The Incredible Restoration & Rejuvenation of Cedar Shake Siding

The Incredible Restoration & Rejuvenation of Cedar Shake Siding

BEFORE

The Problem

Mike and Maryanne’s home was looking tired. The shakes were falling, cracking and dirty. Without the equipment needed to repair and clean the siding themselves, the duo set out to find a contractor who could. The problem was finding a company who would work with what existed on the house, rather than push to replace the old with completely new siding, since the majority of the cedar shakes truly just needed to be restored to its former glory.

According to Mike and Maryanne, “Most of the contractors we met with suggested replacing most of the old cedar with new growth cedar shakes, which in our research we found were not as hardy as the shake our home was built with. Most of the cedar shake on the house was in decent condition and just needed a cleaning to restore it to its former glory.

In their case, replacing all of the siding simply wasn’t necessary.

The Solution

When Mike and Maryanne called us, we were happy to work through their concerns and goals with them.

“Patrick listened, probed and aligned himself with our vision of our home. He gave us a range of the options available to create that vision. He also talked through very specific details about the restoration process, identifying the specific areas for cedar shake replacement and included one window that needed aluminum installed. Patrick showed a real commitment to making sure we got exactly what we wanted. We knew Patrick took our concerns seriously; we wanted to RESTORE and not replace. He did not try to sell us on replacing all of the cedar shake and he gave us the solution to restoring the house.”

It was concluded that their home would have the necessary repairs and replacements made and the dirty shakes would be cleaned, sealed, and restored properly. The job had to wait until the season changed and weather permitted for an effective rejuvenation process.

When the project began, Mike and Maryanne were out of town. “They kept us posted on the progress, the entire time we were away, which made us feel completely at ease with the work being done in our absence. When we arrived home after our trip, we could not believe our eyes. The transformation was so impressive, we could not be happier that our house has been restored to its original state.”

AFTER

The Result

A rejuvenated siding was the result of this project.

“We absolutely love how the repair, cleaning, and restoration has breathed new life into our home. The cedar looks brand new and shines morning, noon and night. When we originally signed on with Guardian for our project, we had hoped that the house would look better –we had not entertained the thought of it being completely restored. We absolutely love coming home, sitting by the pool, and no longer have to look at the tired, dirty cedar. It looks absolutely fantastic. If anyone we know is looking for a contractor for cedar shake restoration, Guardian is the only recommendation we will make.”

Deteriorated Cedar Siding Replaced

Deteriorated Cedar Siding Replaced

BEFORE

The Problem

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Racine homeowners, Pam and Pete, were in need of a full siding replacement as their home’s cedar siding was extremely deteriorated. Furthermore, the back addition had fiberboard siding that was also failing. They wanted to update their exterior with new siding that was low maintenance and did not require painting.

While shopping for a company to hire for their siding replacement project, Pam and Pete were simply looking for a company that was reliable and delivered on their promises. It seemed like a seasonable request. However, it turned out to be much more difficult than they had expected to find a company that would accommodate their busy schedule. “We work different schedules and it was hard to get someone to come out when both of us were available. Many were not accommodating to our scheduling issues,” said Pam.

The Solution

After reading reviews online, Pam and Pete reached out to Guardian. “Guardian worked around our schedule,” Pam explained. “They made us actually feel like we were valued customers before we even decided to go with them.”

“They also gave us several choices of our options and their respective costs. We were in control of what we were purchasing, down to the last detail.”

“We were treated like human beings, working class people on a budget.”

Pam and Pete chose to reside their home with new vinyl siding. However, once the project was started, it was discovered that a portion of their roof needed to be fixed. It turns out that this defective area of their roof was the cause of a persistent leak in their kitchen.

Upon the discovery of this unforeseen repair, Pam shared, “when we were told that a portion of our roof also needed to be replaced and we would incur more costs, it was a blessing in disguise because we finally knew where the leak in our kitchen was coming from. Now it leaks no more. We were given the option to replace just the portion of the roof that was leaking so it didn’t break the bank.”

AFTER

The Result

Their home now has new vinyl siding and there are no longer leaks in their kitchen. They explained that the project went great and they appreciated how efficient, punctual and exceptionally the project manager communicated with them. When asked if they had any additional comments to share about their experience with us, they said:

“We are so happy with our homes facelift and that we no longer have to worry about a leak in our kitchen. We look forward to Guardian coming out to complete the rest of the roof for us next year and now that we know that Guardian deals in solar panels we are looking into having those put on our home!”
– Pam and Pete, Racine, WI

Siding Repair- Without the Sales Pressure to Spend More Than What is Needed

Siding Repair- Without the Sales Pressure to Spend More Than What is Needed

BEFORE

The Problem

This Milwaukee home was suffering from a hole where the fiber cement siding was disintegrating, was causing interior water damage. Curtis, the homeowner, was aware the entire home needed new siding but was not prepared to do it at the moment and was only seeking a repair – something most companies are not willing to do.

Curtis contacted Guardian, who listened to his concerns of wanting to prevent further damage. “I just wanted the problem solved. Stop the leaking and damage, repair the exterior,” stated Curtis. “I needed a repair, and most companies don’t want anything to do with repairs. Guardian was honest about the state of the siding but didn’t try to talk me into completing an entire siding project. They listened to what my concerns were and addressed them.”

AFTER

The Solution

Repairing the damaged siding required replacing the fiber cement siding and sheathing, as well as adding kick-out flashings to prevent the issue from happening again in the future.

The Result

The damage on Curtis’ home was worse than what the eye could see from the outside. Once the crew removed the deteriorated siding, there were additional areas that needed to be addressed. Guardian kept Curtis updated throughout the day while work was being completed, and to his relief, Guardian never made him “feel pressured to spend more than needed” at the time.

He expressed his gratitude for Guardian being the only contractor that explained how a small metal “kick-out” flashing installed to the gutter would have prevented the amount of damage that was being repaired AND would help prevent the same damage from happening in the future.

Curtis is happy with his repair work and states he will be calling Guardian in the future when he is ready to complete the rest of the house.

A Leaky Lake House gets Repairs and a Gorgeous Upgrade

A Leaky Lake House gets Repairs and a Gorgeous Upgrade

BEFORE

The Problem

An Okauchee Lake lakefront home was in dire need of exterior work as the chimney area was leaking and the home’s overall aesthetics needed updating. Since the back side of the home where the chimney was located was visible from most parts of the lake, it was a priority that not only the leak was fixed, but that it also be the first area to be upgraded, as to improve the look of the home.

Starting with the chimney, the homeowner wanted to work in sections, versus completing all of the repairs at once.

It was important to the homeowner that the contracting company he selected be one that understood his vision for his home. Being in sales himself, the homeowner also did not want to be “sold” or to deal with the typical sales process. Of the contractors he spoke with, Guardian was the first to check both of those boxes. He expressed appreciation for the fact that Guardian kept in communication with him and was patient during his decision-making process. When he was ready to give the green light on work, Guardian was ready too.

AFTER

The Solution

After working together to establish a plan, the home was set up for a repair of the chimney case, replacement of the painted plywood sheathing, and the addition of cedar shake panels.

The Result

Despite a supply chain-related delay in the arrival of specialty ordered materials, the homeowner was thrilled at the transformation of his home: “I was amazed at the transformation. The chimney can still be seen from anywhere on the lake, but now it looks amazing. My lake neighbors’ comment on how great it looks.”

In addition to the work on the chimney, the Guardian crew completed a few siding repairs with seamless results.

The homeowner also commented that the Guardian crew was always on time, communicative, and hard working.

Leaking Windows & Siding Repair Needed for a Newly Purchased Home

Leaking Windows & Siding Repair Needed for a Newly Purchased Home

BEFORE

The Problem.
Milwaukee homeowner, Stephanie, discovered that after closing on her new home purchase, a pair of windows leaked water, causing damage to the floor below. Along with leaking windows, her home had damaged siding, parts that appeared to not be secured to the house and rotted wood around the windows.

While speaking with contractors, she struggled to find one who did not try to sell her brand new siding for her entire house. Stephanie was on a budget and that option was not financially feasible.

AFTER

The Solution.
She contacted Guardian. Being the only contractor who offered a solution to fix her problem within her budget, Guardian was the solid. Stephanie explained “the Guardian representative actually listened to me, when I felt like all the other company’s sales people talked over me… He did not make me feel less than because I couldn’t afford [a full reside] and created a solution that would solve the leaking problem from the windows, improve the look on the back of my house and match it to the rest without bankrupting me.”

Her home needed window flashing, replacement aluminum siding with 8” vinyl on the damaged gable and the window trim wrapped in aluminum.

When the work began, additional rotted wood damage was exposed beneath the window, which was frightening to her because that meant more costs. Guardian was able to work with her on the extra costs, as it would have caused additional damage had it not been corrected.

The Result
The back of Stephanie’s home now looks brand new! With her problem solved, Stephanie explained, “I felt like [Guardian] always had my best interest in mind throughout the entire process. The warranty helps me sleep at night. Knowing that if something around that window were to start leaking again that they will come back out and take care of it has greatly reduced the anxiety that came with this project.”

We’re happy you’re happy, Stephanie.

A Creative and Consultative Siding Experience

A Creative and Consultative Siding Experience

BEFORE

The Problem.
Mary and Shep’s home is beautifully crafted and unique with arches, textures and multiple levels. Many years ago, the city moved their street, making the back of their home the front. As a result, Mary and Shep wanted the new front of their house to have the same character as their original front, so they set off to execute their “20-year plan.”

Having an incredibly custom and unique project that required the deepest understanding and attention to detail on the selected contractor’s behalf, Mary and Shep knew it was crucial to select the right contractor. The work desired could have required at least three different trade contractors; getting a single company capable of such a task was a priority. Multiple companies they called on attempted to change their plans and change the products they desired – a frustrating experience for any homeowner making such a large investment.

AFTER

The Solution.
Guardian brought relief to the homeowners, as all aspects of the job could be executed without making changes or including other contractors. Having their vision for the whole house understood may have cost more, but, according to Mary and Shep was “worth every penny and more.”

They explained that the process of working with Guardian was a “creative, consultative experience and the only solution that would truly bring [their] vision to life.” Guardian was also able to provide custom carpentry solutions that the couple had hoped for but were repeatedly told would not be possible by other contractors.

Being that the project was extremely detailed, the process was not the fastest. The couple knew the transformation that their home was undergoing needed a steady pace, and they were impressed with Guardian’s crew for “expert installation of the painstaking details and quality of work.”

Despite complications as a result of work completed by a different contractor previously, Guardian’s crew kept communication open with the homeowners and took care of the issues to their satisfaction.

We asked if they would recommend Guardian to others, to which they stated “Definitely. The craftsmanship, time and effort that Guardian put into our project is second to none. We love the look of our home. It has truly been transformed into the architectural vision we always knew it was.”