This is a real project. A homeowner in Ashburn, VA reached out to Milcon after years of watching their home’s exterior age around them, an original roof approaching the end of its service life and vinyl siding that had faded, warped at the corners, and no longer matched the standard of the surrounding neighbourhood. They had researched both projects separately and decided to do them together.
The decision to combine a GAF roof replacement and James Hardie siding installation into a single project was deliberate. One mobilisation, one period of disruption, one contractor managing the full scope, and a home that came out the other side looking completely different. This post documents what happened, what was found, what was installed, and what the homeowners experienced throughout.
Project Overview
The project was a two-story colonial in Ashburn, VA, a style typical of the Broadlands and neighbouring communities built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The home’s original materials were approaching or past their designed service life: the roof was approximately 22 years old and the vinyl siding had been on the home since construction.
The wall area covered approximately 2,000 square feet. The roof was a standard hip-and-ridge configuration with one dormer, sitting on a structure of around 28 squares. The project ran across four days on site, one day for roof tear-off and installation, and three days for full siding removal, substrate inspection, and HardiePlank installation throughout.
Location: Ashburn, VA (Loudoun County)
Home type: Two-story colonial, single-family
Roof: GAF Timberline HDZ in Charcoal, 28 squares, hip-and-ridge with one dormer
Siding: James Hardie HardiePlank 6.25″ lap siding in Iron Gray with Bright White HardieTrim, ColorPlus Technology
Duration: 4 days on site
Warranty: GAF Golden Pledge lifetime warranty (roof) + James Hardie 30-year product and 15-year ColorPlus warranty (siding)
What We Found at Assessment
Matt Kavanah conducted the initial assessment personally, inspecting the roof from the exterior, checking the attic from inside, and walking the full perimeter of the home to assess the siding condition. What he found confirmed that both projects were warranted and that timing them together was the right call.
On the roof
The 22-year-old original shingles showed widespread granule loss on all south and west-facing slopes, the surfaces receiving the most UV exposure. The granule loss was heavy enough in sections to expose the underlying asphalt mat, which had become brittle. Ridge caps were lifting on the windward elevation. The attic revealed two areas of minor moisture staining on the decking, not yet structurally compromised but indicating water had been working past the flashing at the dormer on the east elevation.
The flashing at both the dormer and the main chimney had separated from the wall surface, a common failure mode on roofs of this age in Northern Virginia, where thermal cycling over two decades causes the flashing adhesive to lose bond. This was the likely source of the attic moisture staining.
On the siding
The original vinyl siding told a familiar story for a Loudoun County home from the late 1990s. The south-facing elevation had faded significantly, the original cream colour had bleached to a chalky, uneven white while the north-facing elevation retained something closer to the original tone. The colour inconsistency was visible from the street.
Corner posts had pulled away from the wall at three locations, leaving visible gaps. Two panels on the rear elevation had cracked, impact damage, likely from a string trimmer or similar contact. The most significant finding was moisture damage behind the siding on the lower rear section, two areas where water had been working behind the panels at ground level for an extended period, causing the wall sheathing beneath to degrade. Both areas were repairable but required attention before new siding went on.
Why the Homeowners Chose to Do Both Projects Together
The decision was partly practical and partly financial. On the practical side, replacing the roof while the old siding was still in place meant the roofing crew’s standard cleanup process, debris dropping from the roofline, landed on siding that was being removed anyway. The reverse would also have been true: new siding installed before a roof replacement risks damage from the roofing crew’s work above.
On the financial side, combining both projects into a single mobilisation saved approximately $1,800 to $2,400 in setup costs compared to scheduling them separately, the scaffolding, material delivery, and site preparation overlap significantly when both projects run in the same week.
The homeowners had also been advised by a real estate agent that the combination of a new GAF roof and James Hardie siding would position the home significantly better at the point of sale than either project alone. In Ashburn’s $813,000 average home value market, buyers at that price point notice and value the exterior condition in a way that buyers in lower-value markets often do not.
The Work, Day by Day
Day 1 Roof Tear-Off, Deck Inspection, and Full Installation
The roofing crew arrived at 7am with all materials on a single delivery. The full tear-off of the existing shingles, ridge caps, and underlayment was completed by mid-morning. Matt conducted the deck inspection personally as the tear-off progressed, walking the full deck area and marking any damaged or soft sections.
Three sheets of OSB decking were replaced on the dormer section where the moisture staining had been identified, each sheet documented with photographs and shown to the homeowners before replacement. Ice and water shield was installed at all eaves, valleys, and around the dormer perimeter. Synthetic underlayment covered the full remaining deck.
GAF Timberline HDZ shingles in Charcoal were installed from eave to ridge with consistent exposure maintained across the full roof. New aluminium drip edge was fitted on all rakes and eaves. The dormer and chimney flashing was fully replaced, not reused, with new step flashing and counter-flashing at both locations. Ridge ventilation was installed across the full ridge length. The magnetic nail sweep of the driveway and lawn was completed before the crew left at 5pm.
Day 2 Full Siding Removal, Substrate Remediation, and Moisture Barrier
The siding crew removed all existing vinyl panels, corner posts, J-channel, and trim from the full exterior. With the walls stripped, the full substrate inspection was conducted, checking every section of wall sheathing for moisture damage, rot, and structural integrity.
The two areas of moisture-damaged sheathing on the rear elevation were remediated, degraded OSB removed and replaced with new material, dried and confirmed sound before anything was applied over them. New house wrap moisture barrier was installed across the full exterior to Hardie’s installation specification, this is a mandatory step for warranty compliance and essential protection in Loudoun County’s humid climate.
Day 3 HardiePlank Installation, Front and Side Elevations
HardiePlank 6.25″ lap boards in Iron Gray ColorPlus were installed across the front and both side elevations. All boards were installed with consistent 6.25 inch reveal maintained by gauge measurement throughout, not estimated by eye. All cuts were made off the wall and primed at cut edges with Hardie’s recommended primer before installation, a step required to maintain the ColorPlus warranty that is frequently skipped by less diligent contractors.
The HardieTrim system was installed at all window surrounds, the main entry door surround, and all corner applications. Trim boards were face-nailed per Hardie’s installation specification and caulked at all joints with a manufacturer-compatible sealant.
Day 4 Rear Elevation, Gable Ends, Final Trim, Caulking, and Walkthrough
The rear elevation and both gable ends were completed. The gable ends used the same HardiePlank profile as the main walls for visual consistency. All remaining trim was fitted, fascia, soffit returns, and the garage surround, using HardieTrim throughout.
ColorPlus touch-up paint was applied to all cut edges and fastener locations across the full exterior. Every joint between trim and siding panel was caulked. Matt conducted the final walkthrough with both homeowners, walking the complete perimeter, checking every window reveal, every corner detail, every section of the gable ends. The rear elevation moisture remediation areas were shown and confirmed visually.
Full cleanup and material removal was completed. The driveway, lawn, and garden beds were left clear before the crew departed.
The Result
The transformation of this Ashburn home was complete and immediate. The home went from a visibly dated exterior, mismatched fading siding, ageing roofline, separated trim, to a sharp, contemporary finish that sits well above the surrounding neighbourhood standard.
The combination of GAF Timberline HDZ in Charcoal and James Hardie HardiePlank in Iron Gray with Bright White trim is one of the most popular exterior colour combinations in Northern Virginia’s current market, and with good reason. The charcoal roof and grey siding create a coherent palette that reads as deliberate and well-considered rather than default.
What the homeowners said:
“We had been thinking about this for two years and kept putting it off. When we finally committed and saw the finished result, we wished we had done it sooner. The house looks brand new. Matt was on site every day and we always knew exactly what was happening. The whole thing was less disruptive than we expected and the cleanup was genuinely impressive. We have already had three neighbours ask who did the work.”
What This Project Cost
We do not publish exact project pricing because every home is different in size, configuration, and substrate condition. What we can say is that this project, a 28-square GAF roof replacement and 2,000 square foot James Hardie siding installation on a two-story Ashburn colonial, fell within the typical combined range for this scope in the current Northern Virginia market.
For a detailed breakdown of what drives roofing costs in Northern Virginia, see our full cost guide at milcondesignandbuild.com/blog/roof-replacement-cost-northern-virginia/. For James Hardie siding cost specifically, see milcondesignandbuild.com/blog/james-hardie-siding-cost-northern-virginia/. Both are written to help you evaluate any quote you receive, not just a Milcon quote.
Combining projects saves money: Scheduling roof and siding replacement in the same week typically saves $1,800 to $2,400 in mobilisation costs compared to two separate project visits, and eliminates the coordination risk of having one crew work around the other’s completed work.
Is a Combined Roof and Siding Project Right for Your Ashburn Home?
If both your roof and siding are approaching the end of their service life, which is the case for a large portion of Ashburn, Broadlands, and Brambleton homes built between 1997 and 2008, combining the projects in a single engagement is worth serious consideration.
The financial case is straightforward: reduced mobilisation costs, overlapping material deliveries, and a single period of disruption rather than two. The practical case is equally strong: new siding installed before a roof replacement risks damage from the roofing crew’s work overhead. New roofing installed before siding replacement means the drip edge and flashing transitions at the eave may need to be disturbed when the siding goes on.
The sequencing matters too. The correct order is always roof first, then siding, so that the roofing crew’s standard work process does not damage completed siding below. At Milcon, we manage both trades with our own crew, which eliminates the coordination risk entirely.
About Milcon, Roofing and Siding Contractor in Ashburn, VA
Milcon Roofing, Design & Build is a GAF-certified roofing contractor and James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor based in Waterford, VA, serving Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg, McLean, Herndon, and all of Loudoun County. Owner Matt Kavanah manages every project personally, from the first measurement to the final walkthrough.
- GAF certified, top 7% nationally, Golden Pledge lifetime warranty on qualifying roof installations
- James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor, full 30-year product and 15-year ColorPlus warranty on siding installations
- Owner Matt Kavanah on site at every project, no sales reps, no subcontractors, no absentee management
- 149 five-star Google reviews from Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling, and Loudoun County homeowners
- All roofing and siding work completed by Milcon’s own trained crew
- Serving all of Ashburn, including Broadlands, Brambleton, South Riding, One Loudoun, and surrounding communities
See Our Work, Get a Free Estimate for Your Ashburn Home
If your Ashburn home needs a roof replacement, siding replacement, or both, Milcon offers a free 30-minute estimate with no obligation. Matt will assess both your roof and siding condition, give you an honest recommendation on timing and sequencing, and provide a clear written quote within 24 hours.
Serving Ashburn, Broadlands, Brambleton, South Riding, One Loudoun, Sterling, Leesburg, and all of Loudoun County. GAF-certified and James Hardie Elite Preferred, the only contractor certifications that come with manufacturer-backed lifetime warranties.
Schedule your free estimate: Visit Milcon Design & Build to book your free consultation. GAF-certified roofer and James Hardie Elite Preferred siding contractor serving Ashburn and all of Northern Virginia.
