Siding in Harvard, IL
James Hardie Preferred Remodeler • LP SmartSide Preferred Installer • James Hardie Preferred Badge • Financing Available • Free Estimates
Hardie Preferred, 30-Year Non-Prorated Warranty
LP SmartSide Preferred, 5/50 Warranty Access
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State License #104.015093 • $1M Liability
The Most Affordable Market in McHenry County — and the One That Punishes Bad Siding the Hardest
We’re the Wilborn family. Women-led, family-owned, working out of our Route 176 office in Crystal Lake since 2005. Harvard sits at the far northwestern corner of McHenry County, right up against the Wisconsin state line, about 30 minutes from our office via Route 14. I’ve driven that stretch through Woodstock and out past the Starline Factory more times than I can count. I know the Craftsman cottages lining Ayer Street with their stone foundations and original wood clapboard that’s been weathering since before World War I. I know the mid-century ranches south of downtown where the vinyl went up in the 1980s and hasn’t been touched since. And I know what the open farmland surrounding this town does to an exterior wall when a northwest wind rips across those fields with nothing to slow it down. Harvard has the most affordable housing in our entire territory, median home value of $175,400, but affordable does not mean forgiving. This is one of the harshest siding environments in McHenry County, and most homeowners here have no idea how much damage is accumulating behind their panels right now.
Harvard was founded in 1856 as a railroad stop. The Metra Union Pacific/Northwest Line still terminates here. “The Train Starts in Harvard” is not a slogan. It’s a fact printed on signs around town. That railroad identity built the original grid along Ayer Street, Division Street, and Diggins Street, where Victorian-era homes and Foursquare houses stand shoulder to shoulder with Craftsman cottages that are 100 to 170 years old. Some of those homes still wear their original wood siding. Others have been layered, wood under aluminum under vinyl, each coat nailed over the last without removing what came before. Every layer traps moisture against the one below it. On a home that old, with stone foundations that wick groundwater and wood framing that predates modern vapor barriers, those trapped layers are rotting the structure from the outside in.
Then there’s the wind. Harvard sits on open agricultural land. No hills, no tree lines, no suburban density to break up a storm front rolling in from the northwest. When 60 to 85 mph gusts hit Crystal Lake or Cary, the houses on either side absorb some of the energy. When those same gusts hit Harvard, they slam into exterior walls at full force because there is nothing between your siding and the Wisconsin border but corn stubble and soybean fields. The May 7, 2024 EF-0 tornado confirmed what Harvard homeowners already suspected: this town is directly in the path of severe weather, and the flat terrain amplifies every event. If your siding survived that tornado and the August 2025 storm complex without visible damage, the wind-driven rain behind those panels during the last two storm seasons almost certainly found a way in. That’s the conversation this page exists to start.
Siding Options for Harvard Homes — Side by Side
Current IHC installed pricing for Harvard. Your material choice depends on the age of your home, your wind exposure, and how long you plan to hold the property. In the most affordable market in McHenry County, siding ROI matters more than anywhere else in our territory.
| Material | Per Sq Ft Installed | Lifespan | Warranty | Best For (Harvard) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie | $12 – $16 | 50+ years | 30-year non-prorated | Historic Downtown homes, farmhouse restorations, any property on open agricultural land with full wind exposure |
| LP SmartSide | $12 – $16 | 30–50 years | 5/50 substrate + finish | Mid-century ranches and Cape Cods south of downtown, warm wood-grain texture at fiber-cement durability |
| Premium Vinyl | $6 – $9 | 20–30 years | Lifetime limited | New subdivision homes built to modern code, only if budget is the primary constraint and wind exposure is partially shielded |
| Builder-Grade Vinyl | $5.50 – $7.50 | 15–20 years | Limited | Rental/multi-family properties where landlords need functional coverage at the lowest installed cost |
| Cedar, Stained | $16 – $22 | 25–40 yrs (with maintenance) | Varies | Historic Downtown Craftsman cottages and farmhouse restorations where architectural character drives the decision |
Hardie and LP SmartSide install at identical pricing in Harvard. The decision comes down to aesthetic preference and exposure level. On open farmland lots with no wind break, fiber cement’s dimensional stability gives it an edge over engineered wood. In shielded subdivisions, SmartSide’s deep grain texture wins on curb appeal. See our full siding cost guide →
Open Farmland, No Wind Break, Maximum Punishment — Why Harvard Destroys Siding Faster Than Any Town in Our Territory
I’ll be direct about Harvard’s siding environment: it’s the worst in our service area. Not because of humidity like Fox River Grove. Not because of lake-effect moisture like Lake in the Hills. Harvard’s problem is wind. The town sits on flat agricultural land at the northwestern tip of McHenry County, closer to the Wisconsin border than to any neighboring IHC market. There are no hills, no forest preserves, no suburban density buffering the wind. A storm front rolling southeast from Wisconsin hits Harvard homes at full velocity. That sustained wind exposure drives rain horizontally into siding joints, laps, and trim transitions at angles that vertical rainfall never reaches. Every panel seam, every window casing, every soffit-to-fascia joint becomes a potential entry point during a wind event. And Harvard gets a lot of wind events.
The numbers back it up. May 7, 2024 delivered an EF-0 tornado directly to Harvard, 65 to 85 mph winds and 2.1-inch hail that destroyed a barn and killed livestock on a local farm. That was the first confirmed tornado in the immediate Harvard area in recent memory, and the National Weather Service documented it as a significant local event. March 31, 2023 saw 22 tornadoes across the NWS Chicago region, with Harvard sitting in the northwestern impact zone and reporting straight-line wind damage. July 15, 2024 brought a derecho that spawned 32 tornadoes across Chicagoland. August 16 through 19, 2025 hit McHenry County with 60 to 70 mph winds, heavy hail, and widespread power outages. February 27, 2024 produced large hail and tornadoes from record winter warmth. Illinois recorded 142 confirmed tornadoes in 2024 alone, the highest count in state history.
Harvard also endures the coldest winters in the IHC service area. Sitting at the northwesternmost point of McHenry County means higher snow accumulation, more freeze-thaw cycles between November and March, and longer periods where ice sits against siding panels and trim boards. When vinyl contracts in sub-zero temperatures, the lap locks lose tension. When it expands again during a January thaw, those locks don’t always re-engage. That gap stays open for the rest of winter, letting wind-driven snow melt behind the panel and saturate the sheathing. I’ve pulled vinyl off Harvard homes and found ice crystals embedded in the house wrap seams in February. The siding looked intact from the driveway. The sheathing behind it told a different story.
Combine open-field wind exposure, the most severe freeze-thaw cycling in the county, a confirmed tornado, and a storm season that has delivered at least one major event annually since 2023, and Harvard becomes a town where material selection is not an aesthetic decision. It’s a structural one. Builder-grade vinyl rated for 20 years fails at 12 on an exposed Harvard lot. Cedar without aggressive staining every 3 to 4 years delaminates in the wind-driven moisture. Fiber cement and engineered wood are the two materials built to absorb what this town delivers year after year.
Siding Services in Harvard
Full siding replacement, partial re-siding, storm damage repair, vinyl-to-fiber-cement conversion, historic restoration. In-house W-2 crews only, no subcontractors on any Harvard project.
James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding →
HardiePlank lap, HardieShingle shake panels, HardiePanel vertical board, and HardieTrim, installed as a matched system with every component sealed at every transition. On a Harvard home sitting on open farmland where northwest winds hit the exterior wall without obstruction, fiber cement is the material that doesn’t flinch. Hardie does not warp in 85 mph gusts. It does not crack in sub-zero freeze-thaw cycles. It does not delaminate under the horizontal rain that Harvard’s flat terrain channels directly into siding joints. The ColorPlus factory finish is baked at 400 degrees, not brushed on at a job site where temperature and humidity can compromise adhesion, and it holds color in conditions that destroy site-applied paint in 4 to 6 years. As a James Hardie Preferred Remodeler, we deliver the full 30-year non-prorated material warranty. A non-preferred installer hangs the same planks and delivers a lesser warranty that covers less for less time. On a $175,000 Harvard home, that warranty gap represents a significant percentage of your total home value.
✓ James Hardie Preferred Remodeler
LP SmartSide Engineered Wood Siding →
LP SmartSide infuses every strand of engineered wood substrate with the SmartGuard process, zinc borate and resin driven through the entire panel thickness, not applied as a surface treatment. That strand-level protection is what separates SmartSide from natural wood in a town where freeze-thaw cycling splits untreated lumber and wind-driven moisture penetrates surface coatings within a few seasons. SmartSide resists moisture absorption, fungal decay, and termites — the three failure modes that destroy natural wood siding on Harvard’s older homes along Ayer Street and Division Street. Priced identically to Hardie at $12 to $16 per square foot installed. Deeper wood-grain texture than fiber cement. LP’s 5/50-year limited warranty at the Preferred Installer tier we hold. For Harvard homeowners restoring a Craftsman cottage or mid-century ranch who want a warm wood aesthetic without the maintenance burden of real cedar, SmartSide is the product.
✓ LP SmartSide Preferred Installer
Premium Vinyl Siding →
I’m going to be honest about vinyl in Harvard. This town has more unobstructed wind exposure per square mile than anywhere else we work. Premium vinyl (0.044″ to 0.046″ panel thickness) performs adequately on newer subdivision homes built to modern wind-load standards, especially lots that sit within a built-up neighborhood where surrounding structures absorb some of the gust energy. But on the farmhouse properties outside town, on the historic downtown homes along Ayer Street and Diggins Street, on any lot that faces open agricultural land with no wind break? Vinyl is the wrong answer. Wind drives rain behind the lap locks, and once that moisture reaches the sheathing, the damage compounds silently for years. I will tell you that during the inspection, not after you’ve already paid for installation.
Vinyl-to-Fiber-Cement Conversion
This is the most requested project type we see in Harvard right now. Mid-century ranches from the 1950s through 1970s south and east of downtown where builder-grade vinyl went up 30 to 40 years ago. Downtown cottages on Ayer Street where vinyl was nailed over original wood clapboard in the 1980s without removing the first layer. Rental properties where landlords installed the cheapest available vinyl and it’s now cracked, faded, and letting wind-driven moisture behind every panel. We tear off the old vinyl, inspect the sheathing — and on Harvard homes, especially the ones facing open fields, there is almost always moisture damage at the windward elevations — replace any compromised sheathing, install new weather-resistive barrier with fully taped seams, and re-side in Hardie or SmartSide. Most conversions on a typical Harvard home run 7 to 12 working days depending on sheathing condition and trim complexity.
Soffit, Fascia & Trim →
On Harvard’s wind-exposed homes, soffit and fascia take as much abuse as the field siding, sometimes more. Wind-driven rain pushes up under soffit panels at the eave line, rots fascia boards from the back side, and peels paint off trim that faces the prevailing northwest wind. The historic downtown homes along Division Street and Diggins Street are particularly vulnerable because the original soffit panels are decades past their useful life. We replace soffit and fascia in aluminum or HardieTrim, wrap every window and door casing, and seal every transition where trim meets siding, soffit meets fascia, and roofline meets sidewall. Patching one elevation while leaving the others exposed is a temporary fix that the next Harvard windstorm will undo.
Storm Damage Siding Repair →
Hail-cracked vinyl, wind-ripped panels, tree-limb punctures, blown-off sections on exposed farmhouse walls. After the May 2024 EF-0 tornado and the August 2025 storm complex that brought 60 to 70 mph winds across McHenry County, we documented siding damage throughout Harvard, from the historic downtown core to the rural properties along Route 173 and Route 14. If your siding took hail or wind damage and you haven’t filed a claim, the damage is still there. Every freeze-thaw cycle opens those cracks wider. Our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters, a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm, handles siding damage claims from documentation through final settlement, including supplement negotiation when the carrier’s initial payment falls short (financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575).
Our Harvard Siding Replacement Process
Pin Meter First, Sales Pitch Never
Every Harvard siding inspection starts with a moisture probe pressed into sheathing, not a brochure slid across a kitchen table. The pin meter goes behind suspect panels on every elevation, with extra attention to the windward walls that face open farmland. On the Historic Downtown homes along Ayer Street and Division Street, the inspection also checks for layered materials, original wood clapboard under aluminum under vinyl, each generation trapping moisture against the one below it. On farmhouse properties outside town, I’m checking where wind-driven rain has been hitting the same wall section for decades without anything to deflect it. The assessment is free and takes about 90 minutes for a typical Harvard home. Longer for the acreage estates with multiple structures.
Physical Samples, Written Numbers, Honest Recommendations
I bring physical cutaways of Hardie fiber cement, LP SmartSide engineered wood, and premium vinyl so you can hold each material, feel the density difference, and see how each profile sits against your existing brick, stone foundation, or trim. The written estimate breaks out every cost: product per square foot, labor, new weather-resistive barrier, HardieTrim or SmartSide trim, flashing at every window and door, Harvard building permit, dumpster, and haul-away. Your lot’s wind exposure dictates the material recommendation. A farmhouse on open acreage along Route 14 gets fiber cement, period. A newer subdivision home with neighboring structures providing some wind buffer might be a candidate for premium vinyl, but only if the inspection confirms adequate sheathing condition behind the existing panels.
201 W. Diggins Street — We Handle the Permit
Siding replacement in Harvard requires a building permit from City Hall at 201 W. Diggins Street. McHenry County building codes govern the work, and the city enforces them through its own permitting office at (815) 943-6431. We file the application, coordinate the inspection window around installation progress, and close the permit when the building department signs off. You never set foot in City Hall. If a contractor tells you permits aren’t required for siding work in Harvard, that should tell you everything about how they plan to handle the rest of the project.
Strip, Inspect, Repair, Wrap, Install, Walk
Every panel comes off. On Harvard’s wind-exposed lots, we typically find sheathing damage concentrated on the northwest and west elevations where decades of unobstructed wind have been driving moisture into joints the original installers never sealed properly. Damaged sheathing gets replaced before anything else goes on the wall. New weather-resistive barrier with fully taped seams goes over the entire surface. Flashings integrate at every window head, door jamb, and roof-to-wall intersection. Kick-out flashing at every junction where a roof plane meets a sidewall, the single most common hidden leak point on a home that takes horizontal rain from open farmland. Our W-2 crew installs siding to manufacturer spec, wraps every window and door casing, and walks you through the finished exterior wall by wall before handing over warranty paperwork and closing the permit.
Open Fields Mean Open Season on Your Siding
Most Harvard homeowners don’t realize how much wind-driven moisture has accumulated behind their panels until the sheathing is already soft. A pin meter tells the truth in five minutes. We bring one to every inspection, and the inspection is free. Cracked vinyl on a mid-century ranch, layered materials on a Downtown Craftsman cottage, wind-battered panels on a farmhouse, whatever the situation, you get a straight answer and a written proposal with every line item visible. Harvard is the most affordable market we serve, and we price accordingly, no markup for being 30 minutes from our office.
Hardie Preferred Remodeler • LP SmartSide Preferred • A+ BBB • GreenSky financing • Zero-obligation estimates
Why Harvard Homeowners Choose IHC for Siding
Two Certifications That Determine Your Warranty Coverage
James Hardie Preferred Remodeler. LP SmartSide Preferred Installer. Each certification required field audits, documented installation quality, and ongoing performance reviews from the manufacturer. The practical result: when we install HardiePlank on a Harvard home, the 30-year non-prorated warranty attaches because Hardie has verified our installation methods meet their standard. A contractor without Preferred status hangs the same plank and delivers a lesser warranty covering less damage for less time. On a $175,000 Harvard home where siding replacement can represent 15 percent or more of total property value, the warranty distinction between a Preferred and non-Preferred installer is the difference between a covered repair in year 22 and a five-figure out-of-pocket bill.
Milk Days Has Run Since World War II. We’ve Run Since 2005.
Harvard values institutions that last. Milk Days, the oldest continuous hometown festival in the entire state of Illinois, has been drawing crowds the first weekend of June for over 80 years. We’ve been at the same Route 176 office in Crystal Lake for 21 years with the same family, the same phone number, and the same commitment to standing behind our work after the sale. Siding warranties run 30 to 50 years. The company that installed it needs to exist for that full span. Storm chasers who flooded McHenry County after August 2025 will disappear by next spring. Our office is a straight shot down Route 14, and it will still be there when your Hardie warranty is active in 2056.
Family-Operated, Women-Led, Locally Rooted
The Wilborns built this company from a single Crystal Lake location and never left. Women-led from the ownership level. That is how the business operates, not a tagline. Harvard is a town of under 10,000 people where the Starline Factory, Milk Days, and the Metra station create a community tight enough that reputation travels block to block. When you call (815) 356-9020, you reach someone in McHenry County who has driven through Harvard on Route 14 dozens of times and can discuss your project without transferring you to a call center or reading from a script.
One Permit, One Crew, Every Exterior Surface
The May 2024 tornado and the August 2025 storms didn’t damage just siding. They hit roofs, gutters, windows, soffit, fascia, and trim on the same Harvard homes simultaneously. Hiring three separate contractors means three permit applications at 201 W. Diggins, three dumpsters in your driveway, and three warranty holders pointing at each other when something doesn’t line up at a transition point. We scope the full building envelope under one Harvard permit and execute with our own crew on a coordinated timeline. One phone number. One company accountable for every surface. We also bring InnoMAXX and F-Wave synthetic options into the conversation when a project calls for materials beyond the standard lineup.
Insurance Carriers Underpay Harvard Claims — Every Time
The first check from your insurance carrier after the 2024 tornado or the 2025 storm complex typically covered the roof and ignored the siding, gutters, and trim damage visible on every elevation. Carriers count on homeowners in affordable markets accepting the first offer because the dollar amounts feel large relative to the home’s value. Our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters, is a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm that files supplements with line-item Xactimate documentation until the settlement reflects actual repair costs. Engaging them is your choice, not ours. Financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575.
Harvard Is 30 Minutes From Our Office. We Still Show Up.
Harvard is the farthest city from our Crystal Lake headquarters, about 30 minutes northwest via Route 14 through Woodstock. Some contractors won’t drive that far for a $175,000 home. We will. We’ve replaced siding on Harvard properties from the Historic Downtown grid to the rural acreage estates along Route 173, and the distance from our office has zero impact on the quality of work or the speed of response. Same crew, same materials, same warranty, same post-installation follow-up. The drive adds 15 minutes to our day. The difference in your exterior lasts 50 years.
Harvard Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Siding Guide
Harvard’s housing stock ranges from $100,000 starter homes to million-dollar acreage estates. Each area has a different siding story based on build era, construction type, and exposure to the open farmland that defines this town’s climate.
Historic Downtown / Original Grid (1856–1920s — The Oldest Walls in McHenry County)
Along Ayer Street, Division Street, and Diggins Street. Victorian-era homes, Foursquare houses, and Craftsman cottages with stone foundations, some of the oldest residential structures in all of McHenry County. These homes are 100 to 170 years old. The original wood clapboard siding on many of them predates modern building science entirely. I’ve inspected Downtown Harvard homes where three generations of siding materials sit layered on top of each other: wood under aluminum under vinyl, each one nailed over the last without removing what came before. Every trapped layer holds moisture against the one below it, and on a stone-foundation home that already wicks groundwater, that moisture has nowhere to go but into the framing. On a Historic Downtown renovation, we strip every layer back to the original sheathing or studs, assess structural integrity, install modern weather-resistive barrier, and re-side with material that will outlast the next century of Harvard weather. Fiber cement or SmartSide, never vinyl on a home this old and this exposed.
Mid-Century Neighborhoods (1940s–1970s — Every Original Material Past Its Lifespan)
South and east of downtown. Ranches, Cape Cods, and scattered Mid-Century Moderns built during Harvard’s post-war expansion. These homes are 50 to 80 years old, and every original exterior material on them has exceeded its intended service life. The vinyl siding that went up over original wood in the 1980s is now cracked, faded, and brittle, especially on south-facing walls where decades of UV exposure have degraded the polymer structure. The lap locks on these older vinyl installations lose grip after 25 to 30 years, which means wind-driven rain is getting behind the panels during every significant storm event. I’ve pulled panels off mid-century Harvard ranches and found the sheathing stained black with mold where moisture has been sitting for years without any visible sign from the exterior. Hardie or SmartSide with new house wrap is the standard recommendation for this era of Harvard housing.
New Subdivision Lots (2010s–Present — Modern Code, Still Vulnerable)
Three to four subdivisions with ready-to-build lots currently available in Harvard. These newer homes are built to modern construction standards: better house wrap, better flashing details, better fastening schedules. But modern code doesn’t change Harvard’s geography. A 2018 subdivision home on a lot facing open farmland takes the same unobstructed wind as a 1920 Craftsman on Ayer Street. The difference is the newer home was designed for it; the question is whether the builder installed the siding to the standard the wind demands. We evaluate new subdivision homes based on their specific lot exposure, not just their build year. Some are fine. Others have builder-grade vinyl that’s already showing stress cracks at the lap joints after 6 to 8 years of Harvard wind.
Rural / Agricultural Properties (Various Eras — Maximum Wind, Maximum Exposure)
Farmhouses on substantial acreage outside the Harvard town limits. These properties span every construction era from the 1880s to the 2000s, but they share one defining characteristic: complete exposure to agricultural wind from every direction. No neighboring structures, no tree lines, no terrain features to deflect gusts. A farmhouse sitting on 20 acres along Route 173 takes wind at speeds 15 to 20 percent higher than a downtown home shielded by surrounding structures. That wind differential translates directly to accelerated siding wear, especially on the northwest and west elevations that face the prevailing storm track. Fiber cement is the only material I install on rural Harvard properties without reservation. The Geodesic Dome house and the million-dollar estates with multiple outbuildings require custom scoping, but the material recommendation stays the same: something that doesn’t move when the wind blows.
Rental / Multi-Family Properties (40% of Harvard Housing)
Forty percent of Harvard’s housing units are renter-occupied, the highest rental ratio in our service area. That means landlord-driven exterior renovations are a significant portion of the siding work in this market. Multi-family buildings need commercial-grade fastening, materials rated for shared-wall fire separation where applicable, and installation crews familiar with the different code requirements for multi-unit structures. We work with Harvard landlords who own single rental houses and landlords who manage multi-unit properties. Builder-grade vinyl at $5.50 to $7.50 per square foot is the entry point for landlords who need functional coverage at the lowest installed cost. Premium vinyl at $6 to $9 makes sense for landlords holding properties long-term. Fiber cement at $12 to $16 makes sense for landlords who never want to re-side again during their ownership period.
Acreage Estates ($500K–$1M+ — Harvard’s Hidden High End)
Most people don’t associate Harvard with million-dollar homes. But the large-parcel estates on the outskirts of town — 10 to 40+ acres with custom-built residences, outbuildings, and equestrian facilities — represent a market segment that surprises contractors who write off Harvard as a starter-home town. These properties demand premium materials installed to the highest standard. The siding scope on an acreage estate often covers multiple structures: main residence, detached garage, barn or stable, guest house. Each building needs its own material takeoff, its own flashing plan, its own sheathing inspection. We scope these projects building by building and phase the work to minimize disruption to the property. Harvard’s acreage estates are some of the most rewarding projects we run: complex, detailed, and requiring the kind of planning that storm chasers simply cannot execute.
Harvard Siding FAQs
How much does siding replacement cost in Harvard?
Hardie fiber cement and LP SmartSide both install at $12 to $16 per square foot, identical pricing for two different aesthetics. Premium vinyl runs $6 to $9. Builder-grade vinyl for rental properties lands at $5.50 to $7.50. Stained cedar for historic cottage restorations costs $16 to $22. On a Harvard home with 1,600 square feet of wall area, a fiber cement or SmartSide re-side totals roughly $19,000 to $26,000 including new house wrap, all trim, and the city building permit. Sheathing repair on wind-exposed elevations adds cost that can’t be estimated until the old siding comes off. That line item appears in your proposal as a per-sheet allowance. GreenSky financing spreads the investment across monthly payments.
What siding material holds up best in Harvard’s wind exposure?
Fiber cement. Hardie doesn’t flex in 85 mph gusts, doesn’t crack in sub-zero freeze-thaw, and doesn’t absorb the wind-driven moisture that Harvard’s flat terrain channels into every panel seam. SmartSide engineered wood performs well on lots with partial wind shielding from neighboring structures, the SmartGuard zinc borate treatment protects against moisture, decay, and insects simultaneously. Vinyl on an exposed Harvard lot is a 12-year material pretending to be a 25-year material. I’ll tell you that during the free inspection rather than let you find out the hard way.
Do I need a building permit for siding in Harvard?
Yes. Harvard City Hall at 201 W. Diggins Street requires a building permit for siding replacement under McHenry County building codes. We submit the application, coordinate inspections around installation progress, and close the permit when the building department gives final approval. You never visit City Hall or schedule an inspector. The permit office can be reached at (815) 943-6431 if you want to verify anything independently before we start.
Is my siding damage from the May 2024 tornado or August 2025 storms still claimable?
For most policies, yes, but the window narrows every month. Insurance carriers use elapsed time as leverage to reclassify storm damage as normal wear. The documented record for Harvard is strong: NWS-confirmed EF-0 tornado on May 7, 2024 with 65 to 85 mph winds and 2.1-inch hail, plus county-wide 60 to 70 mph winds in August 2025. That evidence pins damage to specific dates. If your siding shows cracks, dents, or missing sections from either event and you haven’t filed, photograph everything now and call your carrier. IHC Public Adjusters, separately licensed in Illinois, evaluates damage and advises on claim viability at zero upfront cost (215 ILCS 5/1575).
Should I choose Hardie or LP SmartSide for my Harvard home?
Both cost the same installed. The decision comes down to wind exposure and desired appearance. Hardie fiber cement is dimensionally stable and completely inert to water, the right pick for farmhouse properties, open-field lots, and any home that takes unobstructed northwest wind. SmartSide delivers a deeper, more natural wood-grain texture that works beautifully on Craftsman cottage restorations and mid-century ranches where curb appeal drives the material selection. Both carry manufacturer-backed warranties at the Preferred certification tier we hold: Hardie 30-year non-prorated, SmartSide 5/50-year limited.
How long does a siding install take in Harvard?
Budget 7 to 14 working days for a full re-side. Fiber cement and engineered wood require precision cutting and slower fastening than vinyl, which adds time but ensures each panel is installed to manufacturer spec. A vinyl-to-Hardie conversion on a mid-century ranch averages 7 to 10 days. Historic Downtown homes with multiple material layers to strip and sheathing damage to address push toward the 14-day mark. Acreage estates with multiple structures require a custom timeline based on total scope. Weather delays are communicated in advance, the exact schedule is part of your written estimate.
Related Reading
Your Siding Looks Fine From the Driveway. The Pin Meter Tells a Different Story.
In a town surrounded by open farmland where wind hits exterior walls without obstruction, the damage that matters most is the damage you can’t see without pulling a panel and probing the sheathing behind it. Cracked vinyl on a mid-century ranch south of downtown. Three layers of siding trapping moisture against 150-year-old framing on a Craftsman cottage. Wind-battered panels on a farmhouse along Route 173. The inspection takes 90 minutes, costs nothing, and gives you a documented picture of what is actually happening behind your walls. Harvard is the most affordable market we serve: and the material recommendation matches your lot, your budget, and your timeline, not a one-size pitch.
Free inspections • GreenSky financing • IHC Public Adjusters, separately licensed IL firm (215 ILCS 5/1575)
Innovative Home Concepts, Inc.
4410 IL-176, Ste 1
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(~30 min from Harvard via Route 14)
Phone: (815) 356-9020
Text: (815) 356-9020
Email: info@innovativehomeconcepts.com
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Hardie Preferred Remodeler, 30-Year Non-Prorated
LP SmartSide Preferred Installer, 5/50 Warranty
CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster
IHC Public Adjusters, IL Licensed (215 ILCS 5/1575)
A+ BBB • Wilborn Family Since 2005
