Best Siding for Wisconsin Weather

Jul 27, 2016

Siding gives your home its character and provides the first line of defense against the elements, which can be unpredictable in Wisconsin. Homes should be prepared to withstand the ever-changing Wisconsin weather, which is why J&B Construction Company, Inc. informs homeowners on the best siding options for Wisconsin homes.

“When it comes to siding, you want to get the best bang for your buck by using a material that is durable enough to protect your home and stylish enough to enhance curb appeal,” said Wendy Cline, owner of J&B Construction.

Engineered wood is treated to withstand the elements and insects. It can handle humid, hot climates better than natural wood. “For Wisconsin weather especially, engineered wood is a beneficial alternative to natural wood because it handles moisture and mildew and it repels the sun, storms, and chemicals,” Cline said. The available styles include lapboard and vertical. “LP Siding stands best against splitting, cracking, and storm damage,” Cline said. “In our experience, LP SmartSide engineered wood siding is the best on the market for Wisconsin homes. It’s durable, customizable, and has a beautiful wood look.”

Vinyl is typically the least expensive siding and most popular choice for warm, humid climates. Some vinyl siding options on the market don’t handle cold winters and are prone to cracking. “Severe weather can be damaging to inexpensive vinyl siding and it will expand and contract in varying temperatures,” Cline said. “We offer only premium vinyl siding that stands up to harsh Wisconsin weather and variations in temperature. Our vinyl siding is easy to install and requires little maintenance.”

Wood siding is typically more expensive and requires more maintenance, but it will last for years if you keep up with it. There are a variety of options, including pine, spruce, fir, cedar, and redwood. Wood siding can be susceptible to mold and mildew in humid climates. “If you’re interested in wood siding, you will likely need to power wash, stain, and prime the wood periodically to prevent water seepage,” said Cline.

Metal siding has a long lifespan, requires minimal maintenance, and is also resistant to fire, rot, and insects. “It also has a higher resistance to impact then aluminum and vinyl,” said Cline.

Proper House Wrap and Flashing Details

No matter what siding product you choose, when it comes to keeping your house water tight and air tight, the house wrap is the most important aspect of the project. “Proper installation of house wrap tape around windows, doors, and drip cap flashing is also very important,” said Cline. “We see flaws in this part of the project in many siding installations, which leads to water and air infiltration.”

Regardless of the siding style selected, product installation is key to having the siding work as it should. “With J&B Construction, installation is always done exactly to the manufacturer’s specifications by our certified installers,” Cline said. “In addition, as part of our siding services, we offer shutters, soffits, fascia, decorative pieces, and other accessories to enhance your home.”

Enjoy Peace Of Mind

The only complaint I have is when I have J&B do my roof in another 30 years or so, is Dave their sales man (a great guy) would not guaranty I could get the same great crew I had this time. They did a fantastic job. Much better than the last roofing company did. A nice bunch of guys. Did a very nice job cleaning up. I'd give them 10 stars but 5 is the limit. If you need a roof done this is the company you want to do it. One more point I need to make. The guys that did the chimney flashing are artists. I went up on the roof when they were done and was very pleased with not only the roofing job but the sculptured sheet metal work. It's kind of a shame it's on the roof and not hanging on the family room wall :). You get the point. Hire em. You'll like em.

Dave H

We live in a historic designated neighborhood and recently had our 30 year wood shingle roof replaced with another wood roof and new gutters. From Day 1 of the project to the final day, the entire team was responsive, professional, and very competent. When some minor changes were proposed by us they quickly and effortlessly complied. After going through this experience with J&B, I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a roof and gutter replacement, whether it be a simple or complicated project.

John Lamb

J & B did an amazing job from start to finish. The initial meeting at my home took place exactly at the time that was agreed upon and Scott was thorough in his explanations and transparent about costs. When the time came to begin the project, the team that showed up was friendly, professional and timely in getting the project done. The cleanup afterward was such that it looked like they hadn't been there at all. The roof looks great, there were no surprises and Scott came by to inspect the work and explain the warranty upon job completion. I would highly recommend them.

Kenneth Simons

My neighbor had their roof replaced and I was really impressed with the speed, carefulness and quality of the work I saw. Asked her for her experience and she told me she would highly recommend J & B. I called Scott to set an appointment. He showed up on time and was very thorough in his assessment, also letting me know about some other issues and advise on where to get help. J & B is a fantastic company to deal with - their people are incredibly careful about the work they do, clean up and leave the property in the same condition as when they started, were careful about plants and the house, and work very efficiently. The office staff is great about following up, checking in and very responsive to anything that comes up. I was happy with the price charged. If you are looking to replace your roof, you should be calling J & B to get the job done.

David W.

We had work done by the J&B team at a commercial property and were very pleased with the whole process. Their estimator met us onsite and communicated with us every step of the way. They went over the scope in detail and the work performed exceeded what we were expecting. They found some additional concerns during the installation that were quickly addressed and communicated to us and to our surprise, there was not an additional charge. Our tenants reached out to share how respectful the employees were during the installation and how clean everything was left afterwards. As the project was wrapped up, we were walked through the completion paperwork and provided the warranty information. Very impressed with the professionalism of this company and would not hesitate to refer their services or use them again in the future.

Jessie C.