A year of siding care in Sherman
Most siding failures in North Texas come from storms, sun or water that gets behind the wall through a small gap. A short walk around the house each season catches most of them. This calendar gives Sherman homeowners a simple routine, and it explains where to turn if a storm-damage claim goes sideways.
Spring: March to May
Spring brings North Texas's stormiest weather.
- After each strong storm, walk the house. Look for cracked, dented, holed or missing pieces, and for trim pulled loose.
- Photograph any damage before it's repaired, with a wide shot of the wall and close-ups of the damage.
- If you file an insurance claim, keep a log of every call and letter. If you and your insurer disagree about a home or renters claim, the Texas Department of Insurance suggests asking for an appraisal or hiring a public adjuster, and it takes complaints online or through its Help Line at 800-252-3439.
- Check caulk at windows, doors and trim, and replace any that has split.
Summer: June to August
- Look for fading, chalking or warping on the sunniest walls. Vinyl near grills, reflective windows or dark surfaces can soften and warp.
- Check paint on wood and fiber cement for peeling or blistering, which can mean moisture behind it.
- Keep sprinklers off the walls.
- Wash siding gently with a soft brush and a mild cleaner; avoid high pressure.
Fall: September to November
- Book repairs found in spring and summer. Fall's milder weather suits painting and replacing panels.
- Clean gutters and make sure downspouts carry water away from the foundation.
- Trim trees and shrubs back from the walls.
Winter: December to February
- After freezes or ice, check that gutters haven't overflowed down the siding.
- Look at the bottom courses for splash damage and debris.
- Make a list of anything to fix before spring storm season.
Older homes
Sherman has been the Grayson County seat since 1846, and some of its houses are old enough to have wood siding with profiles no longer stocked. Keep spare boards from any repair, note paint colors and dates, and ask a contractor to match the existing profile on partial repairs.
Choosing a contractor for repairs
Texas doesn't issue a state license for siding work, so the checking is up to you. Before you hire anyone for a seasonal repair:
- Ask how long the company has worked in Grayson County and for addresses of recent jobs you can see from the street.
- Ask whether the job needs a City of Sherman permit, and who will pull it.
- Ask for proof of the company's coverage in writing, sent by the provider rather than handed over as a photocopy.
- Get a written scope that names the material, the number of pieces or square feet, the trim and flashing work, and the cleanup.
- Tie payments to finished work. Be careful with anyone who asks for most of the money up front, especially door-to-door after a storm.
Matching what's already there
Partial repairs look best when the new pieces match the old ones. Before you call for quotes, find any leftover boards or panels in the garage or attic, note the brand and color if you know them, and photograph the profile from the end of a board. A contractor who can see exactly what's on the house can tell you quickly whether a match is still made or whether a whole wall needs to change to keep the house looking even.
Keep a record
Keep photos from each seasonal walk-around, receipts for repairs and any insurance correspondence in one place. When storms hit, that record speeds up the claim and shows what the wall looked like before.