Your house deserves a plan —
not a guess.

James Hardie Master Preferred is the top tier of James Hardie's contractor program — roughly the top 1% of installers nationwide. Master Preferred status requires years of verified Hardie installations, formal HZ5 climate-zone training (specific to the Chicago freeze-thaw and lake-effect environment), passing Hardie's installation audits, maintaining insurance and licensing in good standing, and consistent customer satisfaction reviews. The practical benefit to you as a Northshore homeowner: every detail — fastener spacing, gap-and-caulk joints, flashing, blind-nailing, ColorPlus touch-up — is installed to the exact specification that protects the 30-year substrate warranty and 15-year ColorPlus finish warranty. Master Preferred projects also qualify for enhanced extended labor coverage that standard installers cannot offer.

Your free design consultation is a 60–90 minute on-site visit at your Chicago Northshore home with Ken Polikov personally. During the visit, I walk the entire exterior with you, measure key elevations, photograph problem areas (rot, failing caulk, ice-dam damage, fading paint), and discuss your goals, timeline, and budget. You'll then receive a written master plan that coordinates siding, windows, doors, roofing, porticos, gutters, and trim so every element works together architecturally — not a piecemeal product quote. The consultation includes color and material recommendations (James Hardie ColorPlus, Marvin window lines, Therma-Tru or Provia doors), a phased budget if needed, and a realistic schedule. There is no obligation, no high-pressure sales, and no fee. It is a conversation with a 25-year specialist, not a sales pitch.

Most full exterior remodels in the Northshore take between 1 and 3 weeks of on-site work, depending on scope and weather. A whole-home James Hardie siding replacement on a typical 2,500–3,500 sq ft home runs about 8–12 working days. A full window replacement (15–25 Marvin units) takes 3–5 days. A new architectural asphalt or cedar shake roof is usually 2–4 days. A custom portico build runs 5–10 days. If we are combining siding, windows, and a roof in one project, plan for roughly 3 weeks on site after a 4–8 week lead time for materials. You will receive a written, day-by-day schedule before work begins, and I am personally on site to manage every phase.

Yes — permits, HOA submittals, and inspections are fully managed for you. I pull village permits in Glenview, Northbrook, Wilmette, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Barrington, Arlington Heights, and surrounding municipalities, and I prepare the architectural review packets that HOAs and historic districts require (color samples, elevation drawings, product spec sheets, James Hardie ColorPlus chips). I also coordinate the village inspections at rough and final stages. You never fill out a form, stand in line at village hall, or attend an HOA meeting. The cost of permits is itemized transparently in your proposal.

James Hardie fiber cement siding is the #1 siding brand in America and is engineered specifically for the Chicago HardieZone 5 climate (freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven rain, hail, and lake-effect humidity). Compared to vinyl, Hardie does not melt from a nearby grill or reflected window heat, does not warp or sag in summer heat, will not crack from a hockey puck or hailstone, and is non-combustible (Class A fire rating). The factory-applied ColorPlus finish carries a 15-year color warranty and holds its color 2–3x longer than field-painted wood or LP SmartSide. Hardie is also rot-, pest-, and moisture-resistant, with a 30-year non-prorated substrate warranty. Popular Northshore color choices right now are Iron Gray, Evening Blue, Boothbay Blue, Aged Pewter, and Arctic White, often paired with Aeratis or Azek trim. As a James Hardie Master Preferred Contractor, I install to the exact HZ5 specification — including 1/4" gap-and-caulk details, blind-nailing, and proper flashing — which is what protects the warranty.

The Exterior Expert serves Chicago's North Shore and Northwest Suburbs. Primary service area: Glenview, Northbrook, Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Deerfield, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, Northfield, Evanston, Skokie, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Inverness, Barrington, South Barrington, North Barrington, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Hawthorn Woods, and Kildeer. If your home is within roughly 30 miles of the North Shore, we can serve you.

Three things. First, you work directly with me — Ken Polikov, the owner — from the first phone call through the final walkthrough. There is no commissioned salesperson, no project manager handoff, and no rotating crew lead. Second, I design the entire exterior as one cohesive system instead of selling you a single product. A new roof affects gutter sizing, siding affects window trim depth, a portico affects entry door scale — these decisions are made together, on paper, before anything is ordered. Third, 25+ years of hands-on Northshore experience means I know what fails here: I detail Hardie for HZ5 freeze-thaw, I flash windows for wind-driven rain off the lake, and I spec ice-and-water shield two courses up on every roof. Big-box installers send subcontractors and a script. I send myself.

Financing may be available on a case-by-case basis depending on the project. Most clients pay by check or cash. Reach out and I can walk you through what makes sense for your budget, including phasing the work so it fits comfortably.

You receive three layers of warranty protection. (1) Manufacturer warranties: James Hardie 30-year non-prorated substrate + 15-year ColorPlus finish; Marvin lifetime limited on wood/clad windows; GAF or CertainTeed 50-year on architectural shingles; Therma-Tru/Provia 10-year on doors. (2) Workmanship warranty: The Exterior Expert provides a 10-year labor warranty on installation — well above the 1–2 years most contractors offer. (3) Master Preferred upgrade: Because I am a James Hardie Master Preferred Contractor (the top 1% tier), eligible Hardie projects qualify for an enhanced warranty with extended labor coverage. All warranties are written, transferable to the next homeowner (which protects resale value), and registered for you at project completion.

Most full-home James Hardie ColorPlus installations in the Northshore fall between $35,000 and $90,000+, depending on home size, stories, trim complexity, and whether we are also replacing wrap, sheathing, windows, or trim. As a rough planning range: a 2,000 sq ft ranch typically runs $35K–$50K; a 2,800 sq ft two-story colonial runs $55K–$75K; a 4,000+ sq ft custom home with shake accents, board-and-batten gables, and Azek trim can run $90K–$140K+. Pricing includes tear-off, disposal, house wrap (typically Tyvek CommercialWrap or VaporShield), Hardie panel/lap/shake, ColorPlus factory finish, all flashing, caulk, fasteners, permits, and the 10-year labor warranty. You receive a fixed written price — not an estimate that grows mid-project.

Exterior work in the Chicago Northshore can be done roughly 9–10 months a year. The best windows are April through mid-November. James Hardie siding can be installed safely down to about 20°F as long as caulk and ColorPlus touch-up paint are kept warm — so we install Hardie from March through December most years. Windows and roofing have a wider season (asphalt shingles seal best above 40°F but can be installed colder with hand-sealing). The busiest months are May–September, so booking a no-pressure consultation in January–March usually secures a better spot in the schedule and locks in pricing before spring material increases.