Siding in Lake in the Hills, IL
James Hardie Preferred Remodeler • LP SmartSide Preferred Installer • CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster • Financing Available • Free Estimates
James Hardie Preferred Remodeler
LP SmartSide Preferred Installer
380+ Five-Star Reviews
IL Roofing License #104.015093
Thousands of Identical Vinyl Homes — All Failing at the Same Time
We’re the Wilborn family. We’ve been a women-led, family-owned exterior contractor based on Route 176 in Crystal Lake since 2005. Lake in the Hills is a 12-minute drive south on Randall Road, and I’ve spent more time in Meadowbrook, Big Sky, and Harvest Gate than some of the people who live there. I know what I’m looking at when I pull into these subdivisions. Block after block of two-story colonials and split-levels with the same faded, warped, cracked builder-grade vinyl that went on every home Ryland, Town & Country, Sundance, and Concord put up during the 1990s building boom. The pattern is unmistakable once you see it: chalky color loss on the south-facing walls, buckled panels along the garage returns, loose J-channel around the windows, and hairline cracks along the bottom courses where 30 winters of freeze-thaw have done their work.
Here’s the number that tells the entire story of Lake in the Hills: the median year a home was built in this village is 1996. That is not a typo. Roughly half of the 9,690 households here were constructed in the same 15-year window. The population went from 5,866 in 1990 to 23,152 in 2000 — a 295 percent increase that made LITH one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States. Developers put up thousands of homes as fast as they could pour foundations, and every single one of those homes got the cheapest vinyl siding available in the 1990s supply chain. Thin panels. Minimal insulation value. Lap locks designed for 20 years, now pushing 30. Those homes are not approaching the replacement window — they blew past it five years ago.
I’ve torn vinyl off Meadowbrook homes built by Ryland in 1994 and found the house wrap underneath degraded to tissue paper. I’ve pulled panels off Big Sky homes built by Town & Country and found sheathing with dark water stains running from every window head. That’s not cosmetic damage. That’s your wall assembly absorbing moisture through gaps that widened a little more every year since 2010. The siding looked tired from the street. Behind it, the wall was rotting. This page is about stopping that cycle with the right material, installed by a crew that has stripped and re-sided more McHenry County homes than anyone else in the market.
Siding Options for Lake in the Hills — Side by Side
Current IHC installed pricing for Lake in the Hills. Choose the right material for your subdivision, your lot exposure, and your budget.
| Material | Per Sq Ft Installed | Lifespan | Warranty | Best For (LITH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie | $12 – $16 | 50+ years | 30-year non-prorated | Boulder Ridge estates, lakefront homes near Woods Creek Lake, any lot within 500 ft of water |
| LP SmartSide | $12 – $16 | 30–50 years | 5/50 substrate + finish | Sumner Glen executive homes, Meadowbrook colonials, Heron Bay — warm wood-grain texture at fiber cement durability |
| Premium Vinyl | $6 – $9 | 20–30 years | Lifetime limited | Budget-conscious upgrades in Concord Hills, Stoney Brooke, Prairie Point — inland lots away from the lake |
| Cedar, Stained | $16 – $22 | 25–40 yrs (with maintenance) | Varies | Original Section cottages near Woods Creek Lake, custom builds requiring natural wood aesthetic |
Hardie and LP SmartSide carry the same installed price in Lake in the Hills. The decision is aesthetic and exposure-driven, not price-driven. See our full siding cost guide →
Why Every Builder-Grade Vinyl Home in LITH Is on Borrowed Time
LITH went from a quiet lakeside village of 5,866 people to a suburb of 23,152 in a single decade. Between 1990 and 2005, developers carved out Meadowbrook, Big Sky, Harvest Gate, Spring Lake Farms, Concord Hills, Stoney Brooke, Boulder Ridge, Bellchase, Sumner Glen, and Heron Bay — over 1,000 building permits issued in 1995 alone. Every builder — Ryland in Meadowbrook and Heron Bay, Town & Country in Big Sky, Harvest Gate, and Sumner Glen, Sundance in Spring Lake Farms and Bellchase, Concord in Concord Hills — spec’d the same 0.040-inch builder-grade vinyl with lap locks rated for 20 years. Those lap locks have now cycled through 30 McHenry County winters. They are loose. They are letting wind-driven rain behind the panels.
The storm calendar has compounded the problem. August 5, 2024 brought hail and wind that hit LITH directly. The July 2024 derecho rolled through McHenry County with 60 to 100 mph winds across three consecutive nights. August 27, 2024 dropped more hail. September 2025 brought 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail. April 2026 produced tornado warnings and 60 mph gusts, collapsing a home in neighboring McHenry. If your siding survived 2024 without visible damage, the hidden damage behind the panels — moisture that entered through cracked panels in July and August — has been working on your sheathing for two years.
The median household income in Lake in the Hills is $117,151. The median home value is $321,900. A fiber cement re-side runs $22,000 to $32,000 — 7 to 10 percent of your home’s value for a product that outlasts the mortgage, eliminates the repaint cycle, and adds measurable resale value in a market where homes move between $330K and $410K. You are not paying for luxury. You are replacing a material that has already failed with one that will not.
Siding Services in Lake in the Hills
Complete siding replacement, partial re-siding, storm damage repair, and material upgrades. In-house crews only — we never subcontract labor.
James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding →
HardiePlank lap siding, HardieShingle shake panels, HardiePanel vertical board, and HardieTrim. For Boulder Ridge homes, lakefront properties near Woods Creek Lake, and any lot along Crystal Creek, James Hardie is the material that matches the environment. Fiber cement does not absorb moisture the way vinyl and wood do. It does not warp, crack, or delaminate under the humidity that 50 acres of open water puts into the air year-round. The ColorPlus factory finish is baked on at the plant — not rolled on by a painter in April — and holds its color through McHenry County’s 100-degree annual temperature swing without chalking or fading. As a James Hardie Preferred Remodeler, we deliver Hardie’s full 30-year non-prorated material warranty. A contractor without that certification can hang the same planks but cannot activate that warranty. On a $760K Boulder Ridge home, that distinction is worth paying attention to.
✓ James Hardie Preferred Remodeler
LP SmartSide Engineered Wood Siding →
LP SmartSide uses treated engineered wood with a resin-saturated overlay. The SmartGuard process treats every strand through the entire substrate, not just the face — which matters in a village where Woods Creek Lake, Crystal Creek, and the Lake in the Hills Fen all contribute to elevated ambient moisture eight months of the year. SmartSide resists fungal decay, moisture absorption, and termites — the three things that destroy natural wood siding in northern Illinois. Priced the same as Hardie, LP gives you a deeper, more natural wood-grain texture that looks right on the Sumner Glen executive homes and Meadowbrook colonials where homeowners want warmth without the maintenance cycle of real wood. We’re LP SmartSide Preferred Installers. LP’s 5/50-year limited warranty applies in full.
✓ LP SmartSide Preferred Installer
Premium Vinyl Siding →
We need to be direct about vinyl. The builder-grade 0.040-inch panels that went on Big Sky, Harvest Gate, and Spring Lake Farms homes in the 1990s are not what we install. Premium vinyl today runs 0.044 to 0.046 inches, with deeper profiles, reinforced nail hems, and UV stabilizers that the 1990s supply chain did not offer. For homeowners in Concord Hills, Stoney Brooke, or Prairie Point on inland lots away from the lake, premium vinyl at $6 to $9 per square foot is a legitimate option that delivers 20 to 30 years of clean performance. But if your lot backs up to Woods Creek Lake, sits along Crystal Creek, or borders the Lake in the Hills Fen, vinyl is the wrong choice. The humidity will shorten its life and we won’t pretend otherwise.
Builder-Grade Vinyl Tear-Off & Upgrade
This is the project we run more than any other in Lake in the Hills. A complete tear-off of the original 1990s vinyl, inspection of the sheathing and house wrap beneath it, structural repair where moisture has compromised the wall assembly, new weather-resistive barrier with taped seams, and re-siding in fiber cement, engineered wood, or premium vinyl. On a typical Meadowbrook or Heron Bay home built by Ryland between 1993 and 2005, this process takes 7 to 12 working days. We’ve done enough of these to know where Ryland cut corners — window head flashing was consistently undertaped, and the house wrap was stapled with too few fasteners. Those details show up as dark staining on the sheathing during tear-off.
Soffit, Fascia & Trim →
The soffit and fascia on most LITH homes are the same age as the siding — original 1990s builder-grade aluminum or vinyl that has aged out alongside everything else. We see peeling paint on aluminum fascia, sagging vinyl soffit panels that have lost rigidity, and carpenter bee entry holes where wood trim was left exposed behind the soffit. We replace soffit and fascia in aluminum or HardieTrim, wrap window and door casings, and seal every transition point. Homes near Woods Creek Lake with mature tree canopy take the worst fascia damage from sustained leaf debris and trapped moisture. We replace the full trim system — leaving one rotten board behind a fresh soffit panel is how moisture finds its way back in.
Storm Damage Siding Repair →
Hail-cracked panels from the August 5, 2024 direct hit on LITH. Wind-ripped siding from the July 2024 derecho that tore through McHenry County at 60 to 100 mph. Tree-limb impact from the April 2026 storms that downed power lines and collapsed a home in neighboring McHenry. We repair and replace storm-damaged siding and document every square foot of damage for the insurance record. Our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters — a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm — represents homeowners on siding damage claims from initial filing through final payment, including supplement negotiation when the carrier’s first check falls short (financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575).
Our Lake in the Hills Siding Replacement Process
Inspection & Wall Assessment
We pull panels and probe behind the cladding. On a Ryland-built Meadowbrook home or a Town & Country Big Sky colonial, we already know the common failure points — undertaped window head flashing, insufficient house wrap fastening, and sheathing staining below window sills. On lakefront and near-lake properties in the Original Section, we check for moisture accumulation driven by Woods Creek Lake humidity. You get an honest report of what we found, what needs repair, and what can stay. No guessing, no upselling.
Material Selection & Written Estimate
We bring physical samples — James Hardie, LP SmartSide, premium vinyl — so you can hold them against your brick, stone accents, or existing trim. Color chips in hand, at your front door, in the light your house actually sees. Your written estimate is line-by-line: material cost, labor, house wrap, trim, flashing, Village of Lake in the Hills permit, cleanup. No lump sums. No hidden fees.
Permits & Scheduling
We file the siding permit through the Village of Lake in the Hills online public portal. LITH requires all contractors to hold a village license ($75 fee, $1,000,000 general liability, $10,000 surety bond) — we maintain that licensing year-round. You don’t call Village Hall at (847) 960-7400 — we handle the permit application, the fee, and any inspection scheduling. Your job is to pick a start date.
Installation & Final Walkthrough
Full tear-off of existing siding. Sheathing inspection and repair. New house wrap installed with staggered seams and taped joints. Flashings integrated at every window, door, and roof-to-wall transition. Siding installed to manufacturer spec by our in-house crew — no subcontractors touching your walls. Kick-out flashing at every roof-to-wall junction. Final walkthrough with you, wall by wall, with warranty documents in hand. Landscaping left the way we found it, debris hauled off the same day.
Woods Creek Lake and the Moisture Problem Nobody Talks About
Lake in the Hills has four lakes — Woods Creek Lake (50-plus acres of open water), Goose Lake, and two smaller bodies in Barbara Key Park. The village also sits above Crystal Creek, which has a documented flooding history going back to 1978, and the Lake in the Hills Fen, a state-designated Illinois Nature Preserve with high-quality wetlands contributing to localized humidity near the preserve. This is not a dry-lot suburb. Water is everywhere in this village, and it affects every home within a quarter mile of it.
Homes in the Original Section surrounding Woods Creek Lake face the most direct exposure. These are the oldest properties in LITH — some dating to the 1940s, many renovated or rebuilt since — and they sit in a sustained humidity zone created by 50 acres of open water and a mature tree canopy that holds moisture underneath it. Paint films degrade faster on these homes. Wood siding rots sooner. Vinyl panels that function adequately on an inland Concord Hills lot lose seal tension years ahead of schedule on an Original Section lot 200 feet from the water. Indian Trail Beach and Butch Hagele Beach are gorgeous amenities. The humidity they generate is not.
Crystal Creek adds a second layer. Between 1978 and 1999, the creek overflowed its banks repeatedly, sending floodwaters up to a foot high against homes along the creek line. FEMA flood zone mapping follows the corridor. Homes near Crystal Creek face elevated ambient humidity plus intermittent flood exposure — a combination that attacks wall assemblies from both sides. Fiber cement does not absorb floodwater. It does not warp from humidity. It sits on the wall and does its job regardless of what Crystal Creek decides to do in April. I’ve inspected homes in the Original Section where the owner thought the siding was fine and when we pulled three panels off the east wall, the sheathing was black with moisture damage running from the window head to the sill plate. The lake did that. Not a storm. Not a leak. Twenty years of elevated humidity working through gaps in aging vinyl lap locks.
Get a Free Siding Estimate in Lake in the Hills
Ready for an upgrade or dealing with storm damage from the 2024 hail season? We respond the same day. Most on-site estimates happen within a week. Our office is 12 minutes north of LITH on Route 176 in Crystal Lake.
James Hardie Preferred • LP SmartSide Preferred • CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster • Financing available • Free estimates, no obligation
Six Reasons Lake in the Hills Homeowners Choose IHC
Manufacturer Certifications That Protect Your Warranty
We hold James Hardie Preferred Remodeler, LP SmartSide Preferred Installer, and CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster certifications. Those are manufacturer-verified credentials that activate full warranties on the products we install. A non-certified installer buys the same materials but delivers a shorter, more limited warranty. On a $30,000 siding investment, that gap is the difference between 30 years of coverage and 5.
21 Years at the Same Address
Our office has been on Route 176 in Crystal Lake since 2005. Same phone number. Same family. Same location. I tell every LITH homeowner the same thing: if something goes wrong with your siding in 2034, we will still be here. We plan to be here in 2054. A company that changes names or disappears after a storm season cannot say that. We have been through every storm cycle and recession this county has thrown at contractors and we are still answering (815) 356-9020.
Women-Led, Family-Owned
The Wilborns run this company. We are a women-led, family-owned business, not a franchise, not a branch office, not a lead-generation front for out-of-state crews. When you call IHC, you are talking to someone who lives in McHenry County, works in McHenry County, and has skin in the reputation of this business. We have 380-plus five-star reviews and an A+ BBB rating because we treat every LITH home like it belongs to a neighbor — because it does.
Full-Exterior Scope Under One Roof
Siding, roofing, windows, gutters, storm damage — we handle the entire exterior envelope. That matters in Lake in the Hills because a home that needs siding almost always needs new gutters, and frequently needs window flashing addressed at the same time. One contractor, one crew, one project manager, one warranty conversation. Coordinating three separate contractors for three related exterior systems is how details fall through the cracks and finger-pointing starts when something leaks.
Insurance Claim Support Through Our Sister Company
Our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters, is a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm. If your LITH home sustained hail or wind damage during the August 2024 storms, the July 2024 derecho, or the April 2026 McHenry County severe weather, IHC Public Adjusters can represent you on your siding claim from filing through final payment — including supplement negotiation when the carrier’s initial scope falls short. Homeowners choose whether to engage IHC PA. Financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575.
We Know the Builders Who Built Your Home
Ryland Homes in Meadowbrook and Heron Bay. Town & Country in Big Sky, Harvest Gate, and Sumner Glen. Sundance in Spring Lake Farms and Bellchase. Concord in Concord Hills and Coventry. Plote in Lakes of Boulder Ridge. We have torn off and re-sided homes from every major builder who worked the LITH boom. We know their material choices, their installation shortcuts, and the specific failure patterns that show up 25 to 30 years later. That knowledge saves you time, money, and surprises during tear-off.
Lake in the Hills Subdivision-by-Subdivision Siding Breakdown
Nearly every neighborhood in LITH was built during the same 15-year boom. The builders were different. The material failures are remarkably similar. Here is what we see across the subdivisions where we work most.
Meadowbrook (Ryland Homes, 1993–2006)
Sixty-seven floor plans spread across one of the largest subdivisions in LITH, north of Algonquin Road west of Lakewood Road. Ryland used 0.040-inch vinyl with a pressed texture already fading by 2010. I’ve re-sided Meadowbrook homes where the front facade was three shades lighter than the north wall. Ryland’s window head flashing was consistently undertaped — moisture runs behind the siding from every second-floor window. LP SmartSide or Hardie in a warm earth tone transforms these homes. Median sale price hit $427,500 in March 2025 — a $25,000 siding upgrade pays back at closing.
Big Sky & Harvest Gate (Town & Country, early 1990s)
Among the first subdivisions of the 1990s boom, south of Miller Road on either side of Halfmoon Gate. These homes are 33-plus years old. Town & Country used the same builder-grade vinyl across both developments, and the failure pattern is identical: cracked bottom courses, buckled panels at the garage returns, loose J-channel at every window opening, and fading that turns the original color into something nobody would have picked on purpose. The August 2024 hail event hit this area, cracking panels that were already brittle from UV exposure. These are 1,598 to 2,183 square foot homes — a full re-side in fiber cement runs 8 to 10 working days and delivers a visual transformation the whole block notices.
Boulder Ridge (1991–2006)
The gated community with the 18-hole golf course and country club. Homes from 1,986 to 6,717 square feet, 22 floor plans, average list price around $760K. HOA architectural standards require premium materials and approved colors — budget vinyl is not an option here. James Hardie and LP SmartSide are the right products. Golf course proximity means ball-impact damage to siding is a recurring issue. Lake access means elevated moisture on east-facing walls. We work with Boulder Ridge homeowners on material and color submissions to the HOA before starting. Average property tax is $10,890 — these homeowners invest in their homes and expect the work to match.
Sumner Glen (Town & Country, late 1990s)
Two hundred forty-eight executive-style single-family homes, 2,104 to 3,497 square feet, built in the late 1990s by the same Town & Country Homes that built Big Sky and Harvest Gate. The houses are larger but the vinyl is identical — same manufacturer, same thickness, same failure timeline. Sumner Glen homeowners tend to invest in curb appeal. These are mid-to-upper-range homes where the visual jump from faded 1990s vinyl to LP SmartSide with a deep cedar grain is dramatic. We’ve done several Sumner Glen re-sides and the pattern holds: one home gets new siding, and within six months two neighbors call us.
Spring Lake Farms & Bellchase (Sundance Homes)
Sundance built Spring Lake Farms in the early 1990s south of Miller Road and Bellchase in the late 1990s west of Square Barn Road. Spring Lake Farms mixes single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes — the townhome HOAs can coordinate exterior projects across multiple units at lower per-unit cost. Both communities are 24 to 33 years old. Sundance’s vinyl is aging the same way Ryland’s and Town & Country’s did — faded, cracked at the bottom courses, loose at the J-channel. Association boards in both developments should be planning coordinated replacements now, before piecemeal unit-by-unit repairs drive costs up.
The Original Section (1940s–Present)
The oldest part of LITH, surrounding Woods Creek Lake north of Algonquin Road east of Randall Road. Four historic street sections — Original, Indian, Tree, and Presidents — with homes from 744-square-foot lakeside cottages to 3,384-square-foot modern rebuilds. Lakefront homes face direct moisture exposure from the lake. Mature trees hold humidity against north-facing walls. Some structures have been through three or four exterior cycles. Stained cedar fits the cottage aesthetic. Hardie fits the modern rebuilds. Every lot requires an individualized assessment — no two homes in the Original Section present the same challenge.
Lake in the Hills Siding FAQs
Related Reading
How much does siding replacement cost in Lake in the Hills?
Installed pricing as of 2026: James Hardie fiber cement runs $12 to $16 per square foot installed. LP SmartSide engineered wood runs the same $12 to $16 — they are priced identically. Premium vinyl runs $6 to $9 per square foot. Stained cedar for Original Section cottage restorations runs $16 to $22. A typical 2,000-square-foot LITH home with roughly 1,800 square feet of wall area lands between $22,000 and $30,000 in fiber cement or SmartSide, including new house wrap, trim, permit, and cleanup. Financing through GreenSky is available.
Is my 1990s builder-grade vinyl siding actually failing?
Almost certainly. The 0.040-inch vinyl that Ryland, Town & Country, Sundance, and Concord installed between 1990 and 2005 was rated for 20 to 25 years. The oldest is now 36 years old. Visual signs: uneven fading between walls, hairline cracking along bottom courses, buckled panels at garage returns, loose J-channel around windows. The damage you cannot see — degraded house wrap, water-stained sheathing — is usually worse. A free IHC inspection takes 30 minutes and gives you a clear answer.
Do I need a permit for siding in Lake in the Hills?
Yes. The Village of Lake in the Hills requires a permit for siding replacement. Permits can be applied for online through the village’s public portal at lith.org. All contractors must hold a LITH contractor license, which requires a $75 fee, $1,000,000 in general liability insurance, and a $10,000 surety bond listing the village as certificate holder. We maintain active licensing with the Village of Lake in the Hills and handle the entire permit process for you. You do not call Village Hall.
Hardie or LP SmartSide for my LITH home — which is better?
Same price, different strengths. James Hardie wins for any home near Woods Creek Lake, along Crystal Creek, or bordering the Lake in the Hills Fen — fiber cement is moisture-inert and dimensionally stable in sustained humidity. LP SmartSide wins when you want a warmer, deeper wood-grain texture on a Sumner Glen executive home, a Meadowbrook colonial, or anywhere the aesthetic calls for a natural wood look without the maintenance of real cedar. Both carry strong warranties (Hardie 30-year non-prorated, LP 5/50-year limited). We hold Preferred certification on both product lines, so your warranty is fully activated either way.
How long does a siding install take in Lake in the Hills?
A full re-side runs 7 to 14 working days depending on size and material. A Meadowbrook or Heron Bay re-side runs 7 to 12 days. A Boulder Ridge estate at 4,000-plus square feet runs 12 to 16 days. A Big Sky or Harvest Gate vinyl-to-Hardie upgrade runs 8 to 10 days. Written schedule at contract signing, updated if weather shifts the timeline.
Can I file an insurance claim for storm-damaged siding?
If your siding sustained hail cracks, wind damage, or impact damage during the August 2024 events, the July 2024 derecho, or the April 2026 storms, you may have a valid claim. We document the damage and provide a scope for your carrier. Our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters — a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm — handles claims from filing through final settlement. Homeowners choose whether to engage IHC PA. Financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575.
Learn More About Siding in Lake in the Hills
Siding in Other McHenry County Cities
Get a Free Siding Estimate in Lake in the Hills
Whether your 1990s vinyl has reached the end of its life or storm damage from the 2024 season forced your hand, we’ll inspect your exterior and give you an honest assessment — material options, timeline, warranty details, and a line-by-line written estimate. No pressure. No obligation. We respond the same day and our office is 12 minutes north on Route 176 in Crystal Lake.
Free estimates • Financing available through GreenSky • Village of Lake in the Hills licensed contractor • IHC Public Adjusters — separately licensed IL public adjusting firm
Innovative Home Concepts, Inc.
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(12 minutes north of LITH via Randall Road)
Phone: (815) 356-9020
Text: (815) 356-9020
Email: info@innovativehomeconcepts.com
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
James Hardie Preferred Remodeler
LP SmartSide Preferred Installer
CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster
IHC Public Adjusters — IL Licensed (215 ILCS 5/1575)
A+ BBB Rating • 380+ Reviews • Best of Fox since 2011
