Siding Replacement in Kittitas, WA

About a third of the houses in Kittitas, 34% of them, were built before 1950, and many still wear wood siding from that era. Out here that siding takes a beating: hot, dry summers with strong UV, cold winters and extreme wind. Paint fails fast, boards split and seams open up. This page covers what is on Kittitas homes today, which replacement siding fits local conditions, and the warning signs that tell you it is time to reside rather than repaint.

What’s on Kittitas homes now

Census data counts 632 homes in Kittitas, with a median year built of 1976. That median hides a wide spread:

• Before 1950 (34%): the largest group. These houses likely still have original wood lap siding, and old paint layers may contain lead.
• 1950 to 1979 (23%): cedar, T1-11 plywood panels or asbestos-cement shingles were common. Asbestos-cement shingles may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
• 1980 to 1999 (27%): the era of composite and hardboard siding, including LP siding, which has a known history of moisture failure.
• 2000 and later (16%): fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl now reaching its first repaint or replacement.

Most of the housing stock is single-family: 80% of homes are detached houses, and 15% are mobile homes. Only 6% are apartments. That means most siding decisions here are made by individual owners looking at one house, one set of walls and one budget, rather than by a building manager.

Choosing siding for Kittitas’s conditions

We usually recommend three siding types, plus stone accents. Here is how each lines up with what the data shows about Kittitas.

Wildfire risk points to the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal. Statewide wildfire data puts Kittitas at the 99th percentile in Washington. At that level we steer homeowners toward the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal siding rather than anything combustible.

Heating costs favor insulated siding. Census data shows 54% of Kittitas homes heat with electricity and another 12% with propane. Where heating is costly, the payback from insulated siding is larger, which is why the Evergreen Shield Siding System is our first suggestion for owners planning to stay in their homes for many years. With 71% of homes owner-occupied, that describes a lot of the town.

Budget and large wall areas favor vinyl. Homes here are valued about 30% below the Kittitas County median. Vinyl is the most versatile and least expensive of the types we install, it does not rot or warp, and it never needs painting or sealing. It comes in a range of colors and textures that suit both older farmhouse-style homes and newer builds.

Stone accents finish the base. Stacked stone or stone veneer works on a wainscot, entry or chimney alongside any of the three. It is noncombustible, so it also makes sense along the bottom of a wall where embers and blown debris collect.

Compared with the wood on many older Kittitas houses, none of these options needs scraping and repainting after a few dry summers. We sort out which one fits your house during the free in-home consultation, after we evaluate the structure, talk through your goals and help you choose colors.

Evergreen Shield Siding System in Kittitas

The Evergreen Shield Siding System is our exclusive insulated composite siding, and two of its features line up closely with conditions in Kittitas.

First, it carries a Class A fire rating, the highest fire-resistance rating for construction materials. In a town with wildfire risk this high, the walls need that protection as much as the roof does.

Second, each panel is backed by an insulating graphite membrane with a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. With so many homes here heating with electricity or propane, that extra layer on cold winter nights is the kind of upgrade we think is worth weighing.

Signs your siding needs replacing

With so many Kittitas homes built before 1950, the most common warning signs come from aging wood siding:

• Paint that will not stay put. If the south and west walls peel within a couple of summers of repainting, the UV here is winning and the boards are likely drying out.
• Split or cupped boards. Freeze-thaw cycles in cold winters open cracks in old wood lap siding and let water reach the sheathing.
• Loose or rattling boards after a windstorm. Old nails lose their grip, and wind can work boards and trim free.
• Swelling along the bottom edges of 1980s and 1990s hardboard or LP siding, where moisture gets into the panels.
• Faded, chalky vinyl on newer homes after years of strong sun.

Get a free siding consultation in Kittitas

Schedule a free in-home consultation or call us toll free at 888-980-8580. We will look at your walls, and explain your options. Our work is backed by a lifetime warranty, and financing is available. To see roofing, windows and decking for your area, visit our Kittitas home exterior services page.