Siding Replacement in Shelton, WA

More Shelton homes were built before 1950 than in any later era. Census data puts 28% of the city’s housing in that oldest group, even though the median year built is 1976. That leaves a lot of original wood siding still on the walls, and it has spent decades under very high rainfall and heavy tree cover. For these houses, new siding is less about style than about keeping water out of an older frame. Below, we cover what is on Shelton homes today and what we, as a Shelton siding contractor, usually recommend in its place.

What’s on Shelton homes now

Census data counts 3,856 housing units in Shelton, split across four building eras in nearly even shares. Each era tends to leave a different siding on the wall:

• Before 1950 (28%): likely original wood lap siding, possibly with lead paint somewhere in its layers of coatings.
• 1950 to 1979 (27%): cedar, T1-11 plywood panels or asbestos-cement shingles. Asbestos-cement shingles may contain asbestos and should be tested before removal.
• 1980 to 1999 (24%): composite and hardboard lap siding, including LP siding, which has a known history of moisture failure.
• 2000 and later (21%): fiber cement or builder-grade vinyl, now reaching its first repaint or replacement.

Detached houses make up 69% of Shelton’s housing. Another 9% are attached homes such as townhouses and duplexes, and 8% are mobile homes. A detached house carries siding on every side, so the wall area to cover, and the material cost with it, is larger than on an attached unit. That is one reason the cost of each siding type matters so much in the comparison below.

Choosing siding for Shelton’s conditions

Water is the deciding factor. Shelton gets very high rainfall, and walls that stay damp give moss a place to take hold. Each of the three types we usually recommend handles that, and none of them is wood, so there is nothing to rot or repaint after a string of wet winters. Here is how we narrow it down for a particular house:

• Vinyl, for a durable exterior at a lower cost. Shelton’s median home value is about $345,000, roughly 8% below the Mason County median. On homes in that range, vinyl is often the sensible starting point. It is the most versatile and least expensive of the three, it never needs painting, and it comes in a wide range of colors and styles. That also makes it a practical fit for a large detached house with a lot of wall to cover.
• The Evergreen Shield Siding System, for homes that cost more to heat. Electricity heats 70% of Shelton homes. Where heat is electric, insulated siding pays back more, and this exclusive composite system was developed with Northwest weather in mind.
• Vinyl or the Evergreen Shield Siding System, for waterfront lots. Both stand up to salt air when they go on with corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing.
• Metal siding, for a different look. With 62% of Shelton homes owner-occupied, many owners here plan to stay put, and metal is the option to consider if you want a long-term upgrade.

Stacked stone or stone veneer can finish any of these. Run it as a wainscot along the base of the wall, where rain splashes back and moss tends to start, or use it on entries, columns and chimneys. It works as an accent with the siding, not as whole-house cladding.

These are the types we usually recommend, not a fixed menu. The best option for your home is something we settle during the free in-home consultation, after we have seen your walls, your lot and your budget.

Evergreen Shield Siding System in Shelton

Two features of the Evergreen Shield Siding System line up with Shelton’s conditions.

The first is moisture. Its composite panels are built for water resistance through long wet seasons, and they stand up to the humidity, mold and mildew that come with them.

The second is heat. An insulating graphite membrane gives the system a thermal resistance of R-2.0, compared with R-0.61 for standard vinyl siding. Shelton’s electricity comes from Mason County PUD 3, and 70% of homes here heat with it. On those houses, an insulating layer across every exterior wall helps keep the heat you pay for inside the house.

If your home is due for new siding and you plan to stay, ask us to show you samples and colors during the consultation.

Signs your siding needs replacing

On the oldest houses, original wood lap siding shows its age through boards that are soft, split or cupped, and through paint that peels again within a season or two of being redone. Press a screwdriver into the bottom course: if it sinks in, rot has started.

Heavy tree cover keeps many Shelton walls in shade, so check the north side and the walls closest to trees first. Moss there holds water against the siding.

On 1980s and 1990s homes, 24% of the city’s housing, hardboard and LP lap siding tends to swell at the bottom edges and around the nails as it soaks up water. On any siding, blistering or bubbling can mean water is trapped behind it, where it threatens the sheathing and framing. On newer homes, faded or cracked panels are a sign the exterior is losing its protective qualities.

Get a free siding consultation in Shelton

Schedule a free in-home consultation or call our Tacoma office at 253-777-0866. We will look at your home’s exterior, your requirements and your budget, then compare the options for your house. Ask about financing and our discounts for seniors, active military, veterans and first responders. For roofing, windows and decks as well, see our Shelton home exterior services.