Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is an Elkhorn, WI siding contractor based in Roscoe, IL, and a Certified James Hardie Installer that also installs Mastic and Norandex vinyl. Elkhorn is the Walworth County seat and about 50 minutes from our main office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe. We’re a certified dwelling contractor in Wisconsin (#1436189). Family owned since 2006 and on the Inc. 5000 list four times, Martin Exteriors was also voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding Contractor, 2021 to 2025. Call (815) 624-6278. Someone answers 24/7.
Around the Square
The houses on the older streets around Elkhorn’s courthouse square, like Wisconsin Street, Walworth Street and Court Street, are many of them well over 100 years old. Census estimates say about 14% of Elkhorn homes were built before 1940, most of them in that core. They’re tall houses with porches, trim and plenty of corners.
Siding those homes takes patience. There’s usually more than one old layer to take off, and sometimes asbestos cement shingles. If the old siding turns out to be asbestos cement, our own licensed crews remove it. Underneath, we repair soft sheathing, and most homes get new house wrap. Then the trim work starts, which is where an older house is won or lost.
James Hardie fiber cement is usually the right call on these houses. It passes for painted wood on the houses near the square, and being much heavier than vinyl, it stands up to hail. It’s backed by James Hardie’s own product warranty.
The Newer Side of Elkhorn
About half of Elkhorn’s homes went up between 1980 and 2009, and the median home dates to 1990. Out in those neighborhoods, it’s usually builder vinyl that has faded and cracked. Those houses are quicker to side, and most jobs take 1 to 2 days.
Vinyl siding from Mastic and Norandex is what most homeowners there choose. No painting, a much bigger palette than the builder’s, and with a good install it can go 20 to 40 years. Martin Exteriors is VSI certified through the Vinyl Siding Institute.
Elkhorn Sits Out in the Open
Elkhorn is right where I-43 meets Highway 12 and Highway 67, and there isn’t much around it to slow the wind down. Wind-driven rain gets behind tired siding, and a loose panel turns into a missing one fast. Panels are locked together and nailed loose enough to move with the weather, which is how they stay on in a storm. For a fix that replaces only the damaged boards, see siding repair.
Hail is a fact of life here, too. NOAA’s Storm Events Database lists ping-pong-ball hail in Elkhorn on May 12, 2014 that damaged 400 cars at an auto dealer. From 2010 through 2025, it counts 67 hail reports in Walworth County, 51 of them an inch or larger, plus 102 severe thunderstorm wind reports.
Storm Damage and Insurance
Hail or a windstorm in Elkhorn? We check the siding, the roof and the gutters for free, photograph the damage, and help with your insurance claim if it’s worth filing. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners through roof claims. If your old color is discontinued and a repair won’t match, we’ll tell you that before you file. See storm damage repair.
For a repair here in town, the Elkhorn siding repair page explains how we swap out only the boards a storm or a woodpecker damaged.
Permits for Re-Siding
Re-siding in Elkhorn needs a building permit. Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits before we start.
How an Elkhorn Siding Project Goes
- Walk the house. We look closely at the trim, porches and corners and bring samples you can see outside in daylight.
- Written estimate and permit. Your price is on paper, and we pull the building permit that re-siding in Elkhorn needs.
- Strip and prep. Old layers come off, asbestos cement siding is removed by our own licensed crews, soft sheathing is repaired and new house wrap goes on most homes.
- Install. James Hardie on many older houses near the square, Mastic or Norandex vinyl on most newer ones. Most jobs take 1 to 2 days, and tall older homes take longer.
- Final walk. We go around the house with you, check every corner and the trim, and haul the old siding away.
Roofing and Nearby Towns
If your roof is due along with the siding, see our Elkhorn roofing page. We also work in nearby Delavan and Lake Geneva, and you can see all of our southern Wisconsin work and the siding installation overview.
Siding Prices in Elkhorn
Elkhorn’s older houses around the courthouse square have tall walls, porches and lots of trim, so trim work is a big part of the price there, while newer homes on the edges of town are usually simpler. 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.
For a side by side look at each material, see our siding installation page.
Free Siding Estimate in Elkhorn
We’ll walk the house with you, look closely at the trim and porches, and bring samples you can hold up outside. Payments can be as low as $149/month for qualified buyers through our financing options.
Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Recent Siding Job in Elkhorn, WI
On a house in Elkhorn over 40 years old, we installed James Hardie fiber cement in Espresso to replace woodpecker damaged siding while keeping its dark brown look. See the Elkhorn James Hardie Espresso siding project.
Elkhorn Siding FAQ
Do I need a permit to re-side my house in Elkhorn?
Yes. Re-siding needs a building permit. Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits.
Do you work on the old houses near the courthouse square?
Yes. Older Elkhorn homes take more prep and trim work, and we often find several layers of old siding. James Hardie fiber cement usually suits them best.
Can you remove asbestos siding?
Yes. That removal is done by our own crews, who are licensed for it.
How far is Elkhorn from your office?
About 50 minutes from our office at 11704 Main St, Roscoe, IL 61073. Call (815) 624-6278. Someone answers 24/7.
Are you licensed in Wisconsin?
Yes. We’re a certified dwelling contractor in Wisconsin (#1436189).
How long does it take to side an older house near the square?
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days, but a tall older home with porches and a lot of trim usually takes longer. We’ll tell you at the estimate.
Should I choose vinyl or James Hardie for a newer Elkhorn home?
Most owners in the 1980s to 2000s neighborhoods pick Mastic or Norandex vinyl for the low upkeep and the color choices. James Hardie fiber cement is the pick if you want a painted wood look or better hail resistance.
Can you replace siding that woodpeckers damaged?
Yes. On an Elkhorn house over 40 years old, we replaced woodpecker damaged siding with James Hardie fiber cement in Espresso and kept its dark brown look.
Will you work with my adjuster after an Elkhorn hailstorm?
We help homeowners with storm claims and can work with your adjuster if needed. We check the siding, roof and gutters for free and photograph what we find.
What does new siding cost in Elkhorn?
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 Elkhorn homes near the square carry more trim work than newer homes. Your free inspection comes with a written price.
