Cherry Valley sits in the Kishwaukee River valley, and on low lots, water is the first thing we check when siding fails. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding fixes damaged siding by replacing the boards or sections that have failed, with James Hardie fiber cement as our first choice and vinyl as the other main option. We never cover damage with sealant or filler. The inspection is free. Call our Rockford office at (815) 209-9054, answered 24/7.
A Young Village Around an Old Center
Cherry Valley was settled in 1835 and incorporated in 1857, and some of its oldest houses still stand on the blocks around the small brick buildings downtown. Most of the village is much newer. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median home at 1997, with about 68% built from 1990 through 2009. Only about 8% predate 1940.
Cherry Valley also has a lot of shared housing. About 15% of homes are attached houses like townhomes, and another 16% are in buildings with five or more units. On those homes, a repair can mean working with an association or the neighbor who shares the wall.
Low Ground, Creeks and Wet Walls
The North Branch of the Kishwaukee runs right through the business district, and Madigan Creek drains through neighborhoods like Valley Ridge on its way to the river. Low ground near the water has flooded before, and even without a flood, yards near the river and the creeks stay damp longer after heavy rain.
For siding, that means trouble starts at the bottom of the wall. We look for:
- Swollen or stained lower boards on engineered wood or older wood siding that sat in water or wet soil.
- Wet wrap and soft sheathing behind vinyl that looks fine from the street. Vinyl does not soak up water, but the wall behind it can.
- Mud lines and debris trapped behind the bottom course and in the starter strip after high water.
After any high water, we pull the bottom courses, check the wrap and sheathing behind them, replace what is wet or soft, and put the wall back together so it can drain and dry. James Hardie is a good choice for those low courses because it does not swell like wood when it gets wet.
Builder Vinyl From the 1990s and 2000s
On the 1990s and 2000s streets around the village, many houses still have the vinyl they were built with. After 15 to 35 years it has faded unevenly, turned brittle in the cold, and loosened along the bottom lock on the more exposed walls. These are usually straightforward repairs. We unlock the course above, swap the cracked or warped panels, and relock and renail what has worked loose. If your color is no longer made, we tell you before ordering and suggest the cleanest way to hide the change, often by redoing one full side.
Townhomes and Condo Buildings
On an attached home, one damaged wall can belong to two owners, and an association may decide the siding product and color. We check those rules first, match the existing siding across the building, and give a written scope that every owner or the board can approve before anything is ordered.
The Older Blocks Downtown
Houses around the brick downtown are a different job. Some have newer siding over the original wood lap, and the trim and porches may have been patched before. We open the damaged area, check every layer behind it, cut out rot back to sound wood, and fit new boards at the same exposure. Engineered wood such as LP SmartSide is available on request.
Why Cherry Valley Homeowners Call Martin
- A Rockford office on Fincham Drive, close to Cherry Valley, answered 24/7.
- Certified James Hardie Installer and CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor.
- Voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025.
- Inc. 5000 Company that has helped thousands of homeowners since 2006.
- Free inspections and year round installs.
If the repair grows into new siding, most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days, and payments can be as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. See financing options.
More Cherry Valley Pages
See siding in Cherry Valley for full projects, our Cherry Valley roofing page, Cherry Valley roof repair and hail damage roof repair in Cherry Valley. Our siding repair page covers the process. Book a free inspection or call (815) 209-9054.
Cherry Valley Siding Repair FAQ
Water got up against my house. Does the siding need to come off?
Usually the bottom courses do. We pull them, check the wrap and sheathing behind them, replace anything wet or soft, and reinstall so the wall can drain and dry.
My vinyl looks fine after high water. Should I still have it checked?
Yes. Vinyl does not absorb water, but the wrap and sheathing behind it can stay wet. A free inspection tells you whether anything behind the panels needs to be replaced.
Can you repair siding on one townhome without redoing the building?
Yes. We match the existing siding, check what the association requires, and provide a written scope for approval before ordering.
Is James Hardie a good choice for the lower part of a wall near the river?
Yes. Fiber cement does not swell like wood when it gets wet, so it holds up well on low courses that stay damp.
What number should Cherry Valley homeowners call?
Our Rockford office at (815) 209-9054, answered 24/7.
