IL License Number: 104.017181

CASE STUDY

“Think Like the Water”: Our Full‑Home Vinyl Siding & Bay Window Rebuild in Hoffman Estates

Location: Sandalwood Lane, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

Project Type: Full vinyl siding replacement on a two‑story Tudor; replaced wood rot around two front bay windows; corrected flashing at roof‑to‑wall and stone interfaces; LP SmartSide trim accents

Estimated Investment: $25,000 quoted: $25,000 final invoice – no change orders!

Before Roof Replacement in Hoffman Estates IL Roof Replacement Results in Hoffman Estates IL

Defining the Homeowner’s Problem

Dave reached out with a simple ask: “Help me stop water from getting in, and please make this something I don’t have to worry about every season.”

Dave wasn’t chasing a trend or a color; he wanted a home that felt solid again. The front had suffered woodpecker hits and paint that wouldn’t hold, and the siding, overall, had needed replacement for years. Where the first‑floor roof meets the second‑story wall, water could run the J‑channel and disappear behind the siding – the tiny end‑dams were missing. Down under the bay windows, years of snow and thaw sat against wood without flashing at the bottom, seeping behind the siding and causing rot.
A skilled builder himself, creating furniture in his spare time for friends, family and his church community, Dave is thoughtful and hands‑on – and he did his homework! He tried other companies: one didn’t show, another bid high without much explanation. He wanted straight talk and a partner who would share the “why,” not just the “what.”

“The biggest thing all the way along is trust. You can trust (the Holda) team. Not one thing they said or did was misleading or wrong.” — Dave

Finding a Guide You Can Trust

Dave found us on Google. Then, seeing we’re located in Palatine, he checked with a friend at the Village office to see if they’d received any negative reports or had any information of concern. Reassured, he went on to have his first call with Mariusz Holda: on time, straightforward, no pressure.

The Process That Won Dave Over

Dave texted photos; we gave him a firm $25,000 quote over the phone and sent the proposal electronically—pricing first, visit second. Why? Because twenty-five years of experience means we can price accurately from clear photos, and because we don’t play driveway games. Most contractors avoid numbers until they’re on your porch to keep control; we do the opposite: put the real price on the table so you can compare freely, without pressure. Then we schedule the site visit to confirm every detail and ask one clarifying question: “If the price stays the same after we walk the property, are you ready to move forward?” That builds partnership—no push, just shared clarity. From there, we solve issues in real time, so there’s no punch list at the end—only a handshake. Result: $25,000 quoted = $25,000 invoiced. Zero change orders. Zero punch list.

When we met, the conversation stayed practical: walking the house, taking photos, explaining, and deciding together on a plan.

What built comfort was simple: we showed Dave the options, the trade‑offs, and the likely results: then gave him space to choose. He brought his daughter Becky into the discussion, later commenting that she is a medical doctor, and the two worlds felt alike. “When you find the right medical team, doctors you can trust, it makes all the difference in the world. Here, I found the right team to fix my house. No nonsense. No concerns.” The feeling in the yard that day was neighborly: questions, straight answers, camaraderie.

“The Holda way was simply the right way to do business. If they said they’d call at two, they called at two. You just don’t find contractors like that.” — Dave

Proposed and Actual Solutions

On site, Dave weighed three options: a quick patch to buy time, a front‑only makeover to calm the façade, or a full‑home re‑side that would unify materials and fix water paths everywhere. He and his daughter asked clear, practical questions. By the end, the choice landed where his instincts were already pointing: do it once, do it right.

We moved forward with Tyvek as a continuous weather barrier where we re‑sided, Mastic Double‑4 in Deep Granite for a clean, uniform skin that doesn’t invite woodpeckers, and LP SmartSide 5/4 × 3‑1/2″ trim where the architecture called for a stronger line. At the bay windows, we removed the rot we expected to find, and rebuilt the base with real bottom flashing so meltwater had only one direction to go: away.

The tudor’s front carried its own challenge, boldly taken-on by foreman Mariusz C. The siding needed to meet up with an irregular stone edge, far from a straight and tidy boundary. A standard J‑channel would never protect that joint.

“So often in our work we encounter situations that require us to use our skills, experience and, most of all, our imagination. Dealing with that stone edge was one of those times. The mix of small and large gaps didn’t allow for a straight seam, so we cut notches into the stone, and made 2” gap, which allowed us to slide in flashing. This way, the water will quickly and safely flow away from the seams, keeping the wall looking good, but also sealed and dry.

Because Dave has advanced tools for woodwork, he has extra large vents on the side of his garage. A simple solution would have left unattractive gaps between the vents and siding, requiring a lot of caulk at the seams. We came up with an idea to build extra wood boxes, putting the outputs from the vents on top of these. This way, instead of messy caulk, you have a solution that sticks out away from wall and has a j-channel around wood box.”

Materials Used (key items):

  • Mastic Double‑4 vinyl siding in Deep Granite
  • Tyvek housewrap (WRB) where re‑sided
  • LP SmartSide 5/4″ × 3.5″ trim; LP flat panels at bay
  • Pre‑finished metal flashing and end‑dams (“baby tins”)
  • J‑channel and accessories; custom wood vent boxes
  • Fasteners, sealants, and tapes per manufacturer and code

Why This Was the Right Decision:

Choosing full‑home vinyl aligns perfectly with Dave’s goals:
  • Risk control: continuous Water Resistant Barrier + consistent flashing details across the house.
  • No organic substrate: less attractive to woodpeckers.
  • Uniform look: curb appeal without odd tie‑ins.
  • Low maintenance: clean, modern finish with minimal upkeep.
  • Straightforward future care: no scattered materials or patchwork.

After 20+ years and hundreds of similar projects, this is the outcome we recommend when a home faces both appearance concerns and recurring moisture/woodpecker risk: do it once, do it right.

Timeline

Phase 1: Establishing the Contract
Initial inquiry with photo via text.
Phone review of risks and next steps; scheduled on‑site.
On‑site inspection with measurements and plain‑language findings.
Options reviewed; Dave chose full‑home re‑side.
Scope, price, and timing confirmed; agreement sent for e‑sign.
Permits coordinated; materials ordered; staging approved (left side of driveway).
Start planned for a clear weather window; day‑prior confirmation.
Protect site, strip designated elevations, verify substrate, set WRB, begin siding/trim.
Daily updates and cleanup with magnet sweep.
Final walkthrough; final documents delivered; post‑project support available.

Money, Milestones, and Trust

Dave approved the project at $25,000 with a custom schedule:

  • $2,500 — Deposit at contract meeting
  • $2,500 — Mid‑project
  • $20,000 — Final at completion (after final walkthrough)
We use milestones because they mirror real progress: you see the work, then we move to the next step together.

A note on transparency, because it matters: Proposals are not invoices. On large projects, when hidden problems surface—like rot buried behind old cladding—we don’t disguise them as vague extras. We document the finding with photos and write a simple Change Order. The customer pays the actual cost of goods (with minimal or no extra margin), not a sales‑style upsell. It’s how we keep the numbers honest and the decisions straightforward.

The “After” Story

My mentor used to repeat a phrase that I take into every job: Think like the water. How do I get in the house? In this way, you notice gaps and pathways often without needing to tear out materials or relying on guesswork. You learn to see exactly where the problem issues will be.” — Mariusz D., Lead Installer

Throughout, this respected mantra guided the work – and Dave saw the reasoning behind each decision. The level of detail wasn’t for show; it’s what earns trust when you’re opening up a house and putting it back together.
When the last pieces clicked in, the house felt transformed and exciting. The roof‑to‑wall finally shed water the way it should. The bay windows were rebuilt with real base flashing. The stone edge, once a trouble line, was cut clean and flashed so it works in real weather, not just on paper. Dave could see the decisions behind the work, and that mattered:

“All the way through, each time I walked outside the crew was welcoming and attentive, showing me any complications they came across and how they addressed it. In this day and age high-level craftsmanship has all but faded away. It’s sad. But these were truly high‑level craftsmen – doing it the right way!

We wrapped up with a careful cleanup, a walk‑through, and a short list of small touch‑ups. Dave asked if we noted any concerns we had about his home along the way, and we shared our observations about a sagging overhang by the back patio door, outside the siding scope, and we set a plan to make it right. The project felt mutual: he appreciated the care; we appreciated a homeowner who notices and appreciates the details.

They under‑promised and over‑delivered. Everyone’s telling me they really like it… and you can tell it’s genuine. Three of my neighbors have already planned to reach out for new roofs! And I’m about to send more pictures to my daughters again! They think it looks great!” — Dave

Wrap‑Up / Conclusion

Above and beyond, in plain sight:

Dave ended with the following story: “There was an experience of kindness with the team I’ll never forget. At the back of the house, there was a tangle of old Comcast wires: each time they’d changed the service over the years, they’d left all the cables and boxes behind. The mess bothered me, but I can’t safely get on a ladder to do anything about it. While it wasn’t their job at all, the crew traced each line, confirmed the dead runs, removed them, and consolidated everything into one clean box. It took extra time, cost me nothing, and made me feel so much better about that whole area. I just so appreciate that kind of thoughtfulness.”

How it felt for our team:

Dave asked smart questions and cared about the details that keep a house sturdy and dry. That made the work satisfying. We left proud of the craft and the communication—no surprises, just steady progress.

Right fit:

If you’re in the northwest suburbs and want quality installation, clean sites, and clear explanations, especially with water finding its way in, we’re a good match.

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Mariusz Holda

Owner: Mariusz Holda

📞 FREE Consultations (Call or Text):
847.847.2883

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Facing similar issues? Send us a photo and a note or call 847.847.2883. We’ll review it, talk through options in plain language, and help you choose a path you can feel good about. We just love helping folks feel excited to come home again, and look forward to speaking with you!

Project in Photos

Before

After

The Team:
A Blend of Art, Science, Passion, and Experience

Mariusz Holda

Mariusz Holda
Owner

Guides project planning and key homeowner decisions. Sets standards and approves final deliverables.

Barbara Holda
Operations

Coordinates scheduling, materials, permits, and day-to-day communications.

Mariusz Dziekonski
Foreman

Leads the crew on site; directs daily work; manages walkthroughs and quality control.

Mark Skarzynski
Siding Specialist

Siding installations.

Miroslaw Stosel
Siding and Roofing Specialist

Siding installations.

Wojciech Serafin
Gutter Specialist

Gutter and downspout installations.

Artur Kurek
Gutter Specialist

Gutter and downspout installations.

Waldemar Kopec
Roof Replacement Specialist

Full roof replacements.