Lake Geneva is about an hour from our main office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe, and we make that drive for siding and roofing jobs around the lake. We’re a certified dwelling contractor in Wisconsin (#1436189). Martin Exteriors has been in one family’s hands since 2006, has been named to the Inc. 5000 four times, and was voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding Contractor, 2021 to 2025. Call (815) 624-6278.
Big Houses, Lots of Walls
Lake Geneva homes run from older houses near downtown and the Riviera to large lake homes along the shore path and newer neighborhoods and golf communities like Geneva National. Census estimates say about 13% of homes in the city have gone up since 2010, more than in most towns around here.
A lot of these houses are big and complicated: tall walls, gables, bump-outs and a lot of trim. On a house like that, the siding itself is only part of the job. The flashing around every roof line, deck ledger and door decides whether water stays out, and that’s where we spend our time.
Second Homes and Photo Updates
The Census counts nearly 1 in 5 Lake Geneva homes as not occupied full-time. If you’re only at the lake on weekends or in the summer, you don’t need to be there for your siding job. We send photos and updates as the work goes, so you can see the walls opened up, any repairs to the sheathing, and the finished house. Most homes get new house wrap.
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days. Large lake homes with a lot of detail take longer, and we’ll give you a real schedule at the estimate.
Sun and Wind Off the Water
The side of a lake home that faces the water takes the most sun and wind. That’s the wall that fades first, and where loose siding starts. Storms around the lake can be serious. NOAA’s Storm Events Database lists winds estimated at 75 mph in Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake on November 10, 2020, wind-driven hail 2.5 inches across at Williams Bay on May 2, 2018, and an EF-1 tornado on June 22, 2024 that took roofs off homes near Williams Bay before ending over Geneva Lake. For a fix that replaces only the damaged boards, see siding repair.
When weather rolls over Geneva Lake and you’re away, we’ll walk the siding and roof at no charge and send the pictures to your phone. If it’s worth a claim, we help with your insurance claim. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners through roof claims. See storm damage repair.
James Hardie on a Lake Home
James Hardie fiber cement is what most of our Lake Geneva customers choose. It has the look of painted wood, it comes in lap, shingle and board-and-batten styles that suit a lake house, and it’s heavy and non-combustible, so it handles hail and impact better than vinyl. It’s backed by James Hardie’s own product warranty.
Vinyl siding from Mastic and Norandex still makes sense on plenty of homes, especially a cottage or garage where low upkeep matters most. Installed right, it often lasts 20 to 40 years and never needs paint. Martin Exteriors is VSI certified through the Vinyl Siding Institute.
How much does siding cost in Lake Geneva?
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.
Schedule your free inspection and estimate to get a quote for your home.
Older Homes Downtown
About 14% of Lake Geneva homes were built before 1940, mostly near downtown. Those houses often have old layers under the current siding, sometimes including asbestos cement shingles. Older estate homes sometimes hide asbestos cement shingles, and our own crews are licensed to remove them.
Which Permit Applies
Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits anywhere around Geneva Lake.
Roofing and Nearby Towns
See our Lake Geneva roofing page if the roof is due too. Delavan and Elkhorn are on our list too, along with the towns on our southern Wisconsin page. The siding installation page explains how a job runs.
Lake Geneva Homes by Decade
Census estimates (ACS 2020 to 2024) count about 5,200 homes in Lake Geneva, with a median build year of 1978. The 1970s were the biggest building decade, at about 17%, and about 1 in 4 homes has gone up since 2000. Only about half are single family detached houses. About 3 in 10 sit in buildings with five or more units, and about 1 in 9 is held for seasonal or recreational use.
For siding, that means three common situations: 1970s homes that are often ready for their first or second re-side, newer homes whose original siding is starting to fade on the sun side, and condo or townhome buildings where an association decides on the material and color. If you are in an association, bring its exterior rules to the estimate.
Repair or replace? If a storm or a falling branch damaged one wall, our Lake Geneva siding repair page covers replacing just those boards or sections. On a lake home where the water side has faded far more than the street side, new boards may not blend in, and re-siding the worn walls or the whole house usually looks better.
Siding Replacement in Lake Geneva, WI
With about 1 in 4 Lake Geneva homes built since 2000, a lot of the siding replacement we see here isn’t on an old house at all. It’s the original siding on a newer home that has faded on the sun side, warped near a deck or grill, or just doesn’t look the way it used to. On the 1970s homes, it’s more often a second re-side.
Replacing the siding is the time to decide how you want the house to look for years to come. Many owners move up to James Hardie lap, shingle or board-and-batten. Others stay with vinyl and choose an insulated panel or a new color. We’re a Certified James Hardie Installer, a Mastic Select Contractor, a CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor and VSI certified, and we install Norandex, so you can see the options side by side.
If it’s a second home, we can do the work while you’re away and send photos as each wall is finished. The typical price ranges are in the cost section above, and your exact price comes from a free inspection. Financing is available, as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. Call (815) 624-6278.
Free Siding Estimate in Lake Geneva
We’ll walk every wall with you or send you photos if you can’t be there, and bring samples so you can see them in lake light. On a big lake house, financing helps: payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers.
Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Recent Siding Job in Lake Geneva, WI
On a family lake home in Lake Geneva, the owners chose James Hardie fiber cement siding for the whole house, with a GAF Timberline HDZ roof and new soffit and fascia in the same project. See the Lake Geneva James Hardie lake home makeover.
Lake Geneva Siding FAQ
Can you re-side my Lake Geneva home while I’m not there?
Yes. We send photos and updates as the job goes, and you can see the finished work before you come back.
Who issues siding permits around Geneva Lake?
Martin Exteriors does. We pull and handle all required permits anywhere around Geneva Lake, so you have nothing to file yourself.
Is James Hardie worth it on a lake home?
For most lake homes, yes. It handles sun, wind and hail better than vinyl and comes in styles that suit a lake house. Vinyl is the lower-cost, low-upkeep option.
How long does a siding job take on a big lake house?
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days. Large homes with a lot of trim and detail take longer, and we’ll give you a schedule up front.
Are you licensed in Wisconsin?
Yes. We’re a certified dwelling contractor in Wisconsin (#1436189).
What does new siding cost on a Lake Geneva home?
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. Soffit, fascia and trim are quoted separately. On a big lake house with tall walls and a lot of trim, the trim work can add a lot, so we price every home after seeing it. A free inspection and estimate gets you a written price.
My Lake Geneva home was built in the 1970s. What should I expect when the old siding comes off?
Often an older layer or two and some soft sheathing near the bottom of the walls, around doors and under decks. We take the old siding off, repair the sheathing, and most homes get new house wrap before the new siding goes on. If you’re not at the lake, we send photos as the work goes.
My Lake Geneva home was built in the 2000s. Is it too soon to replace the siding?
Not always. If the sun side has faded or warped, or panels are coming loose, it may be time even on a newer home. If the damage is limited to one wall, a siding repair may be enough. A free inspection will tell you which.
Which siding brands do you install on Lake Geneva homes?
We install James Hardie fiber cement and vinyl from Mastic and Norandex. We’re a Certified James Hardie Installer, a Mastic Select Contractor, a CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor and VSI certified.
Can you replace the siding on a Lake Geneva condo or townhome building?
Yes, if the association approves. Bring its exterior rules to your free inspection, and we’ll price the materials and colors it allows. We can quote one unit or the whole building.
