siding
Full Exterior Refresh on a 1960s Split-Level
Siding, windows and gutters replaced in a single phased project, with the family living in the house throughout.The original cedar siding had been patched twice and was past saving. The windows were single-glazed and the gutters were undersized for a roof that shed onto a single downspout, so the same corner of the foundation took every storm.
Doing the three jobs separately would have meant three mobilisations and three rounds of disruption. Doing them together meant one scaffold, one schedule, and a single warranty conversation.
Project Summary
| Client Profile | Single-family home, built 1963, occupied throughout the work. |
| Project Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Work Completed | Siding replacement, 14 windows, seamless gutters and downspouts. |
Key Takeaways
- The ChallengeThree overlapping problems on one elevation, with a family living in the house and a hard deadline before the first freeze.
- The ApproachOne scaffold, one crew, phased elevation by elevation so no more than a quarter of the house was open at any time.
- The ResultFinished eleven days ahead of the freeze date, with the drainage problem solved rather than re-routed.
Sequencing around the weather
Working elevation by elevation meant the house was never more than a quarter open, so a bad forecast cost hours rather than days. It also let the same crew move from tear-off to install without waiting on another trade.
The windows went in as each elevation was opened up, which avoided cutting new siding twice and kept the flashing details continuous behind the cladding.
Fixing the drainage, not moving it
The original single downspout was the actual cause of the foundation staining. Seamless gutters sized for the roof area, with two additional downspouts and extensions past the planting beds, moved the water away instead of relocating the problem a few feet.
They found the reason the corner kept flooding, which nobody else who quoted the job even mentioned.
Planning something similar?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can we stay in the house during work like this?
Usually yes. Phasing the work by elevation keeps most of the house closed up at any given time, and interior access is only needed while each window is swapped.
Is it cheaper to combine siding, windows and gutters?
Generally, yes — one scaffold and one mobilisation instead of three, and the flashing details only get built once. It also avoids paying to cut and fit siding around windows you plan to replace later.
How far ahead should this be scheduled?
For work that has to finish before a freeze, plan on booking in the spring for the same year. Material lead times, not crew availability, are usually what sets the date.