We stay up to date with the latest roofing techniques and standards.
- 1525 Ogden Ave Ste E, Downers Grove, IL 60515
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We proudly install James Hardie® fiber cement siding, America’s #1 brand of siding, known for its unmatched durability, weather resistance, and curb appeal. Whether you’re upgrading your home’s exterior or building from the ground up, Hardie® siding offers lasting value and timeless design.
Designed to withstand harsh Midwest seasons, from snowstorms to summer heat.
Trusted by homeowners for consistent, high-quality work.
We stay up to date with the latest roofing techniques and standards.
We stay up to date with the latest roofing techniques and standards.
We stay up to date with the latest roofing techniques and standards.
A full James Hardie fiber cement siding installation is a permanent upgrade to your home. Royal Craft offers competitive financing available through the GreenSky® Program for qualifying James Hardie installations. Loans are provided by federally insured lenders in the program.
See financing options and apply or call (630) 725-1000.
We make the process simple, smooth, and built to last.
Clear scope, pricing, and timeline upfront.
Skilled work done efficiently and on schedule.
We check everything to make sure it’s done right.
Royal Craft has been installing exterior siding in Chicago’s western suburbs since 1973. Bill Cantalupo started the business installing seamless aluminum gutters, expanded into siding as the trade evolved off aluminum to fiber cement and engineered wood, and moved the shop to Downers Grove in the early 1980s.
Today we hold James Hardie’s Alliance Preferred Contractor certification. It is a tier of James Hardie’s installer program that requires ongoing training, installation-standard compliance, and a demonstrated track record. Bill or Mauricio is on every Hardie job. That has not changed in over five decades.
James Hardie fiber cement is the most-installed siding material in premium residential construction in the Chicago area. There are two reasons. First, fiber cement handles freeze-thaw cycles far better than vinyl or aluminum, which crack and warp with repeated temperature swings. Second, it looks like painted wood siding without the maintenance, so historic-district homes and contemporary builds both work with the same product family.
The James Hardie lineup we install most often:
James Hardie manufactures a climate-specific formulation for northern regions like Chicago (HZ5). That is what we install. It is engineered for freeze-thaw performance, which matters here.
ColorPlus Technology is the factory-baked paint finish. The color is baked in at the factory, not brushed on later. It resists chipping, cracking, and fading longer than field-applied paint.
The James Hardie product warranty is one of the strongest in the industry:
Royal Craft adds our own 10-year workmanship warranty on the install: the labor, the flashing, the weather barrier, the fasteners, and the finish work.
Both warranties require correct manufacturer-approved installation to remain valid. That is why James Hardie built the Alliance Preferred Contractor program in the first place, and why we hold it.
These are the trust questions we get from homeowners comparing James Hardie installers. Our answer is yes on all five:
What we hear most on Hardie installs is that we take longer than a fast crew and finish cleaner than a slow one. Below is a review we heard versions of many times:
“It was a pleasure working with you guys. You really know what you’re doing and kept us informed the whole way. You made it super easy for us to understand everything.”
See more on our Reviews page or read verified neighborhood recommendations on our Nextdoor page.
James Hardie fits almost every housing era in Downers Grove. On Victorian homes near Denburn Woods and Prince Pond, HardieShingle and HardiePlank recreate the original clapboard look with better weather performance than the original cedar. On mid-century ranches in Shady Lane Estates and Downers Grove Gardens, HardiePlank replaces failing aluminum or vinyl with a permanent solution. On newer contemporary homes in Fairview Pointe and Randall Park, HardiePanel vertical siding pairs with HardiePlank horizontal for modern mixed-material exteriors.
The upgrade from vinyl to James Hardie also improves fire resistance, wind resistance, insect resistance, and long-term resale value. It is a significant investment, but it is the last siding project the house will need for decades.
Call (630) 725-1000 for a free on-site siding estimate. Bill or Mauricio will visit, measure, walk you through profile and color options, and give you an honest estimate. No pressure.