Siding Contractor in Milwaukie, Oregon

Old houses, and the siding that has been patched

Milwaukie is one of the older communities in the metro area, and it shows in the housing. Neighborhoods such as Ardenwald, Island Station and the streets near downtown have a mix of 1920s–40s bungalows and Craftsman homes, cottages, and postwar ranches built in the 1950s and 1960s. Many have original cedar lap, shingle or board siding under layers of paint, and some have been covered over with asbestos-cement shingles, hardboard or aluminum at one time or another.

That history is what makes these houses interesting to work on. Patches from different decades, mismatched trim, and old flashing details give water more than one way in. Typical problems are rot at sills and at the bottom courses, failed paint on cedar shingles, and trim boards that no longer shed water. Dry rot repair is often half the job.

Weather

Milwaukie is down by the Willamette, so it does not see the Gorge wind that hits Corbett or Troutdale. It does get the normal Portland rain, 150-plus days of it. On old houses, mature trees shade the walls and keep them damp, and moss grows on the north side. Old cedar siding handles that fine if it stays painted and has room to dry. Once the paint fails, water gets into the end grain.

Matching an original look

If your house is a bungalow or Craftsman, the look matters: exposure, shingle courses, belly bands, corner boards. Dave can replace damaged areas in real cedar or re-side in James Hardie, including HardieShingle and cedarmill lap, which give a similar profile with less upkeep. The Hardie versus cedar guide explains the tradeoffs, and trim, soffit and fascia work is where much of the character of these homes lives.

Permits and the city

For addresses inside city limits, the City of Milwaukie’s building division handles permits, and applications go through the state’s online system. Check with them on whether your project needs one. If your home is on the City’s list of historic properties, also ask the planning department before you start. We do not state fees. The permit guide covers the general process, and best time to replace siding helps with scheduling.

What we do in Milwaukie

• Siding repair and dry rot repair, often the right answer on a house where most of the wall is sound.
• Full re-side in Hardie or cedar.
• Windows and sliding glass doors set and flashed properly into the wall.
• Decks that tie into the house without trapping water at the ledger.

Why call Dave

Dave Shaffer is a second-generation sider with about 40 years of hands-on experience. His dad sided houses before him, and Dave has taken siding off enough old homes to know what is likely under the paint. Six-Point Siding is a small family business, and Dave is on every job from start to finish. We are licensed, bonded and insured, Oregon CCB #153635, and have been licensed since 2002. Hardie products carry the manufacturer’s warranty.

Call or text Dave: 503-260-7647. Free estimates, and he will tell you honestly if a repair will do.