Most siding projects don't fail because a contractor made one dramatic error — they fail because small, cheap-looking decisions stack up.
These are the mistakes we see most often on Houston jobs, and the ones we vet every scope against before we start.
1. Vinyl in Houston sun
Warps and fades. Fiber cement (Hardie) is the durable choice.
2. Skipping the WRB or bad taping
No moisture layer = wall rot. A properly lapped and taped WRB is non-negotiable.
3. No rain-screen gap
The difference between 50-year siding and 15-year siding.
4. Wrong fasteners
Non-stainless / non-galvanized fasteners rust and streak the siding.
5. Bad window and door flashing sequence
Head, jamb, and sill flashing done in the wrong order = leaks. Sequence matters.
6. No kickout flashing
Missing kickouts at wall-roof junctions rot walls. Check that theyre specified.
7. No drip caps above trim
Water sits on trim and rots siding below. Z-flashing and drip caps prevent it.
8. Field-painting instead of factory finish
ColorPlus outlasts field paint 2–3x. Worth the premium.
9. Blocking soffit vents during install
Blocked soffits ruin attic ventilation, which then ruins the roof.
10. Skipping termite inspection
Siding replacement is the moment to inspect sheathing and treat. Miss it and youll pay later.
How to vet your contractor
Read your siding bid line by line and ask which of these mistakes are being avoided — in writing. A contractor who welcomes the question is the one you want; a contractor who deflects is the one to walk away from.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on a scope of work or an existing bid, we're happy to walk through it with you.
