Siding in Bowling Green
Bowling Green is an old Kentucky town. The city's history page says the General Assembly passed an act in December 1796, effective in March 1797, to establish Warren County, named to honor Dr. Joseph Warren, a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and that the town itself was named "Bolin Green" at the first county commissioners meeting in early 1798. The same page says Bowling Green gained the official designation of county seat in 1809 and incorporated in 1812.
More than two centuries on, whatever the age of a particular house, the same few things decide how long its siding lasts: how well it sheds rain, how the wall behind it dries, and how carefully it was put up.
What the weather records say
NOAA's engineering weather data, which other pages on this site quote, has no station near Bowling Green, so this page gives no design temperatures, wind speeds, rainfall rates or freeze-thaw counts. What it can give is the National Weather Service's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bowling Green:
- an annual average temperature of 59.1°F, with an average maximum of 69.7°F and an average minimum of 48.5°F;
- normal annual precipitation of 50.10 inches;
- normal annual snowfall of 8.5 inches;
- July as the warmest month, averaging 79.7°F, and January as the coldest, averaging 37.2°F.
Fifty inches of precipitation a year, with only a few inches of it falling as snow, means most of what hits these walls is rain. That makes drainage the first thing to get right.
Rain and the layers behind the siding
No siding is watertight. Rain gets past laps and joints in every system, and the wall stays sound only if that water has a way back out. Ask each bidder to explain in writing:
- the water-resistive barrier, how its seams overlap shingle-fashion and which seams get tape;
- flashing over each window and door, and kick-out flashing wherever a roof edge ends against a wall;
- how water that reaches the bottom of the wall will drain out, and what starter strip they use;
- whether a drainage gap or rainscreen is included, and what it would add to the price;
- how they'll seal around hose bibs, outlets, vents, meters and cable lines.
Summer heat and winter cold
July's 79.7°F average and January's 37.2°F average are monthly means, so real days run well above and below them. Siding expands and shrinks across that range. Vinyl moves the most and has to hang loosely on its nails, centered in the slots, with room at corner posts and channels. Ask what gap the crew leaves and whether they change it on a hot or cold install day. Fiber cement and engineered wood need the joint spacing and sealed ends their makers call for. Paint and caulk carry temperature limits on the label; ask how the schedule handles a cold week.
Choosing a material
- Vinyl is the low-maintenance default for many replacements. It needs careful, loose fastening and can crack if struck in cold weather.
- Fiber cement looks like painted lap siding, resists rot and insects and holds paint well. It is heavy, and cut ends need sealing.
- Engineered wood is lighter and takes a sharp profile, but relies on sealed edges and good clearance at the ground.
- Wood fits many older houses and needs paint or stain on a regular cycle.
Ask each contractor which product they'd recommend for your house, why, and for the maker's installation instructions.
Owners, landlords and rentals
Census QuickFacts puts Bowling Green's owner-occupied housing unit rate for 2020-2024 at 36.6%, and the median value of owner-occupied housing units at $241,900. If you are siding a rental, a few extra questions help: how tenants will be notified and kept safe around ladders and debris, whether work can be phased around occupied rooms, and who on the crew the tenants should contact. Get the scope and schedule in writing either way.
Sprinklers and the bottom of the wall
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities draws its water from the Barren River, pumps it to its water treatment plant, and sends the treated water to five storage tanks through more than 290 miles of water mains; the plant can treat up to 45 million gallons a day. Some of that ends up on lawns. A sprinkler that soaks the same wall every morning keeps the lowest courses wet, so turn heads away from the house and ask the installer how much clearance they will leave above soil, mulch and paving.
Permits and paperwork
This page makes no statement about Kentucky contractor licensing. Ask the contractor which city building permits the job needs, who will apply for them, and whether an inspection follows. Ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation, and make sure the business name on the paperwork matches the name on the contract.
Comparing bids
Have every bidder price the same list: removal and disposal of the old siding, the product with its grade or thickness, the weather barrier and any drainage layer, flashing, trim, soffit and fascia, a per-sheet price for sheathing repair, permits, cleanup, the schedule, and both the product and workmanship warranties. Set the bids side by side and compare line by line. A gap between totals usually shows up as a missing line.