Choosing a Professional Siding Contractor

Determining the reliability, reputation and experience of a contractor is essential.

Eight Questions to Ask Your Siding Contractor

1. What is the full name and address of the company?  Getting the complete address of the company can be an important factor in determining a company's time in business.
2. Does the company carry insurance?  A contractor should carry comprehensive liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance to protect you in the event of an accident.  This can be verified by asking to see the contractor's certificates of insurance for both workers' compensation and general liability.
3. Is the company licensed?  Not all states require contractors to be licensed, however, a number of cities require professional licensing.  Check with your local licensing authority for details.
4. More importantly, is the company credentialed?  It is important to establish a contractor's credentials as knowledgeable installers of vinyl siding.  An organization separating the more dedicated contractors from their less professional counterparts is the Vinyl Siding Institute, or VSI.  VSI is the national trane association for manufacturers of vinyl siding products and offers rigid certification programs. 
5. How long has the company been in business?  Needless to say, longer is usually  better.  Less than three years may signal an unstable business.  The failure rate of small businesses in the first three years is very high.
6. Will the company provide referrals or references from previous jobs?  Ask for photos of completed work, and request a list of 10 names and phone numbers of customers contracted within the past 12 months.  As his customers specifically about these four things:
   1. Did he perform his work on a timely basis?
   2. Was he responsive when asked for information and changes?
   3. Did he act as if he cared about your interests?
   4. And finally, would you call the company trustworthy?
7. What is the company's workmanship warranty?  Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year or more.  The intent and ability of the contractor to stand behind his warranty is what's important.  The contractor warrants the siding material against defects in manufacturing.
8. What is the company's track record for solving customer complaints?  Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractor and if so, was the dispute resolved.