How to choose the right siding contractor

Finding a vinyl siding contractor is the easy part: You can find a list of qualified siding installers online, through the phone book, or by asking at local home improvement stores. But choosing the right siding contractor from the list is worth taking a little more time to get right. After all, you’ll want to make sure you’re working with the best possible contractor for your vinyl siding job.

Here are the steps to choosing the right vinyl siding contractor:

Interview with contractors.
You can easily shortlist your list of potential siding installers by asking a few leading questions. First, make absolutely sure everyone is licensed, bonded, and insured to work in your location. Next, ask about their level of experience. Do you do vinyl siding installation exclusively, or is it just one of your many practice areas? What about your crew… are they full time siding installers or just hired hands? These are the types of discriminating factors that separate professional siding contractors from amateurs.

Ask about the materials.
Not all vinyl siding is the same. There are different grades of quality, different warranty periods, and other important determining factors to consider. Make sure the siding contractor you choose to work with can provide (or is willing and authorized to work with) the specific line of vinyl siding materials you’d like to use.

Get offers.
Naturally, the offer you receive will play a big role in deciding who to hire. However, in addition to just looking at the final price of the proposal, be sure to do a thorough walkthrough with the contractors to get an idea of ​​the scope of work and look for potential problem areas. Ask lots of questions as they plan and write the offer; this is the perfect time to get a good idea of ​​how the contractor does business.

Consult References.
You’ll want to call or visit in person with a reasonable selection of vinyl siding contractor references before choosing your final offer. Instead of just asking for a copy of their list of “shortlisted” references, ask for a list of the last ten projects they’ve worked on and contact those people. Referral lists automatically provided by contractors almost always consist of handpicked top clients who are known to give glowing testimonials. Ask for an actual cross sample of customers to be sure.

Inspect previous jobs.
Like any quality construction project, it is the details and finishing work that matter most. With vinyl siding installation, it is also these areas that tend to become problem areas if done incorrectly or carelessly. Remember, it’s usually easy to make massive coverage look good, but the final work is where it counts. Closely inspect several of your potential siding contractor’s past jobs and note all the little details.

Take a look at a work in progress.
Looking at a current job site is always a great way to get a better idea of ​​what kind of work a siding contractor actually does. A quality professional contractor takes great pride in their work and will always maintain a clean and orderly workplace, as well as insist that their team of vinyl siding installers look and behave professionally as well. Don’t skip this step!

Ask about the guarantee.
It is always a good idea to have a very clear understanding of how the guarantee works. Materials and workmanship may be covered by separate warranties. And sometimes the vinyl siding company’s warranty could even be rendered null and void if the product was installed improperly. Before you start, put it in writing.

Choosing the right vinyl siding contractor doesn’t have to be a daunting challenge. It’s a matter of seeing how they work and gauging their level of professionalism more than the final price factor alone. To have peace of mind with your new vinyl siding investment, both now and in the future, be sure to select a truly professional siding contractor who truly knows your business inside and out.