Siding Installation in Oakland & Macomb County, MI

Local know-how

New siding in Oakland & Macomb County: what local homeowners should know

Oakland and Macomb County grew fast after World War II, and many neighborhoods in Warren, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Roseville and Sterling Heights are lined with brick ranches, bungalows and colonials that have original or decades-old aluminum and vinyl on the upper walls, gables and overhangs. Faded, chalky aluminum and brittle early vinyl are some of the most common reasons homeowners here call for new siding.

Southeast Michigan winters are hard on exteriors. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles, lake-effect wind off Lake St. Clair and summer storms loosen panels, crack cold vinyl and push water behind worn trim. When the old siding comes off, installers often add a proper weather-resistive barrier and new flashing that older homes never had.

In newer subdivisions around Macomb Township, Shelby, Rochester Hills, Novi and White Lake, homes built in the 1990s and 2000s are reaching the age where builder-grade vinyl starts to look tired. Many owners upgrade to thicker or insulated vinyl, or switch to fiber cement or engineered wood for a more custom look.

Post-war ranches, 1990s subdivisions and aging aluminum

Detroit’s northern suburbs filled up fast after World War II as autoworkers followed the plants north along Van Dyke, Mound and Woodward. Warren, Roseville, Eastpointe, St. Clair Shores, Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Berkley and Royal Oak are full of brick ranches, bungalows and cape cods with aluminum or early vinyl on the gables, dormers, overhangs and rear additions. Much of that siding is now 40 to 60 years old: chalky, dented, faded or brittle.

Further out, Sterling Heights, Troy, Rochester Hills, Shelby and Macomb Township, Clinton Township, Novi, Commerce, White Lake, Waterford and Clarkston grew mainly from the 1970s through the 2000s. Their colonials and split-levels are typically fully sided in vinyl that is now due for its first replacement. Owners there often upgrade to thicker or insulated vinyl, or to fiber cement or engineered wood for a more custom look, and replace soffit, fascia and gutters in the same project.

Michigan weather: freeze-thaw, lake wind and summer storms

Southeast Michigan winters bring long stretches of freeze-thaw cycles, and wind off Lake St. Clair adds to the load on east-side homes. Water that gets behind old siding through worn caulk and cracked panels freezes and expands, pushing panels loose and rotting sheathing under windows and along roof lines.

Summer storms can be severe. On August 24, 2023, the National Weather Service in Detroit confirmed six tornadoes in southeast Michigan – the most tornadic August day in Michigan history – and wide areas saw 60–80 mph wind gusts that downed trees and left close to half a million customers without power. Storm-damaged siding should be photographed before repairs start, especially if you plan to file an insurance claim.

Typical costs in Metro Detroit

Published cost figures for orientation only – not quotes. City averages are based on reported projects of all sizes, so a full re-side of a large or tall home can land well above them. The contractor you are connected with measures your home and sets the price. Figures checked in September 2026.

Like Pittsburgh, Metro Detroit sees less of the siding cost come back at resale than the national average, because home prices are lower. On an older ranch where only the gables and overhangs are sided, a project can be much smaller than the averages above; a fully sided two-story colonial in Troy or Rochester Hills is usually at the upper end.

Michigan license and permit rules

License. In Michigan, anyone who contracts with a homeowner for residential remodeling work of $600 or more (labor plus materials) must be licensed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) as a residential builder or as a maintenance & alteration contractor endorsed for the trade, such as siding. You can look up any license on LARA’s website before you sign.

Permits. Permit rules differ from city to city in Oakland and Macomb County. Many building departments require a permit for re-siding, especially when sheathing is replaced or the material changes. Your contractor should know the rule for your city and pull the permit if one is needed.

Homes built before 1978. Paint on old wood siding and trim may contain lead. Under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, a contractor who disturbs more than 20 square feet of painted exterior surface on a pre-1978 home must be an EPA-certified firm and use lead-safe work practices. It is a fair question to ask before you sign.

Communities we connect homeowners in

Independent siding contractors take calls from across Macomb County (Warren, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Utica, Roseville, Eastpointe, St. Clair Shores, Fraser, Mount Clemens, Harrison Township, New Baltimore, Romeo, Richmond, Armada) and Oakland County (Troy, Royal Oak, Berkley, Clawson, Madison Heights, Hazel Park, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Southfield, Farmington, Novi, Wixom, Walled Lake, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield, White Lake, Waterford, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester, Lake Orion, Oxford, Clarkston, Ortonville, Holly, Milford and Highland).

Sources

• NWS Detroit: August 24, 2023 tornadoes
• CBS Detroit: Michigan storms with 75 mph winds, seven tornadoes confirmed (Aug. 2023)
• HomeAdvisor: Vinyl siding installation costs in Detroit, MI
• Journal of Light Construction: Cost vs. Value 2025, Detroit
• Journal of Light Construction: Cost vs. Value Report 2025 (national)
• HomeAdvisor: How much does vinyl siding installation cost? (national)
• Michigan LARA: Residential builder and maintenance & alteration contractor licensing
• Consumer Reports: Siding buying guide
• U.S. EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program for contractors