Martin Exteriors is a Rockford siding contractor with an office at 6019 Fincham Dr. We install James Hardie fiber cement and Mastic and Norandex vinyl siding, and we’re a Certified James Hardie Installer. Most Rockford siding jobs take 1 to 2 days, we install year-round, and the estimate is free.
Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is a licensed Illinois contractor (IL license 104.017824) with an office at 6019 Fincham Dr, Suite 4, on Rockford’s east side. We have been voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025, and What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 6 years running (2020 to 2025). We’re family-owned since 2006, a GAF Master Elite contractor and BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Call the Rockford office at (815) 209-9054. It’s the same office that serves homeowners in nearby Loves Park.
See it for yourself: our GAF Master Elite listing, our A+ BBB profile, the What Rocks Rockford 2021 results and the 2025 What Rocks winners list.
Rockford Houses Have Some Age on Them
Drive through Edgewater or Churchill’s Grove on the north side, Brown’s Hills and Knightsville by Sinnissippi Park, or Haight Village southeast of downtown, and you’ll see a lot of houses built long before vinyl existed. Many started out with wood clapboard, got covered in aluminum somewhere along the way, and are now on their second or third skin.
That history matters when we take the old siding off. On an older Rockford house we often find rotted sheathing at the sills, gaps where old trim has pulled away, or no house wrap at all. We fix what’s under there before anything new goes up, and most jobs get new house wrap. If the old siding turns out to contain asbestos, that’s not a reason to stop. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included.
Vinyl or James Hardie for a Rockford Home?
We install both, and we’ll tell you honestly which one makes more sense for your house and how long you plan to stay in it.
Vinyl siding from Mastic and Norandex is the practical choice for most ranches, split-levels and rentals. It never needs paint, it cleans up with a hose, and installed right it often lasts 20 to 40 years. Insulated vinyl panels sit flatter on wavy older walls and add a little comfort, which helps on drafty houses.
James Hardie fiber cement is heavier, non-combustible and holds up better to hail and the odd stray baseball. It has the crisp shadow lines of real wood lap, so it’s a good fit for the older two-stories and bungalows in Rockford’s historic neighborhoods, where vinyl can look out of place. It costs more up front, and James Hardie backs the board with its own product warranty. For a full comparison, see our guide to James Hardie vs vinyl siding.
A lot of Rockford homeowners split the difference: Hardie on the street-facing front, vinyl on the sides and back. We’re happy to price it both ways.
Permits and Historic Districts
Siding in Rockford needs its own permit, separate from any roofing permit. Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits. If your house sits in one of Rockford’s historic districts, exterior changes that can be seen from the street need a Certificate of Appropriateness before the permit is issued. We’ll walk you through that and handle the paperwork, and we’ll help you pick a siding profile and color that fits the review.
Built for Rockford Weather
On May 15, 2025, the National Weather Service measured a 60 mph gust at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Wind like that grabs any panel that’s loose at the bottom lock and peels it right off. Then winter comes, and the siding goes through months of freezing and thawing. Vinyl has to be hung loose enough to move with those swings, or it buckles in July. Hardie has to be flashed and caulked the way James Hardie specifies, or water finds its way behind it.
We install in winter too. Vinyl gets stiffer in the cold, so we cut and handle it with extra care. Most Rockford siding jobs take 1 to 2 days.
Storm-Damaged Siding
If hail cracked your vinyl or wind pulled panels loose, call us for a free look. We’ll photograph the damage, tell you whether a matching repair is possible (older and discontinued colors can be hard to match), and help you through your insurance claim if it’s worth filing. More on hail damage and wind damage. For a fix that replaces only the damaged boards, see siding repair.
What Customers Say
“Dustin is the best! I had roofing and siding done and the crews did an amazing job! I rarely ever give anyone 5 stars but the team deserves it! I still have so much to work on with my house still but, this a great step forward.”
Angela O., Google review
“What a great company to work with. We tried to reach out to multiple local companies for a quote. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding was the only one to call us back right away. Very knowledgeable team. They kept us updated throughout the repair process. Would recommend to anyone looking for a reliable thorough contractor. 5 Stars!”
Sarah N.
Need a Roof Too?
A lot of Rockford homeowners do the roof and siding together so everything matches and the job is done once. See our Rockford roofing page, or read more about siding installation.
Free Siding Estimate in Rockford
We’ll come out, look at the walls, check for soft spots, and bring vinyl and Hardie samples so you can see the colors in daylight next to your roof and trim. Financing is available, with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers (see financing).
Schedule your free estimate or call (815) 209-9054.
Rockford Siding FAQ
Do I need a permit for new siding in Rockford?
Yes. Siding needs its own permit. Martin Exteriors pulls and handles all required permits as part of the job.
My house is in a Rockford historic district. Can I still replace the siding?
Usually, yes. Exterior changes visible from the street need a Certificate of Appropriateness before the permit is issued. We help you choose a fitting profile and color and handle the paperwork.
Should I pick vinyl or James Hardie for an older Rockford house?
It depends on the house and your budget. Vinyl from Mastic or Norandex costs less and needs almost no upkeep. James Hardie fiber cement is heavier, non-combustible and looks more like real wood, which suits many older Rockford homes. Some homeowners use Hardie on the front and vinyl on the rest.
Can you take off old aluminum or asbestos siding?
Yes. We handle removal of any old siding, asbestos included.
How long does a siding job take?
Most siding jobs take 1 to 2 days. Bigger houses, extra stories, or rot under the old siding can add time, and we’ll tell you up front.
Do you install siding in the winter?
Yes. We install year-round in Rockford, winter included.
