By Coach Jim Contrini | GenSun Roofing, Siding & Solar
New siding changes the way your whole house looks and performs. Hawthorne is GenSun’s home base, so we see the borough’s siding every day. Its tree-lined streets mix compact Cape Cods, post-war Colonials, split-levels and two-family homes, and many still wear original aluminum or first-generation vinyl. Below, we break down the most popular siding styles, compare the materials they come in, and share what works best on homes in Hawthorne.
Siding That Holds Up in Hawthorne
Northern New Jersey winters bring repeated freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven rain and snow that piles against lower walls, and summers are hot and humid. Siding has to shed water, flex with temperature swings without buckling, and resist mold on shaded walls. Under the siding, properly installed house wrap and flashing around windows and doors matter as much as the panels you see. A re-siding project in Hawthorne is often the right time to fix rotted sheathing, add insulation and replace worn trim.
Signs It’s Time for New Siding
Not sure whether to repair or replace? These are the signs that a full re-side makes more sense than patching:
- Panels that rattle, sag or pull loose in the wind
- Repairs that no longer match because the original color has faded
- Water stains, peeling paint or bubbling wallpaper on inside walls
- Dented aluminum or cracked asbestos shingles on an older home
- Gaps around windows and doors where caulk and trim have failed
- Siding that is 20 to 30 years old or more and simply looks dated
Any one of these signs is worth a closer look, because damaged siding lets water reach the sheathing and framing behind it.
Siding Styles Explained
Siding style is about profile, meaning the shape and pattern of the boards, and it shapes how your home reads from the street. These are the profiles homeowners choose most often:
Traditional lap (clapboard): Horizontal boards that overlap from the bottom up, each casting a thin shadow line. It is the most common profile in New Jersey and suits Colonials, Cape Cods, ranches and split-levels alike. Exposures usually run from about 4 to 7 inches; narrower boards read more historic, wider boards more modern.
Dutch lap: A variation of lap siding with a notch, or cove, along the top of each board. The groove creates a deeper shadow and a more hand-crafted look. It works well on older homes and on any house where you want more texture without changing the overall horizontal pattern.
Board and batten: Wide vertical boards with narrow strips, called battens, covering the seams. Once a barn and farmhouse detail, it is now a favorite for modern farmhouse designs, gables, dormers and accents above a porch roof. Many homeowners pair it with lap siding on the main walls.
Shakes and shingles: Individual-looking pieces that imitate cedar. Straight-edge shingles give a neat, tailored look; staggered or rough-split shakes look more rustic; scallops and half-rounds add a Victorian touch. They are popular in gables, on Cape Cod homes and on shore houses.
Vertical and modern panels: Smooth vertical panels, flat panels and mixed-material facades give contemporary homes a clean look. They are often combined with stone veneer or a second siding color to break up large walls.
Siding Materials: How They Differ
Here is a plain-language look at the siding materials most New Jersey homeowners consider.
Vinyl: The low-maintenance standard. Vinyl does not need painting, resists moisture and comes in many grades, profiles and colors. Higher-grade panels are thicker, stiffer and better at resisting wind, so it pays to compare more than color when choosing a product line.
Insulated vinyl: A premium version of vinyl with foam backing. The backing adds rigidity, improves impact resistance, quiets the wall and adds a modest boost in insulation. It is especially helpful on walls that are no longer perfectly flat.
Fiber cement: A heavy, durable siding that looks like painted wood. It does not burn, rot or attract insects, and it holds paint well. Expect higher installation costs than vinyl, and plan on repainting over the long term.
Engineered wood: Treated wood-strand siding with a real wood grain. It is lighter than fiber cement and resists impact well, but it relies on a sound paint finish and correct installation to keep water out.
Natural cedar: The original siding material, with unmatched natural texture. It needs regular maintenance and does not hold up as well to moisture, insects and woodpeckers as modern alternatives.
Aluminum and older siding: Aluminum siding and asbestos shingles are still found on many older homes. Aluminum dents and fades; asbestos shingles should be left intact and handled only by qualified contractors, often by covering them with new siding.
At a glance:
Material | Look | Upkeep | Durability |
Vinyl | Every profile, many colors | Rinse occasionally | Good; thicker panels best |
Insulated vinyl | Straighter, more solid walls | Rinse occasionally | Very good; adds some insulation |
Fiber cement | Painted-wood look | Repaint eventually | Excellent; noncombustible |
Engineered wood | Real wood texture | Keep paint sealed | Very good if maintained |
Natural cedar | Authentic wood | Stain or paint every few years | Fair to good |
What Happens Behind the Siding Matters
Even the best siding fails if it is installed poorly. A quality job includes new house wrap to block wind and water, flashing at every window, door and roof-to-wall joint, and starter strips and J-channel installed so water drains out rather than in. Vinyl must be nailed loosely so it can expand and contract; fiber cement needs proper clearances at the roof and ground. While the old siding is off, rotted sheathing should be replaced, and it is the ideal time to wrap window and door trim in low-maintenance aluminum and to upgrade soffit and fascia.
Choosing the Right Combination in Hawthorne
On smaller Hawthorne lots near Goffle Brook Park and along the side streets off Lafayette Avenue, a two-tone combination works well: lap siding on the main walls with cedar-look shakes in the gables. It adds curb appeal without overwhelming a compact home, and a lighter main color helps a smaller house look larger.
A few general rules help too. Keep to one main profile and use a second only as an accent, choose trim colors that frame windows and doors, and look at samples on your own walls in both morning and afternoon light. Your contractor should also be able to show you photos of finished homes similar to yours.
Talk to a Siding Expert About Your Hawthorne Home
The GenSun team has helped thousands of New Jersey homeowners choose the right siding. We will inspect your home, explain your options in plain language and provide a free written estimate, with 0% financing and no-money-down options available. Call or text 973-310-6445 or visit https://gensunroofingnj.com/roofing-services/residential-siding-2/ to get started on your Hawthorne siding project.