A large share of Guilderland's housing stock was built in the 1960s and 1970s, and a significant portion of those homes were sided with aluminum that is now 50 to 60 years old. At that age, the material is oxidizing, denting, and — most critically — trapping moisture behind the panels against the sheathing where you can't see it. Concealed rot in the wall framing is one of the more predictable finds when we pull aluminum off a McKownville ranch or a Westmere split-level. The other common story is 1980s vinyl that has gone brittle and chalky after 35 or 40 years of Capital Region winters. Herman Exterior Homes replaces and installs siding throughout Guilderland, and we're based in Schenectady — about 10 miles and 16 minutes away. Call (518) 817-1787 for a free on-site estimate.
What Siding Projects Does Herman Exterior Homes Take On?
- Full Siding Replacement
- Siding Repair
- New Construction and Additions
Our Services
Siding Installation in Guilderland
We are a local exterior contractor based in Schenectady, about 10 miles from Guilderland's town center. We've built our reputation across the Capital Region on straight answers and clean work. You get a written, itemized estimate, a realistic project schedule, and crews who clean up daily and protect your landscaping.
On older homes we tell you what we find under the existing siding, what it costs to address it, and what can reasonably wait — and then we let you decide. We're not in the business of manufacturing urgency.
Call us TodaySiding Options for Guilderland Homes
Fiber cement is the product we recommend most often for Guilderland homes, and the reason is straightforward: it doesn't absorb water the way wood does, doesn't become brittle in cold the way aging vinyl does, and doesn't dent or oxidize the way aluminum does. In a climate that logs 80 to 90 or more freeze-thaw cycle days per year — where water infiltrates seams during 35-degree afternoons and expands roughly 9 percent when it refreezes overnight — dimensional stability is everything.
Give Us a CallInsulated vinyl has expanded polystyrene foam bonded to the back of each panel, which adds effective R-value to the wall and gives the panels enough mass that they resist cold-weather impacts instead of shattering the way older hollow vinyl does. For the 1960s and 1970s ranches and colonials that make up a large share of Guilderland's housing stock — homes that may have had minimal wall cavity insulation from the day they were built
Insulated vinyl is often the most cost-effective way to improve thermal performance alongside a siding replacement. It's a practical choice across the Westmere and McKownville corridors where home values and project budgets call for a smart middle-ground solution.
Learn MoreGive Us a CallLP SmartSide is engineered wood siding that delivers the warmth and visual character of real wood without the maintenance cycle that painted cedar demands. It's treated with zinc borate to resist fungal decay and insects, manufactured to consistent dimensions that handle installation on older homes with settled wall planes, and rated to resist woodpecker damage — a more relevant spec in Guilderland's wooded western neighborhoods than it might sound.
For the Cape Cods in McKownville or the Federal and Colonial Revival homes in Altamont where vinyl would look out of place, SmartSide gives you a wood-look exterior with a 50-year limited warranty.
Everlast composite is the premium end of what we install. It's a polymer composite that is genuinely moisture-immune — not moisture-resistant — so it cannot swell, warp, or rot under any exposure condition. The color goes through the material rather than sitting on the surface, which means there is no paint layer to chip, peel, or fade over time. It carries a lifetime transferable warranty. Everlast is the right answer for homeowners who want to install siding once and not have that conversation again, and it's a strong option for Altamont properties where appearance needs to hold without ongoing maintenance.
Altamont's Main Street historic district comes with stricter rules than the rest of Guilderland. Village zoning requires exterior materials to look similar to neighboring buildings, which usually rules out standard vinyl. Fiber cement, LP SmartSide, and Everlast composite in lap, shingle, or beaded profiles typically pass.Permits are required for any exterior work in the village, and historic properties may need a compatibility review first. We handle the paperwork and flag the material limits at the estimate stage, so it doesn't hold up your project.
We come to your home for a free on-site inspection before quoting anything. We look at the full exterior, assess the existing siding, check for moisture evidence at windows and penetrations, and ask about how the house has been performing — drafts, heating bills, moisture issues. The estimate comes back in writing with material options, not a single take-it-or-leave-it number.
Once you're ready to proceed, we handle the permit application. Work doesn't start until the permit is issued. When the old siding comes off, we do a full visual inspection of the sheathing before anything else. Any rot or moisture damage gets documented and addressed — not covered over.
New housewrap goes on every project, and for older Guilderland homes where wall insulation is minimal, we can install rigid foam continuous insulation beneath the new siding to reduce thermal bridging and improve the wall's effective R-value.
All window and door openings get flashing tape integrated with the housewrap before any panel goes on. Corner boards, window trim, and soffit and fascia work are part of the project — not add-ons. We treat the exterior as a complete system.
When the job is done, we remove all material and debris from your property and walk the entire exterior with you before we consider the project closed. If something isn't right, we fix it before we leave.
What Neighborhoods in Guilderland Do We Serve?
- McKownville
- Westmere
- Altamont
- Western Hamlets
- Guilderland Center
Get a Free Siding Estimate in Guilderland, NY
If your siding is showing its age — whether it's aluminum that's been on there since the Johnson administration or vinyl that's started cracking in the cold — we'd like to take a look. Call Herman Exterior Homes at (518) 817-1787 or request your free estimate online. We'll walk the property, give you honest recommendations, and provide a clear written quote with no pressure.
Also check out our What Siding Is Right for You Quiz or our Siding Estimator
Guilderland Siding FAQ's
How long does siding replacement take on a typical Guilderland home?
Most single-family homes in Guilderland take three to five business days of active installation once materials are on site. If we find sheathing damage during removal, which is common on 1960s homes that still have the original aluminum, or if the scope includes trim replacement, that can add a day or two. We give you a written schedule before work starts and communicate immediately if anything changes it.
Can I replace siding on a home in Altamont's historic district?
Yes, but Altamont village zoning requires that exterior materials be similar in appearance to those found on adjacent buildings, which in the historic core typically rules out standard vinyl in favor of fiber cement, engineered wood, or composite profiles that replicate traditional wood siding.
My house still has the original aluminum siding from the 1960s — is it time to replace it?
Almost certainly. Aluminum siding from that era is now 55 to 65 years old and well past its intended service life. The oxidation and denting you can see are the least of the concerns. The bigger issue is what's behind the panels: degraded building paper, moisture trapped against the sheathing, and frequently concealed rot in the wall framing that's invisible from the outside.
Do you handle permits for siding work in Guilderland?
Yes. We handle the permit application on every siding replacement project in Guilderland. You don't need to visit the town building department or fill out paperwork — that's part of the project. For Altamont properties, we manage the village permit process and any coordination around material review.
Will new siding lower my energy bills?
It depends on what you're starting from. If your home was built in the 1960s with minimal wall insulation — common in McKownville and Westmere — insulated vinyl with continuous foam backing will add measurable R-value and reduce thermal bridging through the studs. The improvement is real but works best as part of a broader wall assembly upgrade.
Our Siding Contractors Reviews
I recently worked with Herman Home Exteriors for a siding replacement on my new rental property in Schenectady, NY, and I couldn’t be happier! The consultation was smooth and informative; the team walked me through all the different siding options and helped me pick the perfect style to enhance my property’s curb appeal. I really appreciated their transparency about costs and timelines, which made me feel confident in my decisions. If you’re looking to upgrade your home or rental, I highly recommend Herman Home Exteriors!
- Surat Patel
