Siding Replacement in Converse, TX
This page is for the Converse homeowner who needs siding replaced or repaired — not the one trying to work out whether hail damaged it. If that is the question, start with hail damage to siding in Converse, which covers what the damage looks like on each material and how insurers treat it.
Driftwood Builders Roofing is a James Hardie siding contractor and has worked exteriors across Central Texas since 2005. BBB accredited A+, 4.9 stars across 265+ reviews, no deposit required. Roofing, siding, gutters, windows, soffit and fascia and exterior painting are all in-house scope, which matters on a storm claim because one contractor documents the whole loss consistently.
When Siding Needs Replacing Rather Than Repairing
Repair when the problem is localised and the rest of the wall is sound: a few cracked or punctured boards, damage confined to one area, a section below a failed gutter.
Replace when the failure is systemic:
- Rot or soft spots anywhere along the bottom course, which usually means water has been getting behind the cladding for a while.
- Widespread cracking or splitting across elevations rather than in one spot.
- Warping, buckling or gapping seams — usually heat expansion against boards nailed too tightly, which is an installation failure rather than a material one.
- Paint that will not hold after repeated repainting, which normally means moisture is moving through the substrate.
- Repeated repairs in the same area.
- Hail damage across multiple elevations rather than one storm-facing wall.
One distinction worth being precise about, because it decides a lot of claims: warping and buckling are almost never hail. They are heat and fastening. Hail produces cracks, punctures and chips, clustered on the elevation that faced the storm. We cover the full comparison in siding cracking and nail pops.
How Do You Inspect Siding Without Removing It? 4 Things to Look For | Austin Roofing — how to inspect siding without removing it, which is the first step before anyone quotes you a replacement.
Material Options for This Climate
| Material | Holds up to Central Texas heat | Hail behaviour | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre cement (James Hardie) | Very good — will not warp or soften | Chips and cracks; resists better than vinyl | Repaint on a long cycle |
| Engineered wood | Good if detailed correctly | Dents and splits | Paint and seal; unforgiving of poor clearance |
| Vinyl | Fair — embrittles and can warp | Cracks and punches, worse as it ages | Low, but replacement is the only repair |
| Stucco | Good | Chips and pockmarks | Repaired in coats, not boards |
| Brick / masonry | Excellent | Rarely damaged | Minimal; check mortar and trim |
For most Converse homes — detached, built around 2003, mixed brick-and-siding elevations — the practical decision is usually fibre cement against vinyl. Fibre cement costs more and lasts considerably longer in this heat, and it is what we most often recommend where budget allows. The comparison in detail is in James Hardie vs vinyl siding, and against stucco in James Hardie vs stucco.
What We Find Behind Old Siding
This is the part that changes estimates, and the reason a siding quote given over the phone is not worth much.
- Rotted sheathing, most often along the bottom course and under windows.
- Failed or missing weather barrier. On some older installs there is simply nothing behind the boards.
- Water entry around windows, usually from flashing that was never installed correctly.
- Termite damage, which in this region is common enough that it should be expected rather than treated as a surprise.
- Compressed or missing insulation.
None of it is visible until the siding is off. An honest estimate says how substrate repair will be priced before the work starts, rather than presenting it as a change order afterwards. That is the same principle as stating the per-sheet decking price on a roof, which we cover on roof replacement in Converse.
More on what turns up: what we find behind siding.
The Details That Decide How Long It Lasts
Siding fails at its edges and its details, not in the middle of a board. Three things matter more than the brand on the box:
- Ground and roof clearance. James Hardie specifies minimum clearances — commonly 6 inches from earth and 1 inch above paved surfaces and roofing. Siding run too close to grade wicks moisture and fails early no matter how good the product is. It is one of the most commonly violated details we find.
- Kickout flashing where a roof edge meets a wall. Missing kickouts dump roof water straight behind the siding, and the rot shows up years later looking like a siding problem. See kickout flashing and siding rot.
- Fastening and expansion. Boards nailed too tight cannot move with the heat, which is what produces the warping and seam gaps people mistake for storm damage.
How Much Clearance Does James Hardie Siding Need? 1-Inch Rule Explained | South Austin — the James Hardie clearance rule and why it matters more than it sounds.
Is Your Siding Too Close to the Ground? 6-Inch Clearance Explained | South Austin — ground clearance specifically, which is the detail we find wrong most often.
Hail, Matching and Insurance
The National Weather Service warning over Converse on September 11, 2026 named siding explicitly among expected impacts, alongside roofs, windows and vehicles. Reports near Converse ran from 1.00 inch up to an estimated 2.50 inches.
Three things to get right on a siding claim:
- It is one loss. Roof, siding, windows, screens and gutters from one storm is a single claim with a single deductible. Document them together.
- Matching is the contested part. If the damaged boards are discontinued or the wall has faded, whether the carrier pays to redo the full elevation varies by policy. Raise it explicitly rather than assuming.
- Your deductible may exceed the siding scope. Texas wind and hail deductibles are often a percentage of dwelling coverage, commonly $4,000 to $8,000, so siding damage alone frequently sits below it. Whether the whole loss clears usually turns on the roof.
What we can do is inspect, photograph and document the whole exterior, prepare a scope, and meet your adjuster to explain what we recorded. What no Texas contractor may do is interpret your policy, determine coverage, negotiate the claim, or waive your deductible, which is a criminal offence in this state. Full detail: does homeowners insurance cover hail damage in Converse.
Hail Damage vs Old Siding: How to Tell the Difference | Not every mark on siding is hail damage. — telling genuine hail damage on siding apart from ordinary weathering.
The Replacement Process
- Free inspection of every elevation, photographed, including the details above rather than just the boards.
- Written, itemised scope naming the product, the trim, the clearances, the flashing work and how substrate repair will be priced.
- Tear-off of the affected elevations.
- Substrate inspection and repair — sheathing, framing, weather barrier — shown to you before it is covered up.
- Weather barrier and flashing, including kickouts and window detailing.
- Siding installation to the manufacturer’s clearance and fastening specification. This is what the warranty depends on.
- Trim, caulking and paint.
- Clean-up and a final walk with you.
Want a real number? We provide free written estimates with photographs across Converse and northeast Bexar County, and we will tell you when a repair is the right answer instead. Request a free inspection, call (512) 894-0129, or see our Converse services page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does siding replacement cost in Converse?
It depends far more on material, how many elevations are involved and what is found behind the old siding than on your address. We price from a measured scope after inspection rather than by the square foot over the phone, because the sheathing condition underneath is the variable that actually moves the number.
Is James Hardie worth it over vinyl?
In Central Texas heat, generally yes. Fibre cement holds paint far longer, does not warp or soften in summer sun, and resists impact better than vinyl. It costs more up front and it is heavier, so installation quality matters more. Driftwood is a James Hardie siding contractor.
Can you replace just one elevation?
Yes, and after hail that is often the right scope, because damage concentrates on the side that faced the storm. The practical constraint is matching: colour fades over twenty Texas summers and product lines get discontinued, so a new elevation can read differently from the rest.
Will insurance pay for siding replacement after hail?
Hail damage to siding is part of the same loss as the roof, under the same wind and hail deductible. Whether the carrier pays to replace a full elevation for matching purposes, rather than only the damaged boards, varies by policy language and is one of the most contested parts of a siding claim.
What do you find behind old siding?
Most commonly: rotted sheathing at the bottom course, failed or missing weather barrier, evidence of water entry around windows, and occasionally termite damage. None of it is visible until the siding comes off, which is why an honest estimate states how substrate repair will be priced.
How close to the ground should siding be?
James Hardie specifies a minimum clearance from grade, commonly 6 inches from earth and 1 inch above paved surfaces or roofing. It is one of the most frequently violated details, and siding installed too close to grade wicks moisture and fails early regardless of the material quality.
How long does siding replacement take?
A typical single-family elevation is a few days; a whole-home replacement usually runs one to two weeks depending on size, substrate repairs and paint. Weather and substrate surprises move that more than anything else.
Do I need a permit for siding in Converse?
The City of Converse permits construction work through its Building Department at 406 S. Seguin, 210.658.5356, and registers contractors before they can pull permits. Ask the Building Department directly about your specific scope rather than assuming, and make sure your contractor pulls whatever is required in its own name.
Can you match my existing siding?
Sometimes. If the profile and colour are still manufactured, yes. If not, the honest options are replacing the full elevation, or accepting a visible difference. We will tell you which before you commit rather than after the old siding is off.
Does new siding help with energy bills?
Modestly on its own. The larger gains come from what happens behind it: a properly detailed weather barrier, sealed penetrations, and correcting any missing or compressed insulation exposed during the work. Siding replacement is the cheapest time to fix those because the wall is already open.
What about stucco rather than siding?
We do stucco repair and restoration as well, and the two are genuinely different trades with different failure modes. Stucco problems usually show as cracking, delamination or termite damage behind the finish, and are repaired in coats rather than replaced in boards.
Do you paint the new siding?
Yes. Factory-finished products come pre-coloured; site-finished fibre cement is primed and painted as part of the scope. Exterior painting is part of what we do, so the finish is not handed off to a separate contractor you have to manage.
Sources and Notes
Storm data: National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio, Severe Thunderstorm Warning 0170 and Local Storm Reports, September 11–12, 2026. The quoted impact statement naming siding is from the 10:12 p.m. CDT update.
Clearance figures reflect James Hardie published installation requirements; confirm the current specification for your specific product and substrate, as these are revised.
Permits and contractor registration: City of Converse Building Department, 406 S. Seguin, Converse, TX 78109, 210.658.5356.
Deductible and claim-handling law: Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 and §4102.163; Texas Department of Insurance.
Costs are not quoted on this page because substrate condition, which is not visible until the siding is removed, is the dominant variable. Every project is priced from a measured scope after inspection. This page is general information, not insurance advice.
