IL License Number: 104.017181
IL License Number: 104.017181
CASE STUDY
Location: 31 S Arlene Ave, Palatine, IL
Project Type: Vinyl siding refresh in Deep Granite with LP SmartSide trim upgrades (white), front frieze board, shake accents (gable peak + bay), selective aluminum soffit repairs, front fascia replacement (+ key runs), and 5″ seamless K‑style gutters with 3×4 downspouts on a late‑1960s single‑family home
Project Duration: Sept 23 – Oct 5, 2025 (13 days on site including cleanup & punch)
Investment: Within a $30,000 client‑set cap
With guests arriving October 11, Curt and Amy had a hard deadline in mind for home improvements. Their late-1960s Palatine home no longer matched how they wanted it to feel when pulling into the driveway. The lines looked tired, the front fascia had a visible wave, and the aluminum capping around the windows and doors had lost its crispness. More importantly, once opened, the wall system proved under-protected.
Like many families we talk to, the couple had reached out to several contractors they found on Google, had met for consultations with a few, and yet they still had no real quotes or direction: coming away more stressed than reassured. What they wanted was simple to say but hard to find: speed, clarity, and quality – all while respecting a firm $30,000 cap.
The risks of doing nothing were clear: a house that looked worn going into winter and drafts that would keep creeping in. The risks of choosing the wrong approach were just as real: overspending on materials that blew the budget or cosmetic fixes that ignored what was happening inside the walls.
We started the way we find busy homeowners prefer: photos first, answers fast. We had Curt text pictures of each face of the house and the details that bothered him. About an hour later, we emailed back a clean, itemized price and a clearly written plan. That first exchange set the tone: no pressure, no hedging, just options with pros and cons.
From there, we built comfort by keeping the cadence steady. Evening calls let us lock scope without disrupting their days. Mariusz Holda led the design and scope decisions; Barbara Holda handled permits, deliveries, and daily updates so the field never waited on paperwork. When work began, our crews introduced themselves, walked protection areas with the homeowners, and, because the driveway was new, we committed to a no‑dumpster plan with a wheeled trailer and surface protection. Calm project energy does not happen by accident; it’s coordinated.
We treated design as a budget tool. Full fiber‑cement or composite claddings would have chewed up the budget cap without adding proportionate value for this goal. Instead, we proposed vinyl siding in Deep Granite for the body: clean, modern, and cost‑effective—then invested where the eye lands: LP SmartSide white trim at every window and door and around both garage surrounds. A front frieze board created a sharp transition under the soffit, while shake at the front gable peak and on the bay added texture and a focal point. Corners stayed the siding color so the walls read as uninterrupted planes. The overall look is one of calm lines with strong contrast.
To elevate the architecture without blowing the budget, we used LP SmartSide ~3½‑inch composite trim at the windows, doors, and both garage surrounds — products typically paired with James Hardie or full LP siding, not with standard vinyl projects. This deliberate mix replaces thin, site‑bent aluminum coil with thicker, factory‑profiled material that creates true shadow lines and crisp edges — a Hardie/LP‑level finish on a vinyl body.
We also introduced a small but high‑impact accent move at the front elevation: vinyl shake at the gable and the bay that reads like wood from the curb. Between the horizontal siding and the shake, we added a clean frieze board to create a purposeful break line. Together, these details lift the façade, add depth, and make the home feel composed rather than busy.
The wall system needed a real, honest assessment. Early demo confirmed what Curt suspected: no housewrap and missing window/door flashings behind the original cladding.
We paused, showed the conditions, and corrected the substrate with Tyvek housewrap and proper flashing before any finish work continued. Up at the roof edge, the aluminum soffits were serviceable, so we repaired rather than replaced. The front fascia, however, was failing and visually wavy; we replaced it fully (plus select runs) so the roofline would read straight. Water management finished the picture with 5″ K‑style seamless aluminum gutters and 3×4 downspouts, pitched for smooth drainage without adding visual bulk.
We broke the work into a rhythm Curt and Amy could follow:
On big scopes we separate the proposal from the final invoice and only add work with written change orders. When hidden conditions do appear, we price them at Cost of Goods Sold (minimal or no margin). Here, there were no paid change orders; we even added new plywood at the front peak at no charge to anchor the shake cleanly.
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The first impression changed immediately. Deep Granite siding gives the home a clean, modern look: especially with the white LP trim framing the windows and doors, and the frieze board adding a crisp line across the front. Up close, the shake details at the bay and gable bring just enough texture to make the home feel composed rather than busy. Behind the scenes, the walls now breathe and shed water the way they should. At the edge, the new fascia straightened the roofline, and the 5″ K‑style with 3×4 downspouts moved water like it belonged there.
Numbers tell the scale: this project totaled roughly 19.5–21 squares of siding, eaves 179′11″, rakes 134′9″, soffit ~795 ft², with openings totaling ~132 ft² of windows and ~251 ft² of doors. The site stayed tidy, the new driveway stayed pristine, and the magnet sweeps turned up what they should have: almost nothing on the last day. On Oct 14, a simple note from the homeowner said the part that matters: “The house looks great. Thank you.”
If you’re in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs and want clean installs, modern lines, and transparent communication inside a real‑world budget, this playbook is for you. Start by contacting us with a quick photo estimate; we’ll send clear, informed options and a plan you can say yes to.
With over twenty years in business and hundreds of satisfied customers, we know what it takes to properly maintain a home. Join the family of satisfied homeowners who trust Holda Construction Roofing and Siding for all their roofing and siding needs.
We look forward to working with you!
Address
317 W Colfax St. Suite 102
Palatine, IL 60067
