Siding Replacement in Enumclaw, WA

The typical Enumclaw house was built in the 1980s or 1990s. Census data names 1980–99 as the city’s dominant building era, covering 40% of its 5,548 housing units, and King County assessor records put the median single-family home at 1990. Those were the decades of composite and hardboard siding, and that original material often sets the scope of a siding installation in Enumclaw. Below, you will find what is on local homes today, which siding types suit the foothills climate, and the signs that your siding is due.

What’s on Enumclaw homes now

The King County assessor counts 3,804 single-family homes in Enumclaw, and their ages spread wider than the median suggests. Each age group tends to carry its own siding:

• Before 1950 (25% of homes): likely original wood lap siding, possibly under lead paint.
• 1950–1979 (16%): cedar, T1-11 plywood or asbestos-cement shingles. Asbestos-cement may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
• 1980–1999 (31%): about 26% of all single-family homes were built from 1985 to 1996, the LP siding years, and LP has a known history of moisture failure.
• 2000 and later (28%): fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl reaching its first repaint or replacement.

Three Enumclaw neighborhoods sit squarely in the 1990s group: Pinnacle Estates (110 homes, median build year 1990), Mt. Peak Village (80 homes, 1991) and Willowgate (80 homes, 1994). Suntop PUD is much newer, with 259 homes and a median build year of 2019.

Detached houses make up 69% of the city’s housing, attached homes 12% and mobile homes 9%. Only 4% of single-family homes have a renovation on the assessor record.

Choosing siding for Enumclaw’s conditions

We usually recommend three siding types here. None of them is wood, which counts for a lot in a Cascade foothills climate that brings more rain.

Vinyl siding is the most versatile option and the least expensive. Enumclaw’s median home value is about $525,000, some 43% below the King County median, and owners at that level tend to want durable, cost-effective siding. Vinyl needs no painting and little upkeep, and it comes in lap and clapboard styles. With a median home size of 1,720 square feet, a full residing in vinyl stays within reach for most households.

Evergreen Shield Siding System is our insulated composite siding and the upgrade we suggest for owners planning to stay. About 74% of Enumclaw homes are owner-occupied, and long-term owners are the ones most likely to invest in the exterior. The next section covers the features that fit this city.

Metal siding is the third type we usually recommend. Enumclaw’s wildfire risk is rated low, at the 32nd percentile statewide, so fire resistance is not the main reason to choose it here; we discuss metal with owners who want its look on all or part of the house.

Stacked stone or stone veneer works as an accent on an entry, columns or a wainscot along the base, used with the siding above it. Assessor records show brick or stone on only 3% of single-family homes, so it is an uncommon detail in town.

Whichever type you choose, it should be wind-rated, given the strong east winds in the foothills. On a recent Enumclaw siding installation, we updated a two-story home with tan lap siding and brown shake siding accents.

These are the types we usually recommend, and the best option for your home is discussed during the free in-home consultation.

Evergreen Shield Siding System in Enumclaw

Two features of the Evergreen Shield Siding System line up with Enumclaw’s weather and heating mix.

The composite panels are built for water resistance, holding up through long wet seasons, humidity, mold and mildew. In a Cascade foothills city with more rain, that is the first test any siding has to pass.

An insulating graphite membrane gives the panels a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. Census data shows 44% of Enumclaw homes heat with electricity, and the added insulation pays back more where heating is costly. Gas heats 50% of homes, so the benefit is largest in the homes on electric heat.

Residing with insulated panels adds that layer across every wall at once.

Signs your siding needs replacing

In Enumclaw, the warning signs follow the age of the house and the weather it faces. The assessor rates 43% of single-family homes in good or very good condition, so more than half are rated below that.

• Swelling at the bottom edges. Hardboard from the 1980s and 1990s that swells or softens along the drip edge and seams has taken on water.
• Cracks and gaps. Open seams let rain behind the siding, where moisture feeds mold, mildew and rot.
• Loose or missing pieces after a storm. Strong east winds and ice storms pull at siding and trim that are already loose.
• Rot or moss on older wood. Check the lower courses of pre-1950 lap siding and 1950–79 cedar or T1-11.
• Higher heating bills than usual. Gaps in the wall can let drafts in.

Get a free siding consultation in Enumclaw

Schedule a free in-home consultation or call 206-430-1927. We look at the siding on your house, talk through vinyl, the Evergreen Shield Siding System and metal, and cover financing. Seniors, active military, veterans and first responders receive discounts, and our installations carry a lifetime warranty. For roofing, windows and decks, see our Enumclaw home exterior services.