Siding for a Shoreline City’s Post-War Homes
St. Clair Shores has been a lake town for a long time. French settlers lived along this stretch of Lake St. Clair as early as 1710, and from 1927 to 1959 the Jefferson Beach Amusement Park drew crowds to the shore. But most of the city as it looks today was built after World War II. St. Clair Shores became a city in 1951 and grew to 88,093 residents by 1970. Today about 58,874 people live here, and the Nautical Mile along Jefferson Avenue between 9 and 10 Mile Roads keeps the city’s connection to the water front and center.
A house built in that post-war wave has been through a lot of Michigan winters, and it may already have been re-sided at least once. That history is what we plan around when we quote siding in St. Clair Shores. Rock Solid Exteriors is based in Clinton Township, a short drive north.
What Is Usually on the Wall Now
Before we recommend anything, we identify what you have. On older homes in the area, the current exterior might be:
- Aluminum siding. Durable, but it dents, chalks and fades, and it is hard to find matching pieces for repairs.
- An early generation of vinyl installed over the original siding, sometimes now brittle and loose.
- Original wood siding, painted many times.
- Asbestos-cement siding shingles on some older homes. If we see material we cannot identify, we stop and talk to you about testing before anything is removed.
- Layers of all of the above, which adds weight and hides the condition of the wall.
We usually recommend removing old layers down to the sheathing rather than covering them again. It is the only way to see and fix what is underneath.
Wind and Moisture From the Lake
Living next to Lake St. Clair means wind across open water and a lot of moisture. In 2019 the lake set record-high levels, and waves flooded parts of St. Clair Shores. Even for homes several blocks inland, lake weather affects siding in a few practical ways:
- Wind-driven rain is pushed sideways into laps, trim joints and around windows. House wrap and flashing matter as much as the siding.
- Loose panels get worked back and forth in the wind until they unlock or crack. Proper fastening keeps vinyl secure while still letting it expand and contract.
- Damp sheathing and trim near the ground or under shallow overhangs can rot over time.
Fixing What Is Behind the Old Siding
Once old siding is off, we look closely at the sheathing, the sills and the trim boards. Rotten wood gets replaced, not covered. One customer described exactly that during a windy stretch of weather:
They went the extra mile even when weather was challenging, extra windy. They were very kind, well mannered, professional. … The owner showed up and talked to me and took care of a problem immediately, birds wanting to nest in trim. They replaced wood that needed it rather than just covering.
Kay S., Google review
For homes built before 1978, painted siding and trim call for EPA lead-safe work practices during removal, and we plan the tear-off accordingly.
Choosing New Siding
Vinyl siding
Vinyl siding is the practical choice for many homes here: affordable, low-maintenance, and available in a wide range of colors. We are a Mastic Preferred contractor and also install CertainTeed products. On a smaller home, a thicker or insulated panel stays flatter and looks more substantial, and it holds up better to wind.
James Hardie fiber cement
James Hardie fiber cement brings back the look of painted wood lap siding, which suits the character of many older homes. James Hardie’s HZ5 products are designed for climates with freezing temperatures, snow and ice. As a James Hardie Select Contractor we install it to manufacturer specifications.
Accents for small houses
A compact home can look dramatically different with just a few touches: a shake-look gable, a Versetta Stone wainscot along the front, or a contrasting trim color. Small changes go further on a small house. Color matters too: on a compact home, a slightly deeper body color with crisp white or contrasting trim often makes windows and rooflines stand out, while a single light color can make the house read smaller from the street. We bring samples so you can compare them outside, against your roof, in real daylight.
Soffit, Fascia and Gutters
Some older homes have narrow overhangs, which put more rain on the walls. When we replace siding we also look at:
- Fascia boards, frequently rotted under old aluminum wrap.
- Soffits, where openings let birds and pests into the eaves, and where vents help the attic breathe.
- Gutters. New seamless gutters carry roof water away instead of letting it pour down the walls.
Sealing those gaps is also how you stop birds from nesting in the trim.
Working on Tight Lots
On streets where houses sit close together, the side walls can be only a few feet from the neighbor’s house or fence. We plan ladder and scaffold placement, protect landscaping and air conditioners, and clean up nails and scrap every day. If a side wall is next to a neighbor’s property, it helps to give them a heads-up before we start.
About Rock Solid Exteriors
We have been installing siding in southeast Michigan since 1997 and are rated 4.4 stars across about 500 Google reviews. Estimates are free, financing is available on approved credit, and veterans receive a 10 percent discount. See our warranties page for coverage and our siding gallery for more homes. In St. Clair Shores we also offer roofing and concrete. Nearby siding pages: Roseville, Warren and Clinton Township.
Recent Siding Projects in St. Clair Shores
A siding job we completed in St. Clair Shores. Click a project for details, or see all our work on the projects page and map.
St. Clair Shores Siding Questions
Should I remove my aluminum siding or cover it?
We usually recommend removing it. Covering hides the condition of the sheathing and trim, and moisture near the lake makes it worth checking what is underneath.
What if my house has asbestos siding shingles?
If we see material we cannot identify, we stop and talk to you about testing before removal. Suspected asbestos material should be tested before anyone disturbs it.
Can siding keep birds out of my eaves?
New soffit, fascia and trim close the gaps birds use to get into the eaves. We look for those openings during the estimate.
Is fiber cement a good choice for an older house?
It often is, because it looks like painted wood lap siding. It costs more than vinyl, so we price both.
Get a Free Siding Estimate in St. Clair Shores
Call (844) 757-6543 or request an estimate online. Tell us what is on your walls now, if you know, and we will look closely at the rest during the visit. For all siding options, see our main siding page.
