Loves Park and Machesney Park sit right between our Roscoe office and Rockford, so we’re on Route 251 and Route 173 just about every day. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is a licensed Illinois contractor (IL license 104.017824), family-owned since 2006, a GAF Master Elite contractor and a four-time Inc. 5000 company. What Rocks voters picked us Best Siding Contractor five years running (2021-2025). Call (815) 209-9054.
Ranches, Split-Levels and a Lot of Aluminum
Both towns filled in fast after World War II. Loves Park incorporated in 1947, and nearly a third of the homes in Machesney Park went up between 1940 and 1969, many in the old North Park area around North Second Street and Harlem Road. Almost half went up between 1970 and 1999. Walk any of those streets and you’ll see the same thing over and over: one-story ranches and split-levels still wearing their original aluminum or first-generation vinyl.
Aluminum dents from hail and loses its paint until it chalks off on your hands. Early vinyl gets brittle and cracks. Either way, the fix is usually straightforward. A ranch is a simple, low house to side, so most jobs here take 1 to 2 days, and many single-story homes are on the short end of that. Once the old siding is off, we replace any soft sheathing, and most jobs get new house wrap. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included, so you don’t have to worry about what’s on there now.
Vinyl or James Hardie on a Ranch?
Vinyl siding from Mastic and Norandex is what we install most here, and it suits a ranch well. It’s easy to keep clean, it never needs paint, and installed right it often lasts 20 to 40 years. A darker color or a board-and-batten accent on the gables can make a plain 1960s ranch look like a different house.
James Hardie fiber cement costs more, but it’s heavier, non-combustible and handles hail and impact better than vinyl. It’s a good fit if you’re planning to stay a long time, or if your house is on a busy road where stones and debris get thrown at the walls. James Hardie backs it with its own product warranty.
River Lots, Wooded Lots and Open Subdivisions
Where your house sits changes what we’d recommend. Homes along the Rock River and on the wooded lots near Shepherd Hills stay shady and damp, so the north walls grow green film. On those houses we pay close attention to the house wrap and flashing, and we steer you toward a color that won’t show it as much. The open subdivisions out east toward I-90 take the full force of the wind, so we make sure every panel is locked and nailed properly at the bottom so the wind can’t get under it.
Storms have hit here hard. On November 22, 2010, an EF-2 tornado tracked from Loves Park up through Caledonia and Poplar Grove, and on May 15, 2025, penny-size hail fell east of Loves Park. After any storm, we’ll check the siding and roof for free, photograph what we find, and help you with your insurance claim if it’s worth filing. See hail damage repair.
Winter Is Fine
We install siding year-round, winter included. Vinyl is stiffer in the cold, so we cut and handle it with extra care. If your house has been bugging you all fall, you don’t have to wait for spring.
What Customers Say
“The salesman was so knowledgeable and courteous. Their prices are competitive and I was overjoyed with the quality of work. My house looks brand new. I recommend this company to my friend that needed new siding and I’d recommend them to anyone.”
Paula D.
“Great job, great company. Quick, reliable and always professional, from the start with the inspection and estimate right up to the completion and clean up. No complaints or worries.”
Duane Z.
Roofing in Loves Park and Machesney Park
If the roof is as old as the siding, we can do both. See our Loves Park roofing and Machesney Park roofing pages, or read about siding installation.
Free Siding Estimate
We’ll measure, check the walls for soft spots, and bring samples so you can see the colors outside next to your roof and trim. Financing is available, with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers (see financing).
Book your free estimate or call (815) 209-9054.
Loves Park and Machesney Park Siding FAQ
How long does it take to re-side a ranch house?
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days, and many single-story ranches are on the shorter end. Rot under the old siding can add time, and we’ll tell you up front.
Can you put new siding over my old aluminum?
We take the old siding off so we can check and repair the wall underneath and put on new house wrap, which most of our jobs get. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included.
Do I need a permit for siding in Loves Park or Machesney Park?
Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits.
Is vinyl or James Hardie better for a house near the river?
Both work. Shady, damp lots are more about good house wrap, flashing and a forgiving color. Vinyl from Mastic or Norandex cleans up easily, and James Hardie fiber cement is the heavier, more impact-resistant choice.
Do you install siding in the winter?
Yes. We install year-round, winter included.
