Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is a licensed Illinois contractor (IL license 104.017824) working in Belvidere and across Boone County. We’re family-owned, we’ve been in business since 2006, and we’re a GAF Master Elite contractor and a four-time Inc. 5000 company. We have been voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding Contractor, 2021 to 2025. Call (815) 209-9054.
Belvidere Knows Storms
Ask anyone who’s lived here a while. The F4 tornado of April 21, 1967 destroyed 127 homes on the southeast side. On March 31, 2023, an EF-1 with winds near 100 mph tore part of the roof off the Apollo Theatre downtown. And on May 15, 2025, quarter-size hail came down in town. Most storms are smaller than those, but Belvidere is surrounded by open farm country, and the wind that crosses it doesn’t slow down before it reaches your house.
That’s why we care so much about how siding is fastened. Vinyl that’s nailed wrong or not locked at the bottom will flap and eventually blow off. Hardie that’s not flashed correctly at trim and openings lets water in behind it. We install both to the manufacturer’s instructions, and most jobs get new house wrap under the siding.
Three Kinds of Belvidere Houses
The older homes near the Kishwaukee River and the historic downtown on State Street. These usually need the most prep. Once the old layers come off, we replace rotted sheathing and trim before anything goes back up. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included.
Post-war ranches on the north and south sides. These are often still wearing aluminum or early vinyl that’s faded hard on the south and west walls. A ranch is a quick job. Most siding projects take 1 to 2 days.
Newer subdivisions out on the east side, built as the town grew around the auto plant. Thin builder-grade vinyl isn’t old, but hail and wind find it first.
Vinyl vs James Hardie in Belvidere
Vinyl from Mastic and Norandex costs less, never needs paint and often lasts 20 to 40 years when it’s installed correctly. Today’s thicker and insulated panels are a big step up from builder-grade vinyl. Martin Exteriors is VSI certified through the Vinyl Siding Institute.
James Hardie fiber cement is the one to look at if hail is your main worry. It’s a dense, non-combustible board that handles impact much better than vinyl, and it looks like painted wood, which suits the older homes near downtown. It costs more up front and comes with James Hardie’s own product warranty.
We’ll show you both at your estimate and tell you honestly which one fits your house and budget.
After Hail or Wind
Hail that’s big enough to dent a car usually cracks vinyl and can dent aluminum. If a storm went through, we’ll inspect the siding and roof for free and photograph the damage. If it’s worth a claim, we’ll help with your insurance claim and can meet the adjuster at your house. If a few panels can be matched and repaired, we’ll tell you that instead of selling you a whole house. See hail damage repair and wind damage repair.
We install in winter too, so a storm in November doesn’t mean living with broken siding until spring.
If hail or wind broke only a few panels, start with our Belvidere siding repair page, which walks through fixing just the damaged boards.
What Customers Say
“We contacted Martins in early 2025 when we noticed shingles falling off after storms. Martins fought on our behalf with insurance for a roof replacement. They walked us through everything and answered every question we had. They never missed an appointment with us and they got back to us the same day if we called. It was a long back and forth with insurance but it was worth it in the end. After finally getting approval they were here and done in one day and it looks amazing. Very happy with our experience.”
Google review
“Couldn’t ask for a better experience. Very professional. Never felt like they were trying to over sell us and took the time to explain everything about the roof materials and why they did things the way they do. Their clean up is excellent as well. No debris was left behind. You will definitely not be disappointed using them!!”
Alexis K.
Roofing in Belvidere
Storms that hurt siding usually hurt the roof too. See our Belvidere roofing page, and our siding installation overview.
Belvidere Homes by Decade
Census estimates (ACS 2020 to 2024) back up the three kinds of Belvidere houses. Of the city’s roughly 10,000 homes, about 22% were built before 1940, about 1 in 3 went up in the 1990s and 2000s, and the median build year is 1976. About 7 in 10 occupied homes are owner occupied.
The 2000s subdivisions are where a lot of the next siding work is. About 19% of Belvidere homes were built from 2000 to 2009, and their original builder vinyl is now around 17 to 26 years old. That is about when thin panels start to fade unevenly, crack near the ground and work loose at the bottom.
Repair or replace? If a storm broke a few panels and they can still be matched, our Belvidere siding repair page covers replacing just those boards. If the fading, cracks or loose panels run across most of the house, a full re-side usually makes more sense than patching wall after wall.
Siding Prices in Belvidere
In Belvidere, the price per square foot depends mostly on the material, while the total depends on the house: an older home near downtown usually needs more prep and trim work than a newer east side home. Here are typical installed price ranges.
- Vinyl siding: about $6.50 to $8.25+ per square foot installed
- Insulated vinyl: about $11.75 to $16.25+ per square foot installed
- James Hardie fiber cement: about $12.00 to $20.00+ per square foot installed
Soffit, fascia and any trim a project needs are quoted separately. Vinyl doesn’t always need trim. With Hardie, trim work can cost as much as the siding itself, so every project has to be seen, discussed and planned before we can quote it.
More on how the three options differ is on our siding installation page.
Free Siding Estimate in Belvidere
We’ll measure the house, check the walls, and bring vinyl and Hardie samples you can look at in daylight. Financing is available, with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers (see financing).
Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 209-9054.
Recent Siding and Roof Job in Belvidere, IL
On a job in Belvidere, the homeowners compared James Hardie samples side by side with other siding options and chose Hardie in Deep Ocean for its durability, paired with a GAF Timberline HDZ roof in Pewter Gray. See the Belvidere James Hardie and GAF roof project.
Belvidere Siding FAQ
Is James Hardie siding worth it in Belvidere with all the hail?
For a lot of homeowners, yes. James Hardie fiber cement handles hail and impact much better than vinyl. It costs more up front, so we’ll show you both options and let you decide.
Can you fix a few hail-damaged siding panels instead of replacing the whole house?
Sometimes. It depends on whether your color and profile can still be matched. We’ll check and tell you honestly.
Do I need a permit for siding in Belvidere?
Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits, inside or outside Belvidere city limits.
How long does vinyl siding last?
Quality vinyl that’s installed correctly often lasts 20 to 40 years here.
What happens to my old siding?
We remove it and haul it away. We handle any old siding, asbestos included.
Do you install siding in the winter?
Yes. We install year-round, winter included, and most jobs take 1 to 2 days.
What does new siding cost in Belvidere?
Typical installed prices are about $6.50 to $8.25+ per square foot for vinyl, about $11.75 to $16.25+ for insulated vinyl and about $12.00 to $20.00+ for James Hardie fiber cement. Older Belvidere homes near downtown usually need more prep and trim work than newer ones. The free inspection ends with a written quote for your home.
My Belvidere house was built in the 2000s. Is the builder vinyl due?
It may be getting there. Thin builder vinyl from the 2000s is now close to 20 years old or more, and it tends to fade, crack near the ground and loosen at the bottom. If only a few panels are bad, a repair may do. If it’s most of the house, replacing it usually makes more sense.
What’s under the siding on an older Belvidere home near downtown?
Often one or more older layers, such as aluminum or vinyl over the original wood, and sometimes asbestos cement shingles. We take it all off, replace rotted sheathing and trim, and most homes get new house wrap before new siding goes on. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included.
