Choosing The Right Minnesota Siding Contractor
No matter how good the quality of your siding material, the deciding factor in a successful job is the quality and experience of the siding contractor you choose. Here are some “tests” to determine if your Minnesota siding installer is qualified to do the job, and will be easy to work with:
- Is the installer open to discussion about your requirements?
- Does he offer design help and suggestions?
- Is he knowledgeable about siding products including features, benefits and warranty?
- Does he carry the necessary licenses and insurance coverage?
- Can you talk with him easily? Does he return phone calls promptly?
- Will the installer provide a list of references?
- Is the installer certified or approved by the siding manufacturer?
- Does the installer have a good track record in the community? With the Better Business Bureau?
Get a Written Estimate
Your siding contractor should provide you with a written estimate that includes:
- Description of work to be done
- Specific materials to be used including product names and numbers
- Price including all materials and labor
- Payment schedule or financing information
- Time schedule
- Clean up, debris removal, condition of the worksite
- Installer’s warranty policy or guarantee of work
- Responsibility for permits if applicable.
The Installation Process
The more information you can provide to your Minneapolis/St. Paul siding installer, the better your project is likely to go. Answers to the following questions will help you determine how much you want to spend on your project, select siding and explore financing.
1. How do you want your home to look?
Your research can include driving by similar homes in your community, visiting model homes, and collecting photos and sketches from remodeling and decorating publications. Consider color, texture and specialty materials as ways to disguise or enhance architectural details.
2. What’s your budget?
Typically, the longer you stay in your home, the greater the return on your home improvement investment.
3. How will you finance your project?
Investigate financing. Installers frequently have convenient financing programs available that are competitive with bank financing. Be sure to ask potential installers about this option.
As far as disrupting your daily routine, installing new siding is about the easiest home improvement a homeowner can choose! The material won’t take up much space in the yard, its installation does not carry with it any noxious chemicals or messy substances, and it can be installed one wall at a time. Plus its application is very fast, and can sometimes be as fast as a couple of days depending on the size of the crew and the house.
Since your installer won’t need you to turn off the water or electricity to do their job, they can work outside without disruption to your daily flow. However, there are some ideas you might consider that will expedite your new siding.
First, make sure you talk with the person in charge about anything you think might be important. Walk around the house with the siding pro and ask him to tell you what he will be doing to your home. Make it clear that if something is not going to go to plan that he will tell you first just so everyone is on the same page.
Second, consider the daily needs of your siding contractors. If you live in a remote area, you may offer to allow them access to a bathroom (otherwise they will have to drive somewhere every time nature calls, which just slows down the installation).
Third, if the temperatures are extreme during your siding installation, whether hot or cold, you may provide your workers with a place to cool off or warm up. If you don’t want them in your house, you could open your garage for a little shade or to get out of the wind.
The installation team often starts the day early, often right after sunrise. So be prepared for an early morning on the day your project is scheduled to begin.
In some cases, the siding can be installed right over your existing wooden siding. But in most cases demolition and removal of the existing siding is necessary. This can be a bit noisy.
The crew will work along one wall at a time starting from the lowest point on your home. Siding panels and trim will be cut to size on site, to ensure a perfect fit. You’ll be surprised how quickly your home will be transformed, as the new siding “marches” swiftly around the house!
At the end of every day, the crew will take time to clean up the work area and properly store any materials or tools. They should make every effort to gather up all loose nails, hangers, etc. from your yard. They should also cart away all debris so that you will not have to.
IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO FIND OUT
Curious about what we can do for your home? Call Twin Cities Siding and Roofing at 651-571-9557 for a FREE, no obligation in-home siding estimate. It never hurts to find out!
