Exterior Repairs & Pressure Washing in Duluth, MN & Superior, WI
Siding fixed, gutters flowing, gaps sealed, and the whole place power-washed clean — your home's armor, maintained by people who know what winter does to it.
Twin Ports Contracting & Repair is a siding and exterior repair contractor in Duluth, MN and Superior, WI: siding and trim repairs, gutter cleaning and repair, caulking and weather sealing, and pressure washing. Our planning ranges are $220–$450 to pressure wash a house and $120–$250 for gutter cleaning.
Updated by Twin Ports Contracting & Repair, Duluth, MN
Your House's First Line of Defense
Everything on the outside of a Northland home is a shield — siding, trim, caulk, gutters, flashing — and every shield takes damage: ice, wind off the lake, UV, and the freeze-thaw cycle prying at every seam. Small exterior repairs done on time are the cheapest home maintenance there is, because water that gets behind the shield turns hundred-dollar fixes into ten-thousand-dollar ones.
We repair siding and exterior trim, service gutters, seal the gaps, and put everything back to weather-tight. And when the structure's sound but the surface is grimy — green siding, gray decks, stained concrete — our power and pressure washing brings it back, with the right pressure for each surface so we clean your house instead of injecting water into it.
What Our Exterior Work Covers
- Exterior repairWhatever winter broke — fixed before it spreads
- Siding repair & replacementVinyl, lap, cedar & fiber-cement sections
- Gutter cleaning & repairCleared, re-pitched, re-hung, leaks sealed
- Gutter guard installationLess ladder time every fall
- Exterior caulking & sealingJoints, penetrations & flashing details
- Power & pressure washing — houseSoft wash for siding, right pressure per surface
- Pressure washing — concrete & drivewaysSalt stains, grime & moss lifted
- Pressure washing — decks & fencesPrepped for stain or just beautifully clean
- Soffit & fascia repairThe boards that keep critters and water out
- Storm damage repairsWind-lifted siding, downed trim & quick patches
- WinterizationSpigots, gaps, doors & attic hatches buttoned up
- Dryer vent & exterior vent serviceCleared, screened & sealed
Common Exterior Projects
| Project | What's included | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fall gutter service | Clean, flush, check pitch & hangers, seal joints | Keeps roof runoff flowing; does not prevent ice dams on its own |
| House soft wash | Low-pressure detergent wash for siding & trim | Kills the green north-side algae without stripping paint |
| Siding repair visit | Matched sections replaced, sealed & color-checked | Keep spare siding from your install? Even better |
| Winterization visit | Spigots, weatherstrip, caulk & draft-proofing in one pass | Book October — before the first real freeze |
The cost guide and estimator are the place to compare planning ranges for exterior work; your own quote is built from photos, access, materials and the agreed finish.
For local prices, see the pressure washing cost guide.
Soffit, Gutter and Caulking Repairs in Duluth and Superior
Most exterior repairs start with one failed piece letting water in: a cracked vinyl panel, a split clapboard, rotted trim under a window sill, a soffit panel squirrels pushed open, or a dripping gutter seam. We remove the damaged piece, check what's behind it, and replace it to match, or switch rot-prone trim to PVC, which won't rot but needs room to expand. Old caulk comes out before new goes in. In Duluth and Superior, freeze-thaw and lake moisture open joints fastest on shaded north walls, ice-loaded gutters pull their hangers loose, and a hillside lot can make the back wall a full story taller than the front.
A repair becomes a bigger job when the damage is behind the siding rather than on it. If the sheathing is soft, or rot has spread from trim into the sill or framing, we stop, show you photos, and quote the added carpentry before continuing; a deck ledger without flashing is a common culprit and belongs with deck ledger repair.
Damage that runs across a whole wall of siding is covered on the siding repair page. A gutter run that still sags after rehanging is past repair, and roof leaks go to a licensed roofer. The City of Duluth lists siding among work needing a building permit, while the City of Superior exempts soffit, fascia and siding repairs under 25% of one wall on a house.
Gutter Repair: Holes, Leaking Corners, Sagging Gutters and Downspouts
Most gutter leaks can be repaired rather than replaced. A small hole or rust pinhole gets cleaned to bare metal, then covered with a metal patch bedded in gutter sealant; ordinary caulk cracks after a winter or two. Leaking corners, end caps and seams are the usual trouble spots, even on seamless gutters, which still have joints at every corner and outlet. We scrape out the old sealant, dry the joint and reseal it, or replace a corner piece that has split. Duluth and Superior freeze-thaw cycles open these joints every year, so a fall check pays off.
A sagging gutter has usually pulled its hangers loose, often from ice weight or old spikes backing out of the fascia. We replace them with screw-in hidden hangers set into solid wood and restore a steady fall toward the downspout so water stops pooling. If the fascia behind is rotted, that board gets fixed first. Downspouts clog at the elbows, get crushed by snow or lawn equipment, or come apart at the joints; we clear, rejoin or replace them and add extensions that carry water away from the foundation. A run that is bent, rusted through along its length or too small for the roof is worth replacing.
Matching Vinyl, Aluminum, Masonite and Hardie Board Siding
Vinyl siding is the easiest to repair: a zip tool unlocks the panel above, the cracked piece comes out, and a new panel locks in without disturbing the rest. Vinyl turns brittle in a Northland cold snap, so impact cracks from snowblowers and lawn equipment are common, and patch kits rarely hide well on a visible wall. Aluminum siding dents rather than cracks. Small dents can be filled and painted; a badly dented or torn section is replaced, often with pieces salvaged from a hidden wall, since many older profiles are no longer made, then painted to match.
Hardboard siding, often sold as Masonite, swells and softens where water gets past failed paint, usually along bottom edges and near the ground. Swollen boards can't be dried out and saved, so we replace them, then prime and paint every cut edge. Fiber cement, including Hardie board, is tough but can crack from impact or a shifting corner; a cracked plank is cut out and replaced, and cutting is done with dust control. Wood lap and cedar siding take the same approach: rotted boards come out, sound ones get scraped, primed and painted.
Some older Duluth and Superior homes have asbestos-cement shingles, a hard, flat siding often with a dimpled face. The Minnesota Department of Health says siding like this in good condition is best left alone, and warns against breaking, cutting, drilling or sanding it, because that can release fibers (Source). If your house might have it, have it tested by a Minnesota certified asbestos inspector before anyone cuts or drills.
We don't remove asbestos; removal belongs to a licensed abatement firm. Superior follows Wisconsin's rules: the Wisconsin Department of Health Services treats untested siding as suspect asbestos until a certified inspector samples it, and anyone disturbing or removing it must be certified and work for a certified asbestos company (Source).
Repair, Replace or Call a Specialist? Exterior Repair Decisions
Siding, gutters, soffit and trim are ours. Roof leaks go to a licensed roofer, and wet basements or foundation cracks go to specialists.
| What you're seeing | Likely cause | Usual fix | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cracked or lifted siding boards | Wind, impact or freeze-thaw movement | Replace matched sections and seal the joints | Us; expect a permit for larger replacement |
| Gutters overflow or pull from the fascia | Clogs, low pitch or loose hangers | Clean, re-pitch and re-hang the gutters | Us |
| Soft, peeling soffit or fascia | Water from gutters or a roof edge | Cut out rot, replace boards, seal and paint | Us |
| Ice dams or water stains inside the roof edge | Roof, insulation or ventilation problem | Fix the roof or attic, not the gutters | A licensed roofer |
| Old siding that may be asbestos | Older cement-board siding in some homes | Don't cut or sand it until it's tested | A licensed abatement firm if tested positive |
| Stair-step cracks or bowing basement wall | Foundation movement or soil pressure | Get the structure evaluated first | A foundation specialist or engineer |
Address Heat Loss Before Ice Dams Form
Ice dams form when snow melts on a warmer part of the roof and refreezes near colder eaves. Gutter maintenance supports drainage, but it does not solve roof heat loss. University of Minnesota Extension recommends addressing ceiling air leaks and insulation for lasting prevention; see its ice-dam guidance.
Exterior Repairs in Duluth, Superior and Nearby Towns
The same siding patch can need a permit in one city and nothing in the next. Duluth and Hermantown treat re-siding as permit work, Superior exempts small siding, soffit and fascia repairs, and the counties outside the cities mostly ask about changes to a building's size or shape. House age matters as much as the address, because lead paint and asbestos siding change how an old exterior gets opened up. Roof leaks go to a licensed roofer. The quote follows a check of what your address needs.
Siding and Exterior Repair in Duluth, MN
Duluth requires a building permit for work on a building's structure, naming siding and roofing (City of Duluth), and lists window and door replacement among permit work as well (City of Duluth). Removing and replacing siding can go on an express permit through the city's ePlace system, with no structural plans, as long as the description of the work is clear (City of Duluth). Rot that reaches posts, beams, joists or rafters is a different job: structural repairs need detailed plans, or plans stamped by a structural engineer (City of Duluth). The permit is pulled by whoever the office requires.
Older Homes in West Duluth, Lakeside, Lincoln Park and Morgan Park
A large share of West Duluth homes, likely a majority, were built before 1939 (Wikipedia), and Lakeside was platted in 1871 and annexed by Duluth in 1893 (Wikipedia). EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires anyone paid to disturb paint in a home built before 1978 to be certified in lead-safe work practices (EPA). Asbestos-cement siding in good condition is best left alone, and the Minnesota Department of Health warns against breaking, cutting, drilling or sanding it (Minnesota Department of Health), so a suspect wall gets tested first, and removal goes to a licensed abatement firm.
Morgan Park is known for its concrete houses (Duluth News Tribune), so an exterior repair there may have no siding boards in it at all; the work shifts to trim, windows, doors and gutters, and anything mounted to the walls anchors into concrete with masonry fasteners. Lincoln Park, called the West End until 1996, climbs from the harbor up to Skyline Parkway (Wikipedia), and on a hillside lot the back wall can stand a full story taller than the front, which sets the ladder or staging plan.
Siding and Exterior Repair in Superior, WI
Superior's list of work needing no permit covers installing roof gutters, repairing or replacing soffit and fascia, replacing sections of siding under 25% of one wall, and siding changes made while flashing a deck or trimming new windows (City of Superior).
The same list warns that lead-safe practices may be required for any of it, and Wisconsin's own Lead-Safe Renovation Rule applies to paid work on homes built before 1978 (Wisconsin DHS). Wisconsin also assumes untested building materials other than wood, metal, glass or fiberglass contain asbestos (Wisconsin DHS), so older siding gets sampled by a certified inspector before it's cut. For anything larger, call building inspection at (715) 395-7288.
Exterior Repairs in Hermantown, Proctor and Rice Lake
Hermantown requires a building permit to replace roofing, siding, windows or doors, even like for like, and charges a flat fee plus a state surcharge for those permits instead of a fee based on project value (City of Hermantown).
Proctor requires a permit for siding and for doors and windows, with fixed-fee permits when the opening size stays the same, but needs no building permit for gutters and downspouts, window wraps, or soffit and fascia (City of Proctor). So a fascia and gutter job in Proctor can go ahead without a building permit, while new siding on the same wall waits for one. In Rice Lake, check with the city before new siding goes up.
Exterior Repairs in the Townships: St. Louis and Carlton Counties
In county-zoned townships such as Saginaw, Pike Lake and Fredenberg, St. Louis County doesn't administer the state building code; its land use permit applies to building or adding to a structure and to changing a structure's height, pitch or projection (St. Louis County). A like-for-like siding or trim repair changes none of those, but a new overhang, a raised roof or an enclosed entry can. Lakewood and Midway, around Eldes Corner, issue their own land use permits (Lakewood Township; Midway Township).
Rural Carlton County spells it out: zoning permits are not required for replacing windows or doors, re-siding or re-roofing, and the county doesn't enforce the state building code in rural areas (Carlton County). Esko is the exception to watch, because the Town of Thomson issues its own building permits (Town of Thomson), and Cloquet, Carlton and Scanlon are their own zoning authorities (Carlton County), so check with the city before re-siding there.
Exterior Repairs on the North Shore
In Knife River and Larsmont, Lake County's land use permit is triggered by permanent structures over 3 feet tall and by changes to a building's outer dimensions, such as an enclosed entryway or dormers added to a roof (Lake County). Repairing siding, trim, soffits or gutters on the existing walls doesn't change those dimensions; adding a porch roof or enclosing an entry does. Inside Two Harbors, the City of Two Harbors issues permits, and along Scenic Drive in French River, the Town of Duluth requires a structure land use permit for building projects (Town of Duluth).
Exterior Repairs in the Towns Around Superior
Outside the city, Douglas County zoning permits cover building, moving or altering any structure (Douglas County), so ask the county zoning office before an exterior project in Riverview, Dewey or South Range changes a wall, roofline or entry. The Village of Superior has its own building code inspector (Douglas County), and in Oliver, confirm the inspector with the village. Wisconsin's Lead-Safe Renovation Rule and its asbestos assumptions apply here just as they do in the city (Wisconsin DHS; Wisconsin DHS), so older siding and trim get the same testing first.
To find the permit office for exterior work at your address, use the Minnesota or Wisconsin list: it names the office for each town, with a phone number and what that office exempts.
Getting an Exterior Quote and How the Job Runs
What to Send for a Siding or Gutter Repair Quote
Start with two photos of each problem: one from far enough back to show the whole wall and how high the damage sits, and one close enough to see the siding profile, the rot or the split seam. Tell us whether the ground below is flat, sloped or blocked by a deck or shrubs, since that decides ladder or staging. If you have leftover siding, trim or touch-up paint in the garage, photograph the label; a matching piece gets the repair closest to the old color.
Before requesting a quote, include: A wide shot and a close-up of each damaged spot; Story height and what the ground below is like; Labels from any spare siding, trim or paint. A repair-list planning guide is available if you want help putting this in order.
How an Exterior Job Works
- Send the details. Describe the exterior job in the quote form and attach photos, or call (715) 919-7956.
- Get a flat written quote. A visit, when one is needed, is $95 with no mileage charge, and the fee is waived when you approve the work; the quote itself is one flat price.
- Pick a day. You choose the day, and the schedule is built around yours.
- Work done, then a walkthrough. You get a tidy site and a final look at the exterior work, backed by a written guarantee: workmanship that fails is redone at no charge.
Exterior Questions
How do I prevent ice dams on my house?
Keep the roof deck cold and the drainage path clear. Ice dams form when heat escaping from the living space melts snow on the upper roof and the water refreezes at the colder eaves. The lasting fixes are sealing attic air leaks around light fixtures, the hatch and plumbing pipes, and keeping insulation from blocking the soffit vents. Clean gutters help the melt drain. We do the gutter, hatch and air-sealing work; a leaking roof goes to a licensed roofer.
How much do gutter cleaning and pressure washing cost?
Our planning ranges are $120–$250 for gutter cleaning and $220–$450 to pressure wash a house. Height, ladder access, how clogged or dirty things are and the size of the house move the number, and a second story or a steep lot adds time. Decks, driveways and concrete are quoted as their own line. The cost guide has more planning ranges, and photos of each side of the house get you a written quote.
Is pressure washing safe for my siding?
Done right, yes. Siding gets a soft wash: low pressure with a detergent made for the job, rinsed clean, while concrete and some decks can take more pressure. Damage happens when one high-pressure setting is used on everything, forcing water behind vinyl laps, into window seals or through old paint. We match the pressure and nozzle to each surface and keep the spray off vents, outlets and light fixtures.
What's the difference between power washing and pressure washing?
The terms are often used for the same thing. Strictly, power washing uses heated water and pressure washing doesn't. For a house, the method matters more than the name: siding, painted trim and older window seals get a low-pressure soft wash, while concrete and driveways can take more pressure, and hot water helps lift oil stains. Your quote names the method for each surface.
Can you match my existing siding for a repair?
Usually. Between manufacturer profiles, salvaged pieces and painting to match, we get very close on most vinyl, lap and wood siding. Older aluminum and discontinued vinyl profiles are the hard cases. On sun-faded walls, new pieces can look brighter for a while, so we'll be upfront about how visible a repair may be, and we can borrow pieces from a hidden wall and put the new ones there instead.
What should I winterize every year?
The short list: gutters cleaned after the leaves drop, outdoor spigots shut off and drained, hoses disconnected, weatherstripping and door sweeps checked on every exterior door, obvious gaps caulked, and the attic hatch sealed and insulated. Dryer and exhaust vent flaps should close easily so they don't let cold air or snow in. We can do the whole pass in one visit each fall, ideally before the first hard freeze.
Do you need a permit to pressure wash a house in Duluth or Superior?
No. Cleaning isn't construction work, and washing isn't on either city's permit lists; the City of Duluth and the City of Superior permit building, altering and repairing structures. The real considerations are runoff, which shouldn't carry debris or detergent to a storm drain, and paint on pre-1978 homes, which may contain lead (see the EPA's RRP program).
How long does a pressure washing job last on a Northland house?
It depends on the house's surroundings more than on the wash itself. Shade, moss, north-facing walls that stay damp and overhanging trees all feed the algae and mildew that make siding look dirty again, so a sunny wall stays clean longer than a shaded one. Trimming branches back, keeping gutters flowing and letting walls dry out all help. We won't promise a time frame; the quote covers what we see on your house.
How much does pressure washing cost per hour?
We don't bill pressure washing by the hour; you get a flat written price for the house, deck or driveway before we start. Our planning range to wash a house is $220–$450, depending on whether it's one story or two. A two-story wall over a Duluth hillside, heavy north-side algae or a deck and concrete added on move the number. Send photos of each side and you'll know the price, not a meter running.
What is the right technique for power washing a house?
Low pressure and the right cleaner, not a hard blast, is the general rule. The detergent does the work: it goes on, sits long enough to loosen algae and grime, and is rinsed off from the top down so dirty water doesn't streak clean siding. As a rule, the spray shouldn't point upward into the laps of the siding, at window seals, or into vents and light fixtures, because that pushes water behind the wall. Concrete is the surface that takes real pressure.
What tools and equipment are used for pressure washing?
A pressure washer, a set of nozzle tips, a detergent injector or pump sprayer, and an extension wand for second-story walls. Wide-angle tips spread the spray for siding; narrow tips concentrate it and belong only on hard surfaces, if at all. A rotary surface cleaner does driveways and patios evenly without the stripes a hand wand leaves. Rented machines work, but a common DIY mistake is using a narrow tip too close to wood or vinyl.
Who do you call to fix a leaking or sagging gutter?
A handyman or gutter contractor, not a plumber or a roofer, as long as the problem is the gutter itself. Leaking seams and corners, loose hangers, a sag that holds water and a crushed or disconnected downspout are all repair work we handle in the Twin Ports. If water is getting in under the shingles, or the roof edge itself is damaged, that part goes to a licensed roofer. The gutter repair section on this page explains what each fix involves.
How do you know when siding needs to be replaced instead of repaired?
When the damage is spread across a wall instead of sitting in a few boards. A cracked vinyl panel, a dented aluminum section or a few swollen hardboard laps are repairs. Replacement makes sense when boards are soft or swelling along whole courses, the sheathing behind feels spongy, paint won't stay on no matter how often it's redone, or matching pieces no longer exist. We check behind the damaged piece and show you photos before recommending either.
How much does a small gutter or trim repair cost?
It depends on height, access and what turns up behind the damage, so each exterior repair gets a flat written quote after we see it. Resealing a leaking gutter corner or rehanging a short sagging run from a ladder is a short job; rotted fascia behind the gutter, a second-story run or trim that has to be milled to match adds time and materials. Bundling a few exterior fixes into one visit keeps the setup cost down. The handyman cost guide shows how we price small jobs.
What glue or sealant should you use to repair a gutter?
Use a sealant made for gutter seams, not glue or ordinary caulk. DAP's Dynaflex Gutter and Narrow Seam Sealant, for example, goes on at surface temperatures from 20°F to 120°F, is rain ready in 30 minutes, and needs a surface that is clean and clear of old sealant and dirt (DAP). Whatever product you use, follow its label and scrape out the old sealant first. A hole too big for sealant to bridge needs a metal patch or a new section.
How do you patch broken vinyl siding?
You replace the broken panel rather than patch it. The published steps: slip an unlocking (zip) tool under the panel above, unzip it, bend it out gently, pull the nails from the damaged panel, lock on the new one, nail it, and zip the upper panel back down (PEPA). Nails go in the center of the slots with about 1/32 inch of clearance so the panel can move, and overlap joints are never caulked (Vinyl Siding Institute manual). Leftover siding from the original job makes the best match.
Can siding and gutters be repaired in winter?
Yes, with some adjustments. Vinyl stiffens in the cold: the Vinyl Siding Institute manual says to move the saw slowly in extremely cold weather to prevent chipping or cracking, and to increase clearance at openings and stops from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch below 40°F (Vinyl Siding Institute manual). Some gutter sealants are rated for surfaces down to 20°F (DAP). In both cities, ice-packed gutters or snow against a wall can still mean a temporary fix now and the full repair at a thaw.
How long does a gutter repair take?
A leaking corner, a sagging run that needs rehanging or a split downspout is usually a single-visit repair. Time goes up with height, the length of gutter that has to be re-pitched, rotted fascia found behind the gutter, and whether matching sections or downspout parts have to be ordered. A run with several failing seams is often better replaced than patched joint by joint. Send photos from the ground, and the written quote says how many visits the job needs.
Should I caulk the gaps in my siding?
Only some of them. Seal where wood siding meets window and door trim, and around pipes, vents and wires that pass through the wall. Leave the horizontal laps of lap siding open, along with the gap above a window's head flashing: they let water that gets behind the siding drain out, and caulking them traps it against the sheathing. Vinyl is different again: its panels expand and contract with temperature, so they shouldn't be caulked into their trim channels at all.
These answers also sit in the Exterior section of our FAQ, alongside questions on pricing, scheduling and coverage.
Service Area and Towns We Cover
Pick your town to see how exterior work goes there.
Duluth neighborhoods:
Superior neighborhoods:
Most towns in our area are covered for exterior work. The surrounding town notes list them, and the Minnesota and Wisconsin guides say what to send with a request.
Town checklists for exterior projects
Project notes for towns across the service area:
Services That Pair With Exterior Work
Give Your House Its Armor Back
Repairs, sealing, gutters, or a wash that makes the neighbors ask who you hired — flat quotes, honest advice.