Fox Island, WA
Siding Replacement in Fox Island, WA
On Fox Island, siding has to stand up to the water as much as the weather. Pierce County assessor records list 29% of the island’s 1,750 single-family homes as waterfront, so many walls take salt air and marine wind straight off the shoreline. Inland lots trade that exposure for heavy tree cover and moss. When you replace siding in Fox Island, the right choice depends on which of those conditions your house faces, how old its current cladding is, and how you heat it. This page walks through each one.
What’s on Fox Island homes now
Assessor records put the median single-family home at 1989, with this mix of build years:
- 1980–1999 (38%): the era of composite and hardboard siding, including LP siding, which has a known history of moisture failure. 26% of homes were built from 1985 to 1996, when LP was common.
- 1950–1979 (28%): cedar, T1-11 or asbestos-cement shingle siding. Asbestos-cement may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
- 2000 or later (26%): fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl that is now reaching its first repaint or replacement.
- Before 1950 (8%): likely original wood lap siding, with the possibility of lead paint under later coats.
Census data shows 91% of homes are detached houses and 6% are attached. Assessor records also show how little of the island has already been resided with low-maintenance materials: 1% of homes list vinyl siding, 1% brick or masonry and 2% stucco. Only 2% are rated in fair or worse condition, so most owners are replacing aging but well-kept siding rather than fixing neglect.
Choosing siding for Fox Island’s conditions
We usually recommend three siding types, plus stone accents, and none of the three is wood. Here is how they line up against what the data says about Fox Island houses. The final pick for your home is made during a free in-home consultation.
Waterfront and salt air: vinyl or the Evergreen Shield Siding System. On a shoreline lot, salt exposure is the first question. Vinyl and the Evergreen Shield Siding System are the two types we reach for there, and we pair either one with corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing and finishes rated for marine exposure.
Shade, rain and moss: any of the three. Under the island’s tree canopy, walls stay damp long after a storm. Vinyl, metal and the Evergreen Shield Siding System all avoid the rot that soft wood develops in wet shade, and we detail the wall with rainscreen methods so water drains out behind the cladding.
Electric and propane heat: the Evergreen Shield Siding System. Census data shows electricity heats 67% of homes, propane 19% and oil 3%. Where heating is costly, the payback from insulated siding is larger, which points to the Evergreen Shield Siding System (see the next section).
Large wall areas: vinyl. The median home on the island is 2,152 square feet and 47% have two or more stories, so the wall area to cover adds up. Vinyl is the most versatile and least expensive of the three.
Premium long-term exteriors: the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal. Census data puts the median home value near $1,005,000, 89% above the Pierce County median, and owners of homes in that range more often choose metal siding or the Evergreen Shield Siding System.
Accents: stacked stone and stone veneer. Used with any of the three, stone adds a durable base course along the bottom of the wall or a finished look at entries, columns and chimneys.
Evergreen Shield Siding System in Fox Island
The Evergreen Shield Siding System is our insulated composite siding, designed for the Pacific Northwest. Two of its features line up with Fox Island houses.
First, the composite is built for water resistance against long wet seasons, humidity, mold and mildew, which is what shaded, mossy walls on the island deal with every winter.
Second, its insulating graphite membrane has a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. If your house runs on Peninsula Light electric heat or propane, that added insulation in the walls carries more weight than it would in a home with cheaper heat.
Signs your siding needs replacing
On Fox Island, the warning signs follow the age of the house and the side of the lot it faces.
- Swelling at the bottom edge on 1980s and 1990s homes. Hardboard and LP panels from that era soak up water at the drip edge and lower laps, then bulge, flake or soften to the touch.
- Moss and rot on shaded walls. North walls and walls under heavy tree cover stay wet, and moss holds that moisture against the siding and trim.
- Worn trim and flashing on the water side. On waterfront homes, the face toward the shoreline takes salt air and marine wind first; check the trim, flashing and caulked joints there.
- A first repaint coming due on 2000s homes. Builder-grade siding from the 2000s is reaching the point where you either repaint it or replace it with something that does not need paint.
Get a free siding consultation in Fox Island
Schedule a free in-home consultation through our contact page or call our Tacoma office at 253-777-0866. We offer financing, a lifetime warranty, and discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders. For roofing, windows and decks on the island, see our Fox Island home exterior services.
Fox Island siding FAQ
Which siding holds up best on a waterfront lot on Fox Island?
Vinyl siding and the Evergreen Shield Siding System are the two types we usually recommend for salt-air exposure, and Pierce County assessor records list 29% of Fox Island single-family homes as waterfront. On those houses we pair the siding with corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing and finishes rated for marine exposure. We look at your wall exposure and talk through the best option for your home during the free in-home consultation.
My Fox Island house was built in the late 1980s. What will you find when the old siding comes off?
Most likely composite or hardboard siding, possibly LP, because 38% of the island's single-family homes were built between 1980 and 1999, according to assessor records. Hardboard from that era has a known history of moisture failure, so we check the sheathing and framing behind it as panels come off. Our crew explains what we find before the new siding goes on, and the replacement is vinyl, the Evergreen Shield Siding System or metal.
Does insulated siding make sense with Peninsula Light electric heat?
It can, since homes that heat with electricity or propane gain more from insulated siding. Census data shows 67% of Fox Island homes heat with electricity and another 19% with propane, so the insulating membrane in the Evergreen Shield Siding System is worth weighing. We discuss how it compares with vinyl and metal for your house during the free in-home consultation, and we do not promise a specific savings figure.
Is wildfire a major factor in choosing siding on Fox Island?
It is a smaller factor here than in many parts of the state. The U.S. Forest Service rates Fox Island's wildfire risk as low, at the 41st percentile statewide. Moisture, moss and salt air drive most siding decisions on the island. If you still want a fire-rated exterior, the Evergreen Shield Siding System carries a Class A fire rating, and metal siding and stone veneer accents are also options we install.
Can I add stone to the front of my Fox Island home with new siding?
Yes. Stacked stone and stone veneer are accent cladding we install with vinyl, metal or the Evergreen Shield Siding System, not a whole-house siding. On Fox Island, where 91% of homes are detached houses, owners often use stone at the entry, on columns or chimneys, or as a base course along the bottom of the wall. We can show samples and placements during the free in-home consultation.
