Siding that keepsweather out
Siding is the raincoat of a house, and in Portland it gets worn hard. We replace damaged boards, repair the rot hiding behind them, and install new siding with the flashing and housewrap details that keep water moving down and out.
Most siding calls we get in Portland and Gresham start the same way: a soft spot near the bottom of a wall, a board that has split or swelled at the end, or paint that will not stay on one side of the house.
Often the visible damage is the small part.
Often the visible damage is the small part. Water gets behind failed caulk or a missing kickout flashing and works into the sheathing and framing underneath. Good siding repair means opening the wall far enough to find where the wet stops, fixing it, and closing it up properly.
When the siding as a whole has reached the end of its life, we handle full siding replacement. That covers tear-off, sheathing repair, new housewrap, flashing around every window and door, and the new cladding itself: fiber cement lap, cedar, engineered wood, or panel siding such as T1-11 for garages and outbuildings. On partial jobs we match profiles and reveals as closely as the material allows, so a repaired wall does not stand out from the rest of the house.
Siding is tied closely to the rest of the building envelope, so we often pair it with window replacement, new trim or exterior painting while the walls are open. Doing it in one sequence saves you paying for the same prep twice. As a family-owned siding contractor in Portland and east Multnomah County, we keep the same crew on your house from start to finish, and you deal with Shawn directly from the first visit to the final walkthrough.
Everything about siding.
The work, in detail.
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Swapping out split, swollen or rotted boards and matching the existing profile and reveal as closely as the material allows.
Our work · Wrapped, ready for siding
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Tear-off, sheathing repair, housewrap, flashing and new cladding, installed wall by wall so the house is never left exposed.
Our work · After: painted back wall
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Lap and panel fiber cement, a durable choice for wet climates that holds paint well when it is properly installed.
Our work · Fresh exterior paint
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Cedar bevel, shingle and shiplap repairs and replacements for older Portland homes that were built with real wood.
Our work · Picture window, new siding
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Replacing delaminated T1-11 and plywood panel siding on houses, garages and sheds, with proper Z-flashing at horizontal joints.
Our work · Entry portico, brick steps
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Cutting out wet or rotted sheathing and studs behind the siding and rebuilding them before new cladding goes on.
Our work · Side-yard storage shed
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New weather-resistive barrier, window and door head flashing, and kickout flashing wherever a roof edge meets a wall.
Our work · Double entry doors
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Replacing corner boards, window trim, belly bands and frieze boards that have split or rotted along with the siding.
Our work · Cedar privacy fence
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Re-sealing joints, penetrations and trim gaps with the right sealant so water sheds off the wall instead of soaking in.
Our work · Backyard deck and steps
When to call us.
- 01Boards that feel soft or crumble when you press a screwdriver in.
- 02Paint that peels on one wall no matter how often it is repainted.
- 03Swollen, split or buckled siding near the ground or under windows.
- 04Open gaps at corners, butt joints or around window trim.
- 05Moss, mildew or green streaks that never fully dry out.
- 06Damp drywall, stains or a musty smell on the inside of an exterior wall.
Four steps, no surprises.
- 1
Free siding assessment
We probe suspect areas, check flashing and caulk lines, and explain whether a repair or a full re-side makes sense.
- 2
Material & profile choice
You pick the siding, trim and color; we confirm quantities, order materials and set a start date.
- 3
Open, repair, re-clad
We remove siding in workable sections, repair sheathing and framing, flash correctly and install the new boards.
- 4
Final walkthrough
Seams, trim and caulk lines are checked with you on site, and the yard is cleared of nails and offcuts.
Why it matters here.
The Portland climate is hard on cladding for a simple reason: walls stay wet for months.
Between October and May there are long stretches when siding never fully dries, especially on north walls and under big trees. Older homes in Southeast Portland, Gresham and Milwaukie often have original cedar or early hardboard siding with little or no housewrap behind it. Wind-driven rain off the Columbia Gorge pushes water into every gap on east-facing walls in Troutdale and Wood Village. Siding work here is really water management, and that is how we approach it.
In their words.
We had a fairly significant structural issue in the attic above our garage. Shawn performed a complete reconstruction to not only restore the roof to the original slope but he designed a new truss system that provided safe and efficient storage. His calculations were so precise that the gutters remained in place. He matched the new roofing to the existing and it looks outstanding.
We used Shawn for multiple projects. Always done right the first time and at a reasonable price. He is professional, honest, and really knows his stuff. Highly recommended.
Asked & answered.
Don’t see yours? Call (503) 781-2093.
What is the best siding for the Portland climate?
It depends on the house, the budget and the look you want. Fiber cement is a common choice because it resists rot and holds paint well; cedar suits many older homes and lasts a long time when it is kept painted or stained. The installation details matter as much as the material. We go through the options with you at the free estimate.
Can you replace just a few siding boards?
Yes. Partial siding repair is a large part of what we do. We remove the damaged boards, check the sheathing behind them, and install new boards matched to the existing profile and exposure as closely as possible. Exact matches on discontinued products are not always possible, and we will tell you up front if that is the case.
How do I know if there is rot behind my siding?
Soft spots, swollen board ends, peeling paint that keeps coming back and stains on the inside of the wall are all warning signs. The only way to be sure is to probe and, where needed, remove a board to look. We do that during the free estimate so the price reflects what is actually behind the siding.
How much does siding replacement cost?
It depends on the size of the house, the siding you choose, how much trim is involved and how much rot we find underneath. We measure every wall and give you a written estimate with the scope spelled out. If hidden damage turns up once a wall is open, we show you before any extra work goes ahead.
Can siding be replaced in the winter?
It can, with care. We open only as much wall as we can close the same day, keep housewrap and flashing ahead of the rain, and schedule the most exposed walls around dry windows in the forecast. Painting new siding is best done once the weather allows, and we plan that into the job from the start.
While we’re there.
Dry Rot Repair
In a climate this wet, rot is not a question of if but where.
See dry rot repairExterior Painting
Exterior paint in western Oregon is a protective coating first and a color second.
See exterior paintingWindows
A new window is only as good as the opening it sits in.
See windows
Roofing
From October to May, a roof in the Portland area spends most days shedding rain, moss and fir needles.
See roofingTell us about your house.
Send a few lines about the job and the best way to reach you. Shawn reads every message himself and calls back fast, usually the same day.
- Call or text, 24/7(503) 781-2093
- Emailshawnpherbst@gmail.com
- Oregon CCB#215023 · licensed & insured