Had the same debate with myself a few years back. I went with paint, thinking I’d keep up with maintenance, but after two Midwest winters, it looked like I hadn’t touched them in a decade. Cladding’s tempting, but the stories about hidden rot make me nervous. If only there was a middle ground...
Honestly, paint just doesn’t hold up here—doesn’t matter how diligent you are. Midwest winters eat it alive. Cladding’s not perfect either, but if it’s done right (and the installer actually flashes and seals everything), hidden rot shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve pulled apart plenty of old jobs and 9 times out of 10, rot was from sloppy work, not the cladding itself. If you want a middle ground, look into composite wraps or fiberglass windows... not cheap, but way less maintenance headaches down the road.
- Totally get what you mean about Midwest winters wrecking paint.
- We went with cladding a few years back and, yeah, it’s not flawless, but way less stress than repainting every couple years.
- Flashing and sealing really do make all the difference... learned that the hard way after a leaky window.
- Composite wraps sound pricey, but sometimes paying more upfront saves headaches later.
- Hang in there—no perfect answer, but you’re definitely not alone dealing with this stuff.
Yeah, Midwest winters are a whole different animal when it comes to exterior maintenance. I used to be stubborn about sticking with paint—figured I’d just touch up every couple years and save some cash. Joke was on me. Between the ice, salt, and wild temp swings, my sills were peeling by year two and I had water getting in around a couple windows. Had to redo the flashing and reseal everything... not fun.
We finally bit the bullet and went with aluminum cladding last summer. It’s not perfect—there’s the occasional little dent if a branch hits it just right—but honestly, it’s been so much less hassle than constant scraping and repainting. The upfront cost stung, but not having to worry about rot or leaks is worth it for me.
Totally agree that flashing is underrated too. If it’s not done right, doesn’t matter what you put on top—water finds a way. There’s definitely no magic solution, but sounds like you’re making smart moves. Hang in there; these old houses keep us on our toes.