In inland Massachusetts, siding might last 30 years. But here in Chatham, whether you are overlooking Stage Harbor, situated near the Fish Pier, or tucked away in South Chatham, your home faces a unique aggressor: Salt Air Corrosion.
Many homeowners call us not because they dislike the look of their home, but because they see the warning signs: rust trails running down clapboards, shingles blowing off during winter storms, or interior paint peeling due to hidden moisture.
Standard construction methods don’t work here. If a contractor uses galvanized nails instead of stainless steel or skips the proper house wrap, the salt air will eat the fasteners, and the fog will rot the sheathing. The problem isn’t usually the siding material; it’s the lack of coastal preparation behind it.
In Chatham, we never go over old layers. We strip the walls down to the bare sheathing. This is the only way to identify salt-damaged framing or rot caused by years of horizontal rain and fog. We replace compromised wood to ensure your new siding has a solid anchor.
Chatham is humid. We install premium, breathable weather-resistive barriers (like Tyvek DrainWrap) that stop bulk water from Nor'easters but allow coastal humidity to escape from inside the walls, preventing mold growth.
To combat the damp cold of a Cape Cod winter, we can install rigid foam insulation under your new siding. This creates a thermal break, keeping your home efficient whether the wind is coming off Nantucket Sound or the Atlantic.
Standard aluminum flashing corrodes quickly near the water. We use high-grade, coated aluminum, copper, or lead flashing systems around windows and doors to divert water. We pay special attention to kick-out flashing to stop roof runoff from rotting your sidewalls.
This is non-negotiable. Whether we are installing Cedar, Hardie, or Vinyl, we use stainless steel nails. They cost more, but they are the only fastener that won't rust and fail in Chatham’s salt-heavy atmosphere.
We frequently inspect homes in North Chatham and near the Rotary that were re-sided just 8–10 years ago, yet are already failing. Why? Because the previous contractor treated the house like it was in the suburbs, not on the ocean.
They used standard galvanized nails that rusted and snapped. They didn’t tape the seams of the house wrap properly, allowing wind-driven rain to soak the insulation. While the exterior looked new for a year or two, the structure underneath was slowly rotting.
Lions Siding & Roofing refuses to take shortcuts. We know that in Chatham, “good enough” fails. We treat every home as if it’s on the oceanfront, using materials and techniques designed to survive the harshest coastal environment in New England.
From restoring antique capes in the Old Village to protecting modern beach houses on Morris Island, our work stands the test of time.
Chatham is unique. It balances strict historical preservation with the need for modern weather protection.
We are experienced in navigating Chatham Historic Business District requirements, ensuring that your siding replacement meets aesthetic guidelines while using modern waterproofing technology underneath to protect the structure for the next 50 years.
