Siding Replacement in Chicago: Restore Your Home's Curb Appeal
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Choosing the Right Siding Material for Chicago-Area Homes
Not all siding holds up the same way once winter hits. Chicago swings hard—freezing rain one week, a sudden thaw the next. That freeze-thaw cycle is rough on older materials, and it is exactly why homes in Naperville and Bolingbrook still wearing their original aluminum are cracking and denting more than they should by now.
James Hardie & Fiber Cement
Heavier than the alternatives, and it resists moisture and impact better than anything else we install. It won’t buckle in a July heat wave or turn brittle in a January cold snap. This is the pick for homes that take a beating from wind and hail.
Vinyl Siding
The most frequently installed siding on Chicago homes — budget-friendly, low maintenance, and it holds color well. The catch: thin, low-grade vinyl can crack in extreme cold, so the grade you choose matters far more here than it would in a milder climate.
LP SmartSide
An engineered wood product with the look of real wood and none of the upkeep. Lighter than fiber cement, but still built to handle driving rain and big swings in temperature — a middle ground between vinyl and Hardie.
So which one is right for your house?
It comes down to your budget, your home’s style, and how much wind and hail exposure your block actually gets. We install James Hardie and LP SmartSide because they perform well here — not because they are popular. The material that looks best on day one is not always the one still looking good in ten years, and picking the wrong siding for our climate means repairs sooner than you would expect.
See our full siding page for a breakdown of every option we install →
Warning Signs of Siding Failure in Older and Newer Homes
Cracked, warped, or bubbling siding usually means water has already gotten behind it. Older homes with wood or aluminum siding fail differently than newer vinyl or fiber cement — but both show clear warning signs before things get worse.
Every home tells you when its siding is done. We see homeowners every week who thought a little cracking was cosmetic — then found rotted sheathing underneath once we pulled a panel off.
Older homes: aluminum and wood
Many homes in Naperville and Downers Grove were built in the 60s and 70s and still wear their original aluminum or wood siding. It dents easily, and it does not handle Chicago's freeze-thaw cycles well.
Newer homes: vinyl and fiber cement
Newer vinyl siding fails differently. It usually lets go at the seams or the fastening strips after years of expanding in July heat and contracting in January cold.
Six signs you can spot yourself
Cracking, warping, bubbling
Panels that were not cracked, warped, or bubbled last year. That change almost always means moisture.
Peeling paint indoors
Paint or wallpaper lifting on interior walls that back up to an exterior wall. The water is already inside.
Soft or spongy spots
Press on the siding. If it gives, the sheathing behind it has likely started to rot.
Gaps, holes, loose panels
Visible gaps or panels that shifted after a windstorm. Wind-driven rain gets behind them fast.
Mold, mildew, musty smell
Especially along the base of the wall. A musty smell inside is the same signal from the other side.
Energy bills creeping up
Higher bills with no obvious cause. Gaps in failing siding let conditioned air escape more than most people realize.
That is the most common question we get. If you can see daylight through a seam or feel moisture behind a panel, it is already past the point of a quick patch.
When Repair Beats Full Replacement
Not every siding problem means a full tear-off. A cracked panel from a stray branch. A dented section near the downspout. One or two boards warped by an old leak that is already fixed. Replacing a handful of panels on vinyl or fiber cement is quick work, and it costs a fraction of redoing the whole exterior.
Repair is usually enough when
- Damage is limited to one wall or a small cluster of panels
- The rest of your siding is under 10 to 15 years old and still holding color and shape
- There is no sign of moisture getting behind the panels into the sheathing
- You are not selling soon and do not need matching color across every side
Replacement is the better call when
- You find soft spots when you press on the siding
- Damage runs along multiple courses or shows up on more than one wall
- Moisture has already reached the sheathing behind the panels
- Your siding is discontinued or sun-bleached and new panels will not match
Older vinyl siding fades over time, so a repaired section can stick out like a patch on a jacket. If your siding is discontinued or sun-bleached, matching panels gets hard — sometimes impossible. At that point it becomes a judgment call: does a visible patch bother you, or not?
So how do you know which one you have? Look at the whole wall, not just the damaged spot. Soft spots under your palm, or damage running along multiple courses, usually points to the bigger problem. A quick inspection settles it fast. No guessing required.
Free inspection, free written property report, no obligation. We will tell you straight whether you are looking at a repair or a replacement.
Or call (773) 993-0998
What to Expect During a Siding Replacement Project
Once you have decided to move forward, the job itself moves faster than most homeowners expect. A typical single-family home is done in a few days, not weeks. Here is how it usually goes.
Walkthrough and scope
We start by walking the property with you to confirm scope, colors, and any trim or flashing work that is part of the job.
Materials ordered and scheduled
Ordering can run a little longer in spring and early summer, when demand spikes across the Chicago suburbs. You get a real date, not a guess.
Old siding comes off in sections
Not all at once. We pull one section at a time so your home is never left exposed overnight.
Sheathing gets inspected
We check the sheathing underneath for rot or water damage before anything new goes up. If we find a problem, you hear about it right then.
House wrap and flashing installed
House wrap goes on and flashing gets detailed around every window and door. This is the step rushed crews skip, and it is the one that keeps water out.
New siding goes on
We work carefully around corners, outlets, and vents so the finished look is clean from every angle, not just the front elevation.
Final walkthrough with you
We walk the property with you at the end and check every wall, seam, and corner together before anyone calls it done.
Replacing the siding on your home is a big decision. That’s why we offer free, no pressure inspections to start. We can also email you an estimate if you prefer.
We check before we cover.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Illinois
- James Hardie & LP SmartSide certified installers
- Sheathing inspected before new siding goes on
- House wrap & flashing detailed, never skipped
- Free inspection and written property report
Or call (773) 993-0998
No pressure, no obligation. Just a straight answer on what your siding actually needs.
Beyond Siding
The Rest of Your Exterior, Handled
Horizon restoration did a great job in getting our roof claim approved by our insurance. They worked hard to make sure the insurance company covered the cost of the roof and gutters. AJ was always on top of things and kept us informed every step of the way. We recommended them to our family member who also signed with AJ and Horizon Restoration due to how well they managed our project. We would highly recommend them for their roofing expertise, knowledge with insurance companies and over all communication during the project. In addition to this the roof looks great and their team did a great job on the roof and the clean up.
Overall great experience! Julius was fantastic to work with. He was very attentive to all the details and always there to answer questions and get the job done right. Whenever he said he would take care of something, he took care of it. The crew did a fantastic job and the workmanship was top notch. I can not believe how quickly they did a full replacement of our sheathing and roof shingles and still did a high quality job. They left the worksite spotlessly clean. We are getting lots of compliments from our neighbors on how good our roof looks. If you want your roof done right, go with this company.
Paul, thank you so much to you and your entire team for our beautiful new roof. We couldn't have made a better choice. Thank you for all your help with the insurance paperwork and for making the whole process so smooth. We highly recommend Chicago Horizon Restoration Roofing Company to anyone looking for quality work and outstanding service! Pamela & Steve
Horizon Restoration did an amazing job on my roof! Paul was fantastic to work with. Super responsive, most important he was honest and really cared about making sure everything was done right. He made what could have been a stressful process feel easy. The crew was fast, clean and very professional. I’m really happy with the result and would definitely recommend them.
Our sales specialist Ronny was awesome through the whole initial process and quoted me a very reasonable estimate to re-shingle garage roof and repair main roof shingles that blew off from heavy winds. The crew came and did an excellent job in one day and left the area clean as it was before. Will definitely use Horizon again and recommend them to everyone that needs any type of roofing work! -Ignacio
Storm Damage, Insurance Claims, and Cost Factors
Hail and straight-line wind hit siding across the Chicago suburbs every storm season. Cracked panels in Bolingbrook. Dented aluminum trim in Naperville. Siding pulled loose after a wind gust in Plainfield. Not every dent means a full replacement — but once cracks let water behind the panels, rot starts, and that is a different problem entirely.
Hail damage
Cracked and pockmarked panels, dented aluminum trim. Common across Bolingbrook and Naperville after a summer hail line moves through.
Straight-line wind
Panels pulled loose or torn off entirely, usually concentrated on one elevation of the house. We see it in Plainfield most years.
Water behind the panels
The expensive one. Once cracks let water in, the sheathing starts to rot, and it is no longer a siding-only repair.
What most homeowners do not know about siding claims
Insurance companies often cover siding damage after a qualifying hail or wind event — wind and hail losses are among the most common homeowners insurance claims. This is not just a patch job.
Our team has insurance industry experience, so we understand how adjusters evaluate damage. We know what documentation gets a claim approved instead of denied.
- We document the damage before you file
- Free written property report, at no cost to you
- We work directly with your adjuster, start to finish
What actually drives the cost
- Material choice: vinyl, fiber cement, or engineered wood each change labor and installation time
- Removing old siding down to the sheathing costs more than installing over existing panels
- Hidden water damage found once the old siding comes off often adds work
- House size, plus the number of corners, trim pieces, and window wraps
- Local permit requirements in some suburbs add time to the schedule
Ask any contractor how they document damage before you sign anything. That question alone tells you a lot. We do a free inspection and put together a free property report before you even file a claim, so you know exactly what you are dealing with first.
Free inspection · Free property report · No obligation · Or call (773) 993-0998
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From the North Shore to the Southwest Suburbs, we have completed thousands of roofing and siding projects for homeowners throughout the Chicago area. If you live in Aurora, Orland Park, or Tinley Park, there is a good chance we have already worked on a home near yours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about siding replacement in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.