Harvard started as a railroad stop in 1856, and its houses still tell that story, from Victorians near Ayer Street to farmhouses out in dairy country and subdivisions on the edge of town. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding repairs all of them by replacing the damaged boards or sections, with James Hardie fiber cement first and vinyl as the other main option. We do not patch siding with sealant or filler. The inspection is free, and (815) 624-6278 is answered 24/7.
Harvard Housing at a Glance
Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put Harvard’s median home at 1980. About 18% of homes were built before 1940, many of them in the original grid around Ayer Street, Division Street and the Five Points, and about 36% went up from 1990 through 2009 in subdivisions like Shadow Creek and Turtle Crossing. Harvard also has a lot of small multi unit housing: about 17% of homes are in buildings with two to four units, and roughly 40% are rented.
Victorians, Foursquares and Bungalows Near Downtown
The older blocks hold Victorian era houses, foursquares, bungalows and farmhouse styles from the town’s railroad and dairy years. These houses have tall walls, deep porches and a lot of trim, and many have one or two newer layers over the original wood. What tends to fail on them:
- Rotted clapboard behind porch roofs and at the sills, cut out back to sound wood and replaced at the same exposure.
- Damaged gable shingles on Victorians, matched in pattern, with James Hardie shingle profiles as a rot resistant option.
- Aluminum or vinyl over wood that has been dented or torn. We open the damaged area, repair the layer that is failing, and tell you what we found behind it.
Duplexes and Rentals
With about one home in six in a two to four unit building, plenty of Harvard siding belongs to landlords. A cracked panel on a rental can sit for months, and water gets into the wall in the meantime. We inspect from outside, so tenants do not need to let us in, send dated photos of every damaged board, and give a written scope you can approve by phone.
Farmhouses in Dairy Country
Harvard calls itself the Milk Capital of the World, and the farm ground is still all around it, across Chemung, Dunham and Alden townships. Farmhouses out there stand on open ground with nothing to break the wind. The windward walls take the most beating: panels that work loose, wood siding that weathers and splits, and trim that pulls away at the corners. We repair the damaged walls and, where wind keeps winning, suggest James Hardie for those sides because its weight and nailing hold up better than thin vinyl.
Subdivisions on the West and South Edges
Homes from the 1990s and 2000s in the newer subdivisions are mostly on their original builder vinyl. The typical problems are impact cracks, loose bottoms and faded sunny walls. If your color is still made, these repairs are quick. If not, we show you the options before ordering, including redoing one full side.
Why Harvard Homeowners Call Martin
- Certified James Hardie Installer and CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor.
- Voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025.
- Inc. 5000 Company, helping thousands of homeowners since 2006.
- Free inspections with photos of every damaged board.
- Year round installs, and someone answering 24/7.
If a repair turns 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 Harvard Pages
See Harvard siding for full projects, our Harvard roofing page and roof repair in Harvard. Our siding repair page covers the process, and wind damage repair covers storm damage. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Harvard Siding Repair FAQ
Can you repair the siding on an older house near Ayer Street?
Yes. We cut out rotted clapboard back to sound wood, replace it at the same exposure, match gable shingles, and repair the layer that is actually failing.
I own a duplex in Harvard. Do my tenants need to be home?
No. The inspection is all outside, so nobody has to let us in. We send you the photos and the scope, and you decide from wherever you are.
The wind keeps loosening the siding on my farmhouse. What can be done?
We replace the damaged panels and boards on the windward walls, and we can switch those sides to James Hardie fiber cement, which holds up better than thin vinyl.
Can you match the builder vinyl on my 2000s home?
If the color is still made, usually yes. If not, we show you options before ordering, including redoing one full side.
How far is Harvard from your office?
About 38 minutes from our main office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe. Call (815) 624-6278, 24/7.
