I’ve been a siding installation and repair contractor in murfreesboro for just over ten years, and most of my work starts the same way: a homeowner notices something small that doesn’t feel right. A corner that looks wavy in certain light. A faint draft along an exterior wall. A section of siding that never seems to dry after rain. Those early signs are rarely cosmetic. In my experience, they’re clues that the siding system—not just the panels—is under stress.
I learned that lesson early on with a home where the siding looked nearly new from the curb. The owners called me out because one bedroom felt damp no matter the season. Once we removed a few panels, the issue was obvious. The siding had been installed cleanly, but without proper flashing around a window. Water had been slipping behind the panels for years. From the outside, everything looked fine. Behind it, the wall told a very different story.
Why installation matters more than material
Homeowners often ask me which siding material lasts the longest. I usually answer with a pause, because the honest answer depends less on the label and more on how it’s installed. I’ve repaired premium materials that failed early and seen basic vinyl hold up well because the installer respected spacing, water flow, and movement.
Last spring, I worked on a fiber cement repair where several boards had cracked in a straight line. That pattern usually tells me the fasteners were driven too tight. Fiber cement needs room to move, especially with our temperature swings. Once it’s locked in place, stress builds until something gives. We replaced the damaged boards, adjusted the fastening approach, and the rest of the siding settled back into place without issue.
Deciding between repair and replacement
One of the most important parts of my job is knowing when to recommend repair and when to advise against it. I’ve done plenty of targeted siding repairs that made sense because the underlying structure was still solid. A storm-damaged section or a loose run near a downspout doesn’t always justify tearing everything off.
But I’ve also seen homeowners stuck in a loop of small fixes. I remember a house where the same lower wall section had been repaired multiple times over several years. Each fix looked fine for a while. The real problem was water pooling at the foundation line due to poor grading. Until that was addressed, repairs were only buying time. In cases like that, replacement paired with proper water management is the only solution that holds.
Materials I’m cautious about recommending
Every siding material has trade-offs, and I’ve grown more opinionated about that with time. Traditional wood siding can look great, but in shaded or north-facing areas around Murfreesboro, it demands consistent upkeep. I’ve replaced enough swollen boards to know it’s not forgiving if maintenance slips.
Engineered wood has improved significantly, and I’ve installed newer versions that performed well when properly sealed and spaced. Vinyl remains common, but I’m wary of installations that rely heavily on caulk to compensate for poor fit. Caulk ages. Proper overlap and drainage last longer.
The mistakes that show up again and again
One mistake I see often is skipping the inspection beneath the siding. I’ve opened walls where new siding was installed directly over compromised sheathing. Another issue is mismatched materials—different expansion rates creating gaps and noise during high winds.
Corners and trim are another trouble spot. If starter strips or corner posts are off, everything above them suffers. Those details don’t draw attention during installation, but they dictate how the siding performs over time.
How experience shapes better outcomes
After years in this trade, I’ve learned to slow down and listen to what the house is telling me. I look at how water moves during heavy rain, which walls dry last, and whether repairs have been attempted before. Those details guide better decisions than surface appearance ever could.
Good siding doesn’t announce itself. It does its job quietly, season after season, without drafts, moisture, or movement drawing attention. That kind of performance comes from respecting the system as a whole, not just the panels you see from the street.