Siding Installation & Replacement in Kensington, MD
Why Kensington Siding Work Is Different — and Why It Matters
⚠️ A Word About Kensington Permits — 3710 Mitchell Street Works Differently Than the County
Kensington is an incorporated town with its own building codes and its own permit office. If your siding scope requires a permit, it is pulled through the Town of Kensington at 3710 Mitchell Street — not Montgomery County DPS. That is not a paperwork technicality: the Town's review is smaller, more careful, and runs on its own calendar, and its codes reference a modified version of the County's building code that can apply different thresholds to the same project. Our honest approach at DMV General Contracting Group is to tell you at the estimate whether your specific scope needs a permit or not, file at 3710 Mitchell Street in-house when it does, and never pad the scope — but also to be blunt that if your project does fall under Town review, it will move on the Town's timeline, and we build that into the schedule.
The rest of this page is written for the three realities that shape Kensington siding work: Kensington's older housing stock (craftsman bungalows, foursquares, and post-war homes that wear years of original and add-on siding), Kensington's small-town character review (a town that is protective of its historic neighborhoods and reads every exterior change carefully), and the energy stakes on older Kensington homes (original walls that were built without modern insulation, where a siding replacement is a rare chance to improve performance).
From Glen Echo Heights to South Kensington, Bannockburn, and Chevy Chase View, Kensington's neighborhoods are wrapped in the character of their older homes. Replacing that character requires materials and techniques chosen carefully — James Hardie planks sized to match original clapboard rhythm, kept-open original openings, house wrap detailed like a new build, and enough ladder hire and specialty cuts that interior trim stays put. Here is exactly how we get it right.
Siding Services We Offer in Kensington, MD
Siding Types for Kensington's Older Homes — Bungalows, Foursquares & Post-War Colonials
James Hardie Fiber Cement — HardiePlank
The strongest curb appeal upgrade and highest long-term ROI siding choice for Kensington's character homes. HardiePlank in a clean 5.25-inch exposure matches the ceiling-height proportions of Kensington's craftsman bungalows, reading as a quiet modern replacement of the original clapboard rhythm rather than a new addition. On the Town's annex-era colonials, HardiePlank with framed trim details continues the colonial character cleanly. ColorPlus factory finish holds 15–20 years without repainting.
Insulated Vinyl Siding
Our most frequently recommended alternative to James Hardie for budget-conscious Kensington projects, especially on the Town's older bungalows and foursquares built with minimal original wall insulation. Insulated vinyl adds R-2 to R-4 of continuous foam insulation in the same project that replaces the exterior — no interior disruption required. Installed dimensionally true to the original profile, insulated vinyl does not alter a home's footprint or opening sizes, which helps keep Town review smooth.
LP SmartSide Engineered Wood
A strong middle option for Kensington homeowners who want a wood aesthetic on the annex-era and mid-century homes without cedar's maintenance demands. LP SmartSide's texture reads well on the Town's colonials and ramblers, and its paint intervals of 8–10 years beat cedar's 4–7. A good material where the goal is a quiet, traditional look and the energy improvement is secondary.
Standard Vinyl Siding
Modern standard vinyl is durable, low-maintenance, and available in a wide range of profiles and colors — a practical choice for Kensington homeowners prioritizing cost. Like all non-insulated options, standard vinyl does not improve wall insulation; for the Town's older, poorly insulated homes we recommend insulated vinyl for a modest price difference. Works well on the mid-century ramblers where the original aluminum was never appropriate for the bungalows.
Siding Material Comparison for Kensington, MD Homes
| Material | Durability | Maintenance | Energy Improvement | Town Review Fit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie Fiber Cement ⭐ | Excellent — 30–50 yrs | Low — 15–20 yr factory finish | Good with rigid foam | Best — restores original clapboard rhythm | $15.5K – $32.5K+ |
| Insulated Vinyl | Good — 20–40 yrs | Very low — wash only | Excellent — R-2 to R-4 | Good — fits original profile | $12.5K – $23.5K+ |
| LP SmartSide | Good — 25–35 yrs | Medium — 8–10 yr repaint | Moderate | Good — traditional texture | $13.5K – $26.5K+ |
| Standard Vinyl | Good — 20–40 yrs | Very low — wash only | Minimal — no foam backer | Good on ramblers/annex homes | $10.5K – $19.5K+ |
Signs Your Kensington Home Needs New Siding
Failing Original Aluminum
Oxidation, dents, or paint failure on the aluminum installed on Kensington's homes in the 1950s–60s — a material that skipped the bungalow era entirely.
Rot at Window Openings
Soft, crumbling wood at sills and jambs — active moisture damage in the sheathing behind the siding at Kensington's older openings.
Buckled Original Wood Siding
Warped, cupped, or cracked original clapboard compressed under decades of add-on layers.
Interior Water Stains
Water marks on interior walls near exterior surfaces — active infiltration at failed seams, trim, or weather barrier gaps.
Cold Walls & Drafts
Interior walls cold to the touch in winter — typical of Kensington's pre-war homes with zero original wall insulation.
Gaps at Gable Transitions
Separated or open siding at steep gable and dormer transitions — the most common failure point on Kensington's character homes.
Navigating Kensington's Town Permit Process — 3710 Mitchell Street
🏛️ The Kensington Town permitting reality: If your siding scope requires a permit, it runs through the Town of Kensington's office at 3710 Mitchell Street — not Montgomery County DPS. Town review is smaller, more personal, and more careful than County review, and its codes reference a modified version of Montgomery County's building code, so thresholds can sit in different places. Like-for-like replacement of existing siding commonly does not require a permit; adding rigid foam insulation beyond a half-inch, reconfiguring window or door openings, structurally altering a gable or dormer, or modifying the building's shape commonly does. DMV General Contracting Group assesses your specific scope at the estimate — if it needs a Town permit, we file in-house at 3710 Mitchell Street and schedule around the Town's inspection calendar. If it does not, we tell you that clearly, because the correct answer is honesty about scope.
Our Siding Installation Process in Kensington
Free In-Home Estimate — Scope, Permits & Architecture
We visit your Kensington home and assess the full exterior — original siding layers, sheathing condition behind the oldest layers, window and gable transition detailing, and the home's true architecture and proportions. We tell you honestly at this appointment whether your specific scope requires a Town of Kensington permit at 3710 Mitchell Street, and walk you through material options matched to your home's era. No charge, no obligation.
Material Selection — Matched to the Home's Era & Proportions
We bring James Hardie ColorPlus samples, insulated vinyl profiles and colors, LP SmartSide options, and standard vinyl to your Kensington home. For the bungalows and foursquares we emphasize exposure widths that match the original clapboard rhythm; for the annex-era colonials and ramblers we present options that read cleanly against the home's character. Energy performance discussed honestly for each material on your specific walls.
Town Permit Assessment & Filing — 3710 Mitchell Street
Where your scope requires a Town of Kensington permit, we prepare and file the application in-house at 3710 Mitchell Street and schedule for the Town's inspection timeline. Where it does not, we proceed directly without padding the scope — and we document that determination so you have the same answer in writing we gave at the estimate.
Old Siding Removal & Historic Sheathing Inspection
Existing siding layers removed carefully — sometimes multiple layers on Kensington's older homes, from original clapboard up through add-on asphalt and aluminum shingles. Original openings kept true during removal. Sheathing assessed structurally, with deteriorated original wood sheathing repaired before house wrap goes on.
House Wrap, Insulation, Siding & Trim Installation
Continuous weather-resistant barrier installed across all elevations, individually flashed at every window, door, and penetration. Rigid foam insulation installed where the scope includes an energy upgrade. New siding installed with steep gable and dormer transitions detailed correctly — the specialty of older Kensington homes — plus trim, corner boards, and fascia finished to a consistent standard that respects the home's original proportions.
Final Inspection, Caulking & Exterior Walkthrough
Every seam, transition, and penetration inspected. All exterior joints caulked with flexible, paintable exterior-grade sealant. Full debris removal. Exterior walkthrough on every elevation with you before project close. Written warranty. Town permit and inspections closed where applicable.
Siding Replacement Cost in Kensington, MD
| Siding Material | Typical Cost — Kensington Home | Per Sq Ft (Installed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Vinyl | $10,500 – $19,500+ | $4 – $8 / sq ft | Budget pick; energy improvement secondary |
| Insulated Vinyl | $12,500 – $23,500+ | $6 – $10 / sq ft | Appearance + energy; fits original profile |
| LP SmartSide | $13,500 – $26,500+ | $7 – $12 / sq ft | Traditional wood texture; 8–10 yr repaint |
| James Hardie Fiber Cement | $15,500 – $32,500+ | $8 – $14 / sq ft | Best character match; best ROI for Kensington |
| Historic Sheathing Repair (if needed) | $2,000 – $7,000+ | Depends on damage extent | Original wood sheathing on older homes |
| Town Permit Fee (when permitted) | Included as required by scope | — | 3710 Mitchell Street filing in-house |
What Kensington Homeowners Say About DMV General Contracting Group
"Our 1920s bungalow on Warner Street had three layers of siding by the time we bought it — original clapboard, asphalt shingles from the 40s, and a failed vinyl job from the 90s on top. DMV General Contracting Group stripped all three, repaired the deteriorated original sheathing on the east gable, and installed HardiePlank in a 5.25-inch exposure. The gauge and window openings stayed exactly as the house was built. It reads as a quiet, restful upgrade — which is exactly what we wanted."
"Our scope included rigid foam insulation beyond the half-inch threshold, which triggered Town review. DMV General Contracting Group was upfront about it at the estimate, filed at 3710 Mitchell Street in-house, sized the schedule around the Town inspector, and closed the permit at the end. No surprises about permitting — exactly the honesty you want from a contractor in a small town."
"We chose insulated vinyl for our 1949 annex-era colonial on Montrose near Bannockburn to cut heating costs and finally replace the original 1950s aluminum. The removal showed why — aluminum over old wood sheathing with years of trapped moisture. They repaired the sheathing, installed the weather barrier, and the siding went up tight. First winter heating bill confirmed the difference."
"The rear of our South Kensington home's gable had pulled away with a decade of wind-driven weather. DMV General Contracting Group matched the HardiePlank color, flagged the leveling need, and rehung the transition cleanly — the fix reads like it was part of the original finish. Fast, clean, professional."
⭐ 4.9-star rated with 97+ verified reviews. Kensington homeowners trust DMV General Contracting Group for siding work that honors older homes — original openings kept true, profiles matched to the house's story, and Town permitting handled honestly and in-house.