Updating the Exterior of an Established Troy Home
Troy is the largest community in Oakland County, with 87,294 residents in the 2020 census. It became a city in 1955, and in the decades that followed it grew from 19,402 residents in 1960 to 67,102 in 1980. A lot of Troy’s housing went up during that growth, and homes from that era may still have their original siding, or a replacement that has been up for decades.
Siding on a home like that is not just a repair. It is often the biggest change to how the house looks since it was built. That makes design as important as material, and it is where this page starts. Rock Solid Exteriors is based in Clinton Township and serves Troy and the surrounding area.
Designing Before You Order
A new exterior involves more choices than most homeowners expect: siding profile, color, trim width, corner style, soffit color, gutter color, and whether to add accents. Deciding them one at a time can lead to a house that does not quite come together. We prefer to sit down and plan the whole exterior at once. The goal is the result one customer described:
Excellent experience through and through! Very professional company to work with and the siding matches perfectly with the house.
Deana V., Google review
Things we work through together:
- What stays. Brick fronts, stone and roof color usually stay, so the siding color has to work with them.
- Profile. Traditional lap, Dutch lap, board-and-batten and shake each change the character of the house.
- Trim. Wider window and corner trim gives a colonial a more substantial, finished look.
- Contrast. A darker body with lighter trim, or the reverse, changes how the house reads from the street.
- Accents. Gables, entries and bump-outs are natural places for shake or stone.
Materials for Troy Homes
James Hardie fiber cement
James Hardie fiber cement is a popular upgrade for traditional homes because it looks like painted wood lap siding, with crisp shadow lines, but does not rot like wood. James Hardie’s HZ5 products are designed for climates with freezing temperatures, snow and ice. We are a James Hardie Preferred Contractor and install it to manufacturer specifications, including clearances at roofs, decks and grade.
Vinyl siding
Today’s vinyl siding is available in richer colors and more realistic textures than the vinyl many homes got decades ago. We are a Mastic Preferred contractor and also install CertainTeed vinyl. Insulated vinyl panels stay flatter on long walls, which matters on a two-story colonial.
Versetta Stone, shake and metal
Versetta Stone can add a stone wainscot or entry surround. Shake-look siding works on gables and dormers. Metal siding fits more contemporary designs.
Water Management: The Part You Will Not See
On homes built decades ago, the original siding may have gone on with little or no house wrap, and flashing around windows and doors may be missing or failed. Replacement is the chance to fix that:
- House wrap installed and lapped correctly over the sheathing.
- Flashing at window heads, door heads, and where walls meet roofs.
- Kick-out flashing where a roof edge ends against a wall, so water goes into the gutter instead of down the siding.
- Sealed penetrations around vents, hose bibs, lights and utility lines.
Keeping the wall protected during the project matters too. As one homeowner put it:
Joe and his install team is the best I have ever come across clean up end of everyday made sure the job was properly wrapped and that the siding perfectly fit
Nicole S., Google review
Older Homes, Hidden Damage
Once old siding comes off, we check sheathing, sills and rim boards. If we find rot, we show you and price the repair before new siding goes on. Homes built before 1978 require EPA lead-safe work practices when painted surfaces are disturbed, which applies to many older wood trim and siding tear-offs.
Siding With Windows, Gutters or a Roof
If you are also considering new windows, a roof or gutters, sequencing matters. Windows installed before siding can be flashed into the new wall properly. Gutters go on after siding and fascia so colors and fasteners line up. We can plan the whole exterior as one project. See our Troy window replacement page, Troy roofing page and gutters page.
Insulation and Comfort
Siding replacement is also a chance to improve how the walls perform, not just how they look. Insulated vinyl panels have a foam backing that adds some insulating value and stiffens the panel. Correctly lapped house wrap and sealed penetrations cut down on drafts that come through older walls around outlets, hose bibs and light fixtures. Neither replaces insulation inside the wall, but together they can make rooms on the windward side of the house feel less drafty. If you have noticed cold rooms, mention them at the estimate so we can look at those walls closely once the old siding is off.
Neighborhood Guidelines
If your subdivision has a homeowners association, check whether it regulates exterior colors or materials before you finalize choices, and bring any guidelines to the design meeting. We pull the permits the City of Troy requires for your project.
About Rock Solid Exteriors
We have been working on southeast Michigan homes 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 Troy we also offer concrete. Nearby siding pages: Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights and Shelby Township.
Recent Siding Projects in Troy
Some of the siding work we have completed for Troy homeowners. Street names only — we do not publish house numbers or customer names.
- Siding on Winchester Drive — completed August 2026
- Siding on East Square Lake Road — completed October 2025
- Siding on Trillium Drive — completed June 2025
- Siding on Lesdale Drive — completed January 2025
- Siding on Orchard Crest — completed November 2024
- Siding on Tanglewood Drive — completed February 2024
- Siding on Redford Circle — completed September 2023
- Siding on Bristol Drive — completed September 2023
- Siding on Portobello Drive — completed May 2023
- Siding on Wacon Drive — completed May 2023
See more of our work on the projects page and map, or call (844) 757-6543 for a free estimate.
Troy Siding Questions
Is James Hardie or vinyl better for a Troy colonial?
Both can look great. Hardie gives a painted-wood look with deeper shadow lines and costs more. Insulated or premium vinyl costs less and needs less upkeep. We price both so you can compare.
Can you help me choose colors?
Yes. We plan the whole exterior together, including siding, trim, soffit, gutters and accents, so everything works with the brick and roof you are keeping.
Should I replace windows before siding?
If you are planning both, installing windows first lets them be flashed into the new wall properly. We can coordinate the sequence.
What if you find rot under my old siding?
We show you, explain the repair and price it before new siding goes on. We do not cover damaged sheathing.
Get a Free Siding Estimate in Troy
Call (844) 757-6543 or request an estimate online. If you have inspiration photos, bring them to the design conversation. For more on materials, visit our main siding page.
