Older Home Exterior Guide

Why Aluminum Siding Still Makes Sense for Some Older Quad Cities Homes

Older homes rarely present contractors with perfectly flat walls, simple details, or one generation of exterior materials. A single property may include original wood siding, older aluminum panels, enclosed porches, replacement windows, repaired trim, and additions built decades apart.

In the right situation, Gentek aluminum siding can provide a practical way to preserve traditional horizontal lines while reducing the recurring maintenance associated with painted wood.

Aluminum Is Lightweight and Moisture-Resistant

Aluminum siding is lighter than many alternative exterior claddings. That can make handling and installation more manageable on renovation projects with multiple elevations, porches, dormers, or hard-to-reach wall sections.

Aluminum also will not red-rust and does not absorb moisture. These characteristics can be valuable on older homes, but they do not eliminate the need for proper water management. Siding is an exterior cladding—not the building’s only defense against water.

The wall still needs sound sheathing, a properly installed water-resistive barrier where required, correctly integrated flashing, and drainage paths around windows, doors, roof intersections, and penetrations.

Inspect the Existing Wall Before Covering It

New aluminum siding should never be used to conceal active deterioration. Before materials are ordered, contractors should determine what is already on the wall and what condition exists beneath it.

The preinstallation inspection should address:

• Loose, rotted, or insect-damaged wood
• Bowed framing and uneven sheathing
• Missing or improperly integrated flashing
• Signs of water entry around windows and doors
• Old layers that may contain regulated materials
• Existing siding that must be removed, secured, or evaluated
• Inadequate fastening surfaces
• Blocked drainage or ventilation paths

Premium siding cannot flatten a seriously distorted wall or repair a failed wall assembly. Correcting the substrate first produces straighter courses, more consistent seams, and a more dependable finished exterior.

Match the Aluminum Profile to the Architecture

Gentek provides two aluminum siding directions that can work on older properties. Deluxe Aluminum Siding offers a smooth finish in Double 4-inch clapboard and 8-inch single profiles. It can be a strong fit when the goal is to preserve clean, restrained horizontal lines.

Woodgrain Series 2000 uses a Double 4-inch profile and a wood-inspired texture. It may be the better choice when the homeowner wants traditional clapboard character without the routine repainting associated with wood siding.

Historic appearance should be evaluated carefully. Aluminum may not be appropriate for every landmark, preservation district, or architecturally significant property. Owners should confirm local requirements before changing the exterior of a regulated home.

Coordinate the Difficult Details

Older homes commonly have deep window trim, projecting sills, ornate cornices, boxed eaves, irregular corners, and additions with different wall depths. These details should be measured before deciding how the siding will terminate.

Custom-formed trim coil can help finish windows, doors, fascia boards, and other exterior components. The formed metal must shed water and work with the existing flashing. Decorative capping cannot replace proper flashing or correct hidden deterioration.

The project should also coordinate soffit and fascia with the siding, windows, roof, gutters, and architectural trim. Replacing every detail with oversized metal coverings can erase the character that made the older home attractive in the first place.

When Steel Siding Deserves Consideration

Aluminum is not automatically the best metal option. If the homeowner’s priorities include greater resistance to ordinary denting, substantial material strength, and a long-term metal exterior, compare aluminum with Gentek steel siding.

Steel is heavier and requires product-specific cutting, fastening, and installation practices. Aluminum remains attractive when lower material weight, red-rust resistance, and a particular traditional appearance are more important. The correct recommendation depends on the house—not on habit or a one-size-fits-all sales pitch.

Get the Product and Preparation Right

Gentek aluminum siding can be an excellent renovation material for older Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, and Quad Cities homes. Its lightweight construction, low maintenance, moisture resistance, and traditional profiles give contractors a credible alternative to repainting aging wood.

Its success still depends on honest inspection, sound wall preparation, correct flashing, compatible accessories, current manufacturer instructions, and an installation crew that understands aluminum.

Existing wall conditions, codes, historic-property requirements, product specifications, availability, and installation instructions vary. Inspect the building and verify current requirements before ordering or installing siding.