From a Boatyard Grill to a Brand New Look: Our Siding Installation in Carlton
Some of our favorite jobs start with a conversation, not a phone call. That’s exactly how this siding installation in Carlton, Michigan came together. Last summer, we were out at a community grilling event hosted by Gibraltar Boat Yard, enjoying the day and meeting people from the area. That’s where we crossed paths with the homeowner who would eventually trust us with this project. A few conversations about the house, a few questions about what was possible, and we had ourselves a new customer and a new friend.
This is what we love about being involved in the community. People get to see who we are before we ever set foot on their property. No sales pitch, no pressure, just neighbors talking. By the time we showed up to start the work in Carlton, there was already a level of trust in place that made the whole project feel like a collaboration.
What the Project Involved
The scope of work here was a combination of siding and windows, which is a pairing we do often. When you’re updating the exterior of a home, tackling both at the same time just makes sense. The finished result looks cohesive, and you avoid the headache of trying to match new windows to old siding or vice versa down the road.
The siding portion of this job had a unique challenge: the existing exterior was block. Installing vinyl siding directly over block is not a straightforward process. You need a solid nailing surface, and block alone does not give you that. Our solution was to install furring strips first. Furring strips are thin pieces of wood fastened directly to the block, creating a level framework that the siding panels can then attach to properly. This method also creates a small air gap between the block and the siding, which helps with moisture management and insulation over time.
Once the furring strips were in place, we installed white D4 vinyl siding across the exterior. D4 is one of the most popular siding profiles in Michigan and for good reason. The double 4-inch panel gives homes a classic, clean look that works on just about any style of house. In white, it looks sharp, it reflects light well, and it stays looking fresh with minimal upkeep. Vinyl siding in general is a great choice for Michigan homeowners because it holds up to our winters, does not rot or warp, and never needs to be painted.
This diagram can give you a good idea of what furring strips are.
The Window Work
Alongside the siding, we replaced a couple of windows on the home. New windows tied the project together and gave the exterior a consistent, finished appearance. Beyond aesthetics, replacing older windows improves energy efficiency and reduces drafts, which is something every Michigan homeowner thinks about once the temperatures drop. New windows properly integrated with the new siding also eliminate potential areas where moisture could work its way in, which is a concern any time you’re working on an exterior. We used Polar Seal windows for this.
Why Carlton Homeowners Are Reaching Out
We’ve been expanding our presence in Monroe County and the surrounding lake communities, and Carlton is an area we enjoy working in. The housing stock out that way has a lot of character, and there’s a real sense of community among the residents. The Gibraltar Boat Yard event was a perfect example of that. People out there look out for each other, they talk, and word travels when someone does good work.
If you’re a homeowner in Carlton or the surrounding area and you’ve been putting off a siding or window project, this job is a good example of what’s possible even when your existing exterior presents some challenges. Block walls, older construction, tricky profiles, none of that scares us off. We come up with the right solution for what’s actually there, not just what’s easiest.
Level Up Improvement Does Siding Installation in Carlton and Serves All Of Southeast Michigan
Level Up Improvement is a roofing, siding, and window company based in Royal Oak. We work throughout the metro Detroit area and beyond, including communities in Monroe County like Carlton. Whether you need a full siding replacement, a few windows swapped out, or a combination of both, we’re here to help you get the most out of your home’s exterior.
If you saw us out at an event, heard about us from a neighbor, or found us while searching for a siding installation in Carlton, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out today and let’s talk about what your home needs.