Siding in West Texas
Midland's weather is the opposite of the Gulf Coast's. The air is dry, the sun is intense, summer heat is severe and winter brings a steady run of freezes. Siding here fails mostly from heat and ultraviolet light, from movement as temperatures swing, and from wind-blown grit. Moisture problems still happen, but they usually come from sprinklers, roof runoff and the occasional heavy storm rather than humid air.
Heat and sun
NOAA's engineering weather data for Midland, at 2,861 feet, gives a 1% summer design temperature of 97°F and counts about 336 hours a year at 93°F or hotter. Dark colors absorb more heat, and some vinyl products can warp on a sunny wall, especially near reflective windows. Ask whether the product is rated for the color you want in this climate, what the fade warranty says and whether the installer leaves the expansion gaps the manufacturer specifies.
Dry air and big temperature swings
Midland's mean coincident wet-bulb at the 1% design temperature is only 67°F, and NOAA counts only about 60 hours a year with the wet-bulb above 73°F. Dry heat followed by cold nights makes materials expand and contract daily. Wood shrinks and checks, and caulk joints open up. Ask what sealants will be used and how the product handles movement.
Freeze-thaw and wind
NOAA lists about 46 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year for Midland, a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph and a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.3 inches per hour. Water that gets into cracked trim or under a loose piece of siding freezes and widens the gap. Ask how corners, trim and penetrations will be sealed, and what fastening pattern the installation will use for wind.
Hard water and sprinklers
The City of Midland says its water hardness ranges from 400 to 600 parts per million, about 23 to 35 grains per gallon. Sprinklers that hit the walls leave white mineral spots that are hard to remove from siding, brick and windows. Adjust sprinkler heads to keep water off the house, and ask the contractor how the product should be cleaned if spotting appears.
Materials
Fiber cement, engineered wood, vinyl and metal are all used here. Ask about each product's heat and impact performance, how it is finished and what maintenance it needs. If you are matching existing brick or stone, ask how transitions will be flashed.
Texas has no state general contractor license
For siding work, Texas does not issue a state contractor license. Ask whether the City of Midland requires a permit for your project, who will pull it and how the work will be inspected. Ask for references from recent local jobs and proof of the contractor's insurance coverage in writing.
Comparing quotes
Get each bid on the same terms: product line and color, wall area, removal and disposal, barrier and flashing, trim, repairs to sheathing at stated prices, permit and warranty.