Recent project · Baltimore, MD · Mid-Atlantic Remodeling Co. Exteriors
Gray siding installation
Foam-backed gray vinyl siding with new white trim, soffit and fascia on a Baltimore home, installed by our own crew in four days.
Project at a glance
| Location | Baltimore, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Scope | Remove old aluminum siding, repair sheathing, house wrap, flashing, foam-backed vinyl siding, trim, soffit, fascia |
| Siding | Premium vinyl, Harbor Gray, foam-backed, .046 thickness |
| Trim | White insulated corner posts, window and door trim, vented vinyl soffit, aluminum-wrapped fascia |
| Crew time | Four days |
| Warranty | Manufacturer lifetime limited warranty on the siding; our workmanship warranty on the installation |
Services on this job: Siding · Windows & doors · Gutters
The situation
The aluminum siding on this Baltimore home had been painted twice and was chalking again. Two panels on the side facing the alley had been dented by a delivery truck, and the trim around the windows had been caulked so many times it was more caulk than trim. The owners wanted the house to look new without a maintenance schedule, and they wanted it done before they listed a rental property next door so the two would match.
They had looked at fiber cement and vinyl. Fiber cement is a beautiful product and we install a lot of it, but it is heavier, costs more and needs paint eventually. For a city rowhouse-adjacent lot with easy access on three sides, foam-backed vinyl gave them the straightest walls, the least maintenance and the best price. We brought the sample boards to the house and they picked Harbor Gray with white trim on the spot.
What we did
- Free estimate with samples brought to the house
- Old aluminum siding and trim removed and recycled
- Sheathing inspected; one damaged section behind the dented panels replaced
- House wrap over the entire exterior, seams taped
- Self-adhering flashing tape at every window and door, pan flashing at the sills
- Foam-backed vinyl siding in Harbor Gray, hung with the correct expansion gap and nailed loose so it can move
- Insulated corner posts, J-channel and window trim in white
- Vented vinyl soffit and aluminum-wrapped fascia
- Shutters, lights, hose bibs and house numbers reinstalled; final walkthrough
How the job went
The first day was demolition and discovery. Aluminum siding comes off quickly, and under it we found the original sheathing in good shape except for one section behind the dented panels, where the impact had cracked the board. We replaced that section, then wrapped the house. House wrap is the layer that actually keeps water out of the wall; siding is a rain screen, not a seal, and water will get behind it in a sideways Baltimore rain. The wrap, with taped seams and flashing tape at every opening, is what carries that water back out at the bottom.
Days two and three were siding. Foam-backed vinyl is hung the same way as standard vinyl, nailed in the center of the slot and left loose enough to slide, because vinyl expands and contracts more than any other siding material. Panels that are nailed tight buckle in July. The foam backing keeps each panel flat against the wall so the finished surface has none of the waviness people associate with vinyl. Corners, J-channel and window trim went on in white, and the soffit was replaced with a vented panel so the attic breathes.
Day four was fascia, details and cleanup. The fascia boards were sound, so we wrapped them in white aluminum rather than replacing them. Every light fixture, the mailbox, the hose bibs and the house numbers went back on with proper mounting blocks so nothing is screwed directly through the siding.
Materials and methods
The siding is a premium .046-inch vinyl with a laminated foam backer. The thickness matters: builder-grade vinyl is .040 or thinner and shows every imperfection in the wall. The foam adds rigidity and about R-2 of insulation, and it keeps the panels straight. Harbor Gray is a mid-tone gray with a slight blue cast that pairs well with white trim and black shutters, and it is a standard color in the line so repairs will match.
Trim is insulated vinyl corner post and J-channel in white, with a wide window casing profile that gives the house a more finished look than the thin J-channel most installers use. Soffit is vented vinyl; fascia is .019 aluminum coil wrapped on site. House wrap is a commercial-grade product with taped seams, and the window flashing is a self-adhering butyl tape with a pan at every sill.
Why it matters for Baltimore homeowners
Baltimore’s older neighborhoods are full of homes that got aluminum siding in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a good product then and it has done its job, but by now most of it is chalking, dented and painted. Vinyl replaced it for a reason: it never needs paint, it does not dent, and modern foam-backed panels have none of the cheap look the early products had.
The city’s weather is the other argument for doing it right. Wind-driven rain off the harbor gets behind any siding; the house wrap and flashing underneath are what keep it out of the wall. If a siding quote does not include house wrap and window flashing, it is not a complete quote.
Cost, insurance and what the owners paid
Vinyl siding is priced by the square (100 square feet) plus trim, soffit and fascia as separate lines. This house ran about 18 squares. Our quote itemized siding, trim, soffit, fascia, house wrap and the sheathing repair so the owners could see each cost. Fiber cement would have been roughly 60 percent more; the owners chose vinyl for the price and the zero maintenance.
Nothing on this job was storm related. If your siding was damaged by wind or hail, that is an insurance claim, and we handle it the same way we handle a roof claim: inspect, document, meet the adjuster, bill the carrier.
What to expect if you hire us for a job like this
Every exterior job at Mid-Atlantic Remodeling Co. starts with a free inspection and samples brought to the house, because siding, trim and shutter colors have to be chosen next to your roof and in your light. The quote is itemized by trade so you can see what the siding, trim, soffit, gutters or windows each cost and what doing them together saves. We sequence the work the right way, roof before siding before gutters, so nothing new is damaged by the work that follows. Our own crews do the installation; the sheathing is inspected and repaired, the house is wrapped and every opening flashed before a single panel goes up. Fixtures go back on mounting blocks, the yard is swept, and we walk the house with you at the end. Storm-damaged siding, gutters or windows go through the same insurance process as a roof: inspect, document, meet the adjuster, bill the carrier.
Questions about this kind of project
Vinyl or fiber cement?
Vinyl costs less and never needs paint. Fiber cement looks like wood, resists impact and fire, and lasts longer but needs repainting every 12 to 15 years. Both do well in Maryland.
How long does a siding job take?
Three to seven days depending on the size of the house and how much trim and soffit is replaced. This one took four.
Does new siding add insulation?
Foam-backed vinyl adds about R-2. It is not a substitute for wall insulation, but it is a noticeable improvement on a house that had none behind the old aluminum.
Can you match my existing siding for a repair?
Often, yes. Bring us a piece and we will check current lines. Discontinued colors sometimes mean re-siding one elevation.
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Serving every county in Maryland
From Baltimore and Harford County to the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland, our crews work across Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties. Based at 1012 Saddle View Way, Forest Hill, MD 21050.
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Ready when you are
Tell us about the job and someone from Mid-Atlantic Remodeling will call you within one business day. Storm or water emergency? Call (410) 780-9100 now; we answer 24/7.