We install James Hardie fiber cement and insulated vinyl siding in Mokena, with our own siding crews. Siding has become one of the biggest parts of our business, with more than 5,800 siding customers served.
Mokena grew up along the Rock Island rail line, and the oldest streets are still the ones around Front Street and the Metra station. Around that core are 1970s and 1980s subdivisions, with newer homes toward the edges of the village.
The homes we work on in Mokena
What a house needs depends mostly on when and how it was built. Here is what we find in Mokena and how we handle it.
On the older streets around Front Street and the Metra station, siding is usually original aluminum or an early vinyl replacement over wood. Both come off easily. Insulated vinyl is a strong choice on these homes because the walls have little insulation and the foam backing adds some, and James Hardie is the step up if you want a painted-wood look that will not dent.
In the 1970s and 1980s subdivisions, you will find cedar, hardboard or T1-11 panel siding that needs paint every few years and is swelling at the bottom edges. Hardboard in particular does not recover once it takes on water. Replacing it with fiber cement or insulated vinyl ends the paint cycle, and we replace the rotted trim and wrap the fascia at the same time.
In the newer neighborhoods toward the edges of the village, builders used thin vinyl on three sides with brick or stone on the front. By now the vinyl is faded, cracked from hail or loose at the corners, and it often cannot be color-matched for repairs. Residing the three vinyl sides in James Hardie or a thicker insulated vinyl is the most common siding job we do on homes of this age.
Cedar and hardboard siding from the 1970s and 1980s is common in Mokena. Once the paint cycle gets to every four or five years, replacing it usually costs less over time than keeping it.
Signs your siding is due
- Boards that are soft, swollen or crumbling at the bottom edge. Water is being absorbed instead of shed.
- Paint that peels again within a couple of years. Moisture is coming through from behind.
- Cracks, holes or loose panels. Hail and wind damage lets water reach the sheathing.
- Warping or waviness along a wall. Often a sign of rot or trapped moisture underneath.
- Fading so uneven that repairs cannot be matched. At that point patching will always show.
Siding is a rain screen. Once it stops shedding water, the damage moves to the sheathing and framing, which costs far more to fix than the siding itself.
What we install
- James Hardie fiber cement. Our most-installed siding. The HZ5 product line is made for climates with freezing winters, it does not melt, dent easily or feed woodpeckers, and ColorPlus factory finish means no painting at installation. Available as lap siding, shingle panels and board-and-batten.
- Insulated vinyl. A rigid foam backing makes the panel stiffer, quieter and warmer than standard vinyl, and it never needs paint. A good fit when budget matters and the walls could use more insulation.
- LP SmartSide. Engineered wood with a deep grain, lighter than fiber cement, for homeowners who want the look of wood.
Whichever you choose, the job includes removing the old siding, repairing sheathing, a new weather barrier, flashing at every window and door, and new trim. That hidden work is what keeps water out. Compare the materials in James Hardie vs vinyl or try colors on a house in our exterior designer.
How a siding job runs
- Consultation and samples. We measure the house, check the walls for soft spots and bring full-size samples so you can hold colors against your brick, roof and trim in daylight.
- Tear-off and repair. Old siding comes off down to the sheathing. Anything rotted is replaced and shown to you before we cover it.
- Weather barrier and installation. We wrap the house, flash openings, then install siding and trim to the manufacturer's nailing and clearance requirements, which is what keeps the warranty valid.
- Finish and cleanup. Caulk, touch-up, gutters back on, a magnet sweep of the yard and a walkthrough with you.
What drives the price
The size and height of the house, the material, how much trim, soffit and fascia is included, and how much repair we find under the old siding. Two-story walls and many corners or gables add labor. Your estimate is written, itemized and good for 30 days, and 0% financing is available on approved credit. For real numbers, see our siding cost guide.
What Mokena homeowners can hold us to
- Our own specialized crews. The people who install siding for us do that work every day.
- Written, itemized estimates. You see what each part costs, and the price is good for 30 days.
- No pressure. We explain the options and let you decide. Nobody will sit at your table until you sign.
- Hidden damage shown first. If we open something up and find rot, you see it and approve the repair before we continue.
- Clean job sites. We clean up every day and haul away everything we remove.
We have been doing this for 20+ years from Manhattan, Illinois, and we are rated 5 stars on Google. Read more about how we work.
Permits and scheduling in Mokena
Permit rules are set by the Village of Mokena, and they differ from town to town. We check what your project needs before we order, pull the permit when one is required and build the inspection into the schedule.
Siding can go up in most weather. Vinyl gets brittle in deep cold, so we schedule vinyl jobs around the coldest weeks; fiber cement can be installed through the winter.
Siding Installation questions from Mokena homeowners
More for Mokena homeowners
See everything we do in Mokena, read more about our siding service, or request a free consultation. We also do this work in Frankfort, New Lenox, Orland Park.