Many homes in Evanston were originally finished with vinyl siding, often with shingle-style accents and contrasting battens used to break up the front elevation. This home had that same layered appearance, but after the vinyl was damaged, the owners wanted a more durable exterior without making the house feel unfamiliar from the street.
The challenge was not simply replacing one siding product with another. The new James Hardie exterior still had to follow the proportions and details that suited the original design. Horizontal Hardie lap siding was installed across the main elevations, while Hardie shingle accents were retained on the upper front sections. New battens around the windows, doors, corners, gables and transitions helped carry the original layout into the new exterior.
That matters because changing from vinyl to fibre cement can easily make a home look flatter or more simplified if the original details are removed along with the siding. On this property, the material changed, but the familiar colour direction, layered elevations and architectural character remained intact.
For Evanston homeowners considering James Hardie siding, this project shows that improving durability does not have to mean redesigning the house.
See the complete Evanston vinyl-to-James Hardie siding project.
View related project