Milton’s oldest buildings go back to the 1840s, and the city has plenty of postwar and newer houses too. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding repairs Milton siding by taking out the damaged boards or sections and installing new ones, with James Hardie fiber cement first and vinyl as the other main option. No sealant or filler patches. The inspection is free, and (815) 624-6278 is answered 24/7.
Two Old Villages in One City
Milton grew as two settlements. Old Milton formed around Joseph Goodrich’s Milton House, the hexagonal grout inn he built in 1844 and 1845, and later around Milton College. About a mile west, Milton Junction grew up around the railroad, with its first plat in 1862 and a business corner at Merchant Row and Vernal Avenue. The two joined as the City of Milton in 1967, and both still have streets of 1800s and early 1900s houses.
Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put about 24% of Milton homes before 1940 and the median home at 1974. The 1960s and 1970s added about 22% of homes, and the 2000s about 18%. About 74% of homes are owner occupied.
Frame and Clapboard Houses
The city’s 2013 architectural survey describes many of Milton’s older homes as frame houses with clapboard siding. A number of the grandest older buildings, including the Italianate halls of the Milton College Historic District, are cream brick, but many older houses in both old villages are wood framed. On those, siding problems usually come down to water and age:
- Rot at sills and porch roofs. We cut out soft clapboard and sheathing back to sound wood and fit new boards at the same exposure.
- Decorative shingles in gables. Some older houses mix clapboard with patterned shingles up high. We match the pattern with new shingles, and James Hardie makes shingle profiles that will not rot.
- Split trim. Corner boards and casings that have pulled away let water behind the wall. We replace them rather than fill the gap.
Postwar Cape Cods and Ranches
After World War II, Milton built Cape Cods and then ranches, and the survey notes that many of the ranches have since been altered with vinyl siding. That vinyl is now showing its age. It cracks in the cold, comes loose at the bottom lock, and fades on the sunny sides. On a Cape Cod, the steep side gables and dormer walls are where loose panels and water problems usually start. We replace the damaged panels, check the wrap and the original wood behind them, and tell you honestly if a match is not available.
Newer Homes at the Edge of Town
Homes from the 2000s on the newer streets around the city are usually on their original builder vinyl. Impact cracks, loose panels on walls facing open ground, and uneven fading are the typical repairs. If your color is still made, these are quick. If not, we suggest the cleanest way to hide the change, usually redoing one full side.
Why Milton Homeowners Call Martin
- Certified James Hardie Installer.
- Voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025.
- CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor and Inc. 5000 Company.
- Helped thousands of homeowners since 2006.
- Free inspections, year round installs and phones answered 24/7.
If a repair turns into new siding, most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days, and financing is available as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. See financing options.
More Milton Pages
See Milton siding for full projects, our Milton roofing page, Milton roof repair and roof replacement in Milton. Nearby, see Janesville siding. Our siding repair page covers the process. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Milton Siding Repair FAQ
Can you repair the clapboard on an older house in Old Milton or Milton Junction?
Yes. We cut out rotted clapboard and sheathing back to sound wood and fit new boards at the same exposure, so the lines run straight across the repair.
My house has patterned shingles in the gables. Can those be matched?
Usually. We match the pattern with new shingles, and James Hardie shingle profiles are an option that will not rot.
There is vinyl over the original siding on my Cape Cod. What do you find under it?
Often the original wood siding and sheathing. When we open a damaged area, we check that layer and repair any rot before the new panels go on.
Can you match the vinyl on my newer Milton home?
If the color is still made, usually yes. If not, we tell you before ordering and can redo one full side so the change ends at a corner.
How far is Milton from your office?
About 45 minutes from our main office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe. Call (815) 624-6278, 24/7.
