2010s and 2020s
Siding and Roofing in University Heights and Vizcaya
Northeast Round Rock, near University Boulevard and SH 130. Vizcaya was developed in the 2010s. University Heights broke ground in 2022.
New Houses, Where the Walls Matter More Than the Roof
These are the newest houses in the city.
Their roofs are young. Their side walls are plank siding.
Siding and trim problems on a new house are installation problems, and the clock on builder warranties is short.
A local guide describes University Heights homes as having brick, stone and stucco exteriors with plank siding on the sides. Masonry facing the street with plank siding on the other walls is a familiar pattern on newer Texas houses.
It means more of the house is siding than it looks from the curb. On a two-story plan the side and back walls can be most of the exterior.
Source: Bramlett Partners neighborhood guide, University Heights and Vizcaya entries.
What Goes Wrong on a New Wall
- Open joints. Caulk at plank ends and trim shrinks in the first few summers.
- Planks too close to a roof or slab. The bottom edge wicks water and the paint peels.
- Missing kick-out flashing. Where a lower roof ends against a side wall, water runs down the siding.
- Nail pops and loose planks. From nails that missed framing.
- Cracks at corners. This side of the city is on Blackland clay, and new slabs settle in.
Most builders give a short workmanship warranty and longer coverage on structure. If the house is still inside the workmanship period, report exterior defects to the builder in writing first. An independent contractor's written findings can support that report.
And the Roof
University Heights houses were built after the September 2023 storm or just before it. Vizcaya's were up to about ten years old that night.
A Vizcaya roof that was not replaced deserves a hail inspection. A roof built since 2023 mostly needs nothing, apart from a look at the flashing where roofs meet those siding walls.
Round Rock's no-permit rule covers re-roofs and siding replacement on existing houses. New construction is permitted and inspected by the city, which is a different process.
University Heights and Vizcaya: Quick Answers
What are the side walls made of on newer Round Rock houses?
A local guide describes plank siding on the sides of University Heights homes, with brick, stone and stucco elsewhere.
My house is two years old and the siding has gaps. Who fixes it?
Start with the builder's warranty department, in writing. An independent contractor can document the problem or repair it if the warranty has lapsed.
Was Vizcaya hit by the 2023 hail?
Hail was logged across Round Rock that night. Whether a given roof was damaged takes an inspection.
New House, Siding Trouble?
Say when the house was finished and who built it.
Call (737) 237-8867 Write It Down Instead