Siding in Sherman
Sherman has been the seat of Grayson County since the county was created in 1846, and the Handbook of Texas says the city grew quickly in the 1870s, to about 6,000 people, with new industry and Austin College's arrival in 1876. That long history shows in the housing: older wood-sided homes near the center, and newer neighborhoods in vinyl, fiber cement and brick with siding on the gables. A siding job here can mean matching a hundred-year-old profile or re-siding a newer house after storm damage.
Who you're hiring
Texas has no state general contractor license, and the state doesn't issue a license for siding work. That makes the city permit and your own checking more important. Ask:
- whether the job needs a City of Sherman permit, and who will pull it;
- how long the company has worked in the area, and for addresses of recent jobs you can drive past;
- for proof of the company's coverage, in writing, from the provider;
- for a written contract with the scope, price, payment schedule and warranty.
Be wary of anyone who knocks on the door after a storm asking for a large payment up front.
Storm damage and insurance
Wind and hail can crack, dent or strip siding. If you're filing an insurance claim, document the damage with photos before anything is repaired, and get your own contractor's estimate as well as the adjuster's. 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. TDI takes complaints online or through its Help Line at 800-252-3439, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
Older homes
On older houses, ask whether the contractor can match the existing lap width and profile for a partial repair. Ask them to open a damaged area and look at the sheathing and framing behind it before pricing a full replacement. Old houses sometimes have more than one layer of siding; ask whether the quote includes removing all of it.
What to look at in a quote
- Material. Vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood or real wood, with its thickness or grade.
- Removal. What comes off, how many layers, and haul-away.
- Sheathing. How rotted or damaged sheathing will be priced, per sheet.
- Weather barrier and flashing. Housewrap, window and door flashing, and roof-to-wall kick-outs.
- Trim. Corners, fascia, soffit and window trim, and whether they're wrapped or replaced.
- Finish. Whether paint is included for materials that need it.
- Warranty. Both the manufacturer's and the installer's, and what voids them.
Before you sign
Get at least two written quotes that describe the same scope. Compare them line by line, not just by total. Make sure the payment schedule ties payments to finished work, and keep copies of everything.