.
The second is sun. Ellensburg sits in the East Cascades valley, where hot, dry summers bring high UV and fading. The system comes in 20 built-in colors that resist chipping, peeling and fading, so the walls never need repainting.
Signs your siding needs replacing
Since the largest share of Ellensburg homes is from 2000 or later, the first signs are often subtle. Builder-grade vinyl that has turned brittle, cracked at the corners or warped between fasteners is near the end of its life. Fiber cement with paint peeling at the butt edges is due for its first full repaint, which is often the moment homeowners choose to reside instead.
Wind is the other test here. Extreme wind pulls at loose panels, so pieces that rattle, bow outward or have blown off after a storm point to failing fasteners or brittle siding. Cold winters add freeze-thaw cycles that open existing cracks wider each year.
On 1980s and 1990s houses, check the bottom courses: hardboard or LP siding that swells, softens or flakes along the lower edges has let moisture in.
Get a free siding consultation in Ellensburg
Schedule a free in-home consultation and we will look at your walls and recommend a siding type before any work starts. Call toll free at 888-980-8580 or contact us online. We offer discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders, and financing is available. For roofing, windows and decks, see our Ellensburg home exterior services.
Ellensburg siding FAQ
Which siding holds up to Ellensburg's summer sun?
Any of the three types we usually recommend can work, but sun fading is the detail to weigh. Ellensburg's East Cascades climate brings high UV, and the Evergreen Shield Siding System comes in 20 built-in colors that resist chipping, peeling and fading, so there is no repainting. Vinyl and metal are also on the table, and we compare color options for your walls during the free in-home consultation.
What happens when you replace siding on a house built after 2000?
The job starts with removing what the builder put on, usually builder-grade vinyl or fiber cement that has reached its first repaint or replacement. Homes from 2000 or later are 36% of Ellensburg's housing, so this is the project we expect to see most here. We then install the siding type you chose at the consultation, with stone veneer accents if you want them.
Does older siding in Ellensburg need asbestos testing?
It does if your home was built between 1950 and 1979 and still has its original shingles. About 27% of Ellensburg's housing dates from those years, when asbestos-cement shingle siding was common. That siding may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal. We note it during the consultation so testing can happen before any tear-off is scheduled.
Is insulated siding worth it if my house has electric heat?
It is worth a close look. Census data shows 74% of Ellensburg homes heat with electricity, and the payback from insulated siding is larger where heating is costly. The Evergreen Shield Siding System has an insulating graphite membrane rated R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. We don't quote savings figures, but we can walk through the comparison for your home at the consultation.
