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The Project
The original cedar shake on this two-story colonial had reached the end of its service life. Years of sun and freeze-thaw had left the courses cupped and split, and along the lower third of the tall gable wall entire shakes had broken away, exposing the felt and sheathing behind them to direct rain.
Patching was not a real option. Once shake fails this broadly, spot repairs only conceal the water that is already getting behind it. The homeowners wanted the problem solved once — and they wanted a completely different look on the other side of it.
We stripped every elevation to bare sheathing, replaced the rotted plywood underneath, wrapped the house in a continuous Norandex weather barrier, and installed deep navy vinyl siding with new white trim, soffit and fascia. The brick porch and chimney were left exposed as a deliberate contrast against the dark cladding.
Scope of work
- Full tear-off of failing cedar shake siding
- Removal and disposal of old felt underlayment
- Replacement of rotted and delaminated plywood sheathing
- Norandex housewrap weather barrier, fully taped
- High-performance insulated underlayment board
- Deep navy vinyl lap siding, all elevations
- New white trim at windows, doors and corners
- Soffit and fascia replacement
- Garage wing and rear deck elevations included
- Full site cleanup and debris haul-away
Five Stages, Fully Documented
Every phase of this build was photographed — including the parts that get covered up before most homeowners ever see them.
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01Survey & Setup
Before a single shake comes off, every elevation is photographed and the damage mapped. Pump-jack scaffolding and ladders are staged, landscaping is covered, and tarps are laid to catch debris.
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02Tear-Off to Bare Sheathing
All shake and old felt comes off down to the plywood. Working from staged scaffolding rather than ladders alone keeps the crew square to the wall, which matters for both safety and a clean tear-off line.
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03Sheathing Repair & Weather Barrier
This is the stage that decides how long the new siding lasts. Rotted plywood is cut out and replaced with new sheets, then the structure is wrapped in taped Norandex housewrap so any water that gets past the siding has a drainage path back out.
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04Siding Installation
Insulated underlayment board goes on first, then siding runs bottom-up so each course laps the one beneath it. Panels are hung rather than nailed tight, so the vinyl can expand and contract through the seasons without buckling.
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05Trim, Soffit & Cleanup
White trim wraps the windows, doors and corners, and new vented soffit and fascia finish the eaves. The site is cleared of every panel offcut and nail before the crew leaves.
The part you cannot see is the part that matters. Anyone can hang siding over old shake — replacing the rotted sheathing underneath is what makes it last.
Randy’s Roofing Construction
The Full Build, Start to Finish
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What Homeowners Ask About Re-Siding
How long does a full siding replacement take?
A whole-home replacement of this size typically runs 7 to 12 working days, depending on square footage, how much sheathing needs repair, and the weather. Tear-off is usually one to two days, sheathing repair and housewrap another one to two, and siding installation makes up the remainder.
What happens if you find rotted sheathing behind the old siding?
It gets cut out and replaced with new plywood before any housewrap or siding goes on. Several sections on this house needed exactly that. Because rot is only visible after tear-off, we quote sheathing replacement as a per-sheet unit price up front — so if we find it, you already know what it costs.
Can new siding just go over the existing cedar shake?
It can, but we do not recommend it. Going over old shake hides whatever rot is already there, prevents proper water management behind the new siding, and leaves an uneven substrate that telegraphs through the finished surface. A full tear-off is the only way to inspect and repair what is underneath.
Does dark siding fade faster than lighter colors?
Modern dark vinyl uses heat- and UV-stable pigments engineered specifically for deep colors, and carries the same fade warranty as lighter shades. The navy used here is a color-fast product rated for full sun exposure.
Do you protect the landscaping and clean up the debris?
Yes. Beds and walkways are tarped before tear-off begins, and debris is collected as it comes down rather than left to pile up. The site is cleared of offcuts and nails at the end of every working day, not just at the end of the job.
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Paramus, NJ
Siding & Gutters Combo
James Hardie fiber cement with seamless 6-inch gutters and new vented soffit.
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Fort Lee, NJ
Full Roof Replacement
28-square tear-off with GAF Timberline HDZ Charcoal architectural shingles.
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Fair Lawn, NJ
Composite Deck Build
400 sq ft Trex Transcend deck with aluminum railings and built-in LED lighting.
Is your siding at the end of its life?
Free, written, itemized estimate — most delivered within one business hour.