What Is Mid-America Siding?

Mid-America is a brand of exterior siding accessories and specialty products made by Westlake Royal Building Products, a Westlake company. Its line centers on shutters, gable vents, mounting blocks, utility vents, and trim details made from weather-resistant polymers, along with decorative looks like board and batten. Most homeowners see Mid-America products as the finishing pieces on a vinyl siding job rather than as the main lap siding on the walls.

If a contractor mentioned Mid-America while you were pricing new siding, that is usually why: it is the shutters, vents, and trim that pull a new exterior together. This post explains what Mid-America makes, how it fits with the main siding on your house, and what to look for in the installation, with Western PA weather in mind. Gerken Roofing's siding page lists Mid-America Board & Batten Shutters alongside CertainTeed and Alside siding.

Why Western PA Winters Make Siding Choice More Consequential

Siding in Western PA deals with cold, snow, and a lot of rain. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Pittsburgh International Airport show 39.61 inches of precipitation and 44.1 inches of snow in an average year, with a January mean temperature of 28.8°F. Wind-driven rain gets pushed at every seam, window, and trim joint.

Temperature swings matter for vinyl in particular. The Vinyl Siding Institute's installation manual notes that vinyl siding can expand and contract half an inch or more over a 12 foot 6 inch length through normal seasonal temperature changes. That movement is expected. Siding, trim, and accessories only hold up when they are installed to allow for it, over a continuous water-resistive barrier that keeps water off the sheathing.

The Real Difference Between Mid-America and Generic Vinyl Siding

Mid-America is not a competitor to your main vinyl siding line in the usual sense. The lap siding on most walls comes from a siding manufacturer, and Gerken Roofing's siding page features CertainTeed MainStreet, CertainTeed Monogram, and Alside products for that job. Mid-America supplies the pieces that go with it: shutters, vents, mounting blocks, and trim details.

What sets Mid-America apart is the range of those pieces and how they are colored. Westlake Royal says all Mid-America shutters use SolidThru Colors, meaning the color runs through the material, so a scratch or ding does not expose a different color underneath. The shutters come in open louver, raised panel, board and batten, and louver and panel combination styles, and Westlake Royal says they can be used on vinyl, fiber cement, wood, brick, stucco, and stone exteriors.

Accessories also solve practical problems. Mounting blocks give lights, outlets, hose bibs, and dryer vents a flat mounting surface on lap siding, which is cleaner and easier to seal than cutting siding around a fixture.

How Mid-America Fits Into a Full Exterior Replacement

A siding replacement is more than the panels. A complete job includes a water-resistive barrier, starter strip, corner posts, J-channel at windows and doors, trim at every transition, and accessories like mounting blocks and vents. Each of those parts affects how well the wall sheds water and how finished the house looks.

Coordinating Trim and Field Panels

Accessories and shutters are where an exterior either looks planned or pieced together. Mid-America's shutters and trim come in many styles and colors, so a contractor can match or contrast them with the field siding on purpose. Ask to see the shutter styles and colors next to your chosen siding color before you order.

Pairing Siding with Roof Work

If your roof also needs work, planning both projects together lets one contractor handle the places where roof and walls meet, like step flashing, kickout flashing, and the soffit and fascia at the eaves. Gerken Roofing handles roofing, roofing and siding repairs, and siding, so both can be scoped at once. If you are still comparing wall materials, read the benefits of James Hardie siding for Western PA homes.

What Drives the Cost of a Mid-America Siding Project

Accessories and shutters are a small share of a siding budget. Most of the cost comes from the wall area, the number of stories, the condition of the sheathing, the number of windows and doors that need trim, and the siding line you choose. For a benchmark, the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report from the Journal of Light Construction put an average vinyl siding replacement in the Pittsburgh area at $19,537, with 59.5% of that cost recouped at resale.

Shutter count, style, and size, plus any custom colors, move the accessory portion of the price. If you are also considering a roof replacement, ask for both scopes so you can see the total and plan the order of work. Our post on vinyl siding installation cost in Westmoreland County covers budgeting in more detail.

What Makes a Good Siding Installation?

Even good products fail when installed badly. The Vinyl Siding Institute's manual tells installers to center fasteners in the nailing slots and leave about 1/32 of an inch between the nail head and the siding so the panel can move. Nailing panels tight is a common mistake, and it causes buckling and waviness when the siding heats up. Accessories need the same allowance for movement.

A careful contractor also checks the wall sheathing when the old siding comes off. Rot, soft spots, or old water damage behind the siding has to be fixed before new panels go on, or the new exterior will be covering the same problem.

FAQ

What is Mid-America siding made of?

Mid-America products are made from weather-resistant polymers, including vinyl. Westlake Royal says its Mid-America shutters use SolidThru Colors that run through the material.

Is Mid-America siding a good choice for homes in Western PA?

Mid-America shutters, vents, and trim can work well here when they are installed correctly over a proper water-resistive barrier with room for expansion. Pair them with a main siding line suited to your budget and look, and ask your contractor to show you product samples before ordering.

How long does Mid-America siding last?

Check the current Mid-America warranty document for specific coverage. As a general benchmark, InterNACHI's life expectancy chart puts vinyl siding at about 60 years, and actual life depends on installation, sun exposure, and maintenance.

Does siding need to match my roofing material?

No. Siding and roofing are different materials, but the colors should work together. Gerken Roofing handles both, so you can choose siding, shutters, and shingle colors in the same conversation, and its Atlas shingle colors page is a good place to start.

Can I replace just part of my siding or does it all need to come off?

You can replace sections, but matching faded siding is hard, and some older colors may no longer be made. If most of the siding is weathered, or if you suspect water damage behind it, full replacement gives a consistent look and lets the crew inspect the wall.

How do I get an estimate for Mid-America siding installation from Gerken Roofing?

Call 724-515-5551 or use the contact form to schedule an on-site appointment. You will get a detailed estimate with a free, no-obligation quote. Gerken Roofing serves Irwin and communities across Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties.

Ready to Upgrade Your Home's Exterior? Gerken Roofing Is Here to Help

Gerken Roofing is a locally owned, family-run roofing and exterior company based at 414 Main Street in Irwin. The team installs siding from CertainTeed and Alside along with Mid-America accessories, and it also handles roofing, gutters, and soffit and fascia, so the whole exterior can be planned together.

Whether you are ready for a full exterior quote or still comparing materials, start with an on-site look and a detailed estimate. The company's pages state there are no hidden fees.

Visit Gerken Roofing or call 724-515-5551 today. Contact us for more information.