Having new siding installed on your home is a major expense, but it’s an investment that you hope will pay off long-term for added curb appeal and value. It’s important to know that regardless of what type of material you choose, the appearance, performance, and longevity of your new siding largely depends on the quality of your contractor’s workmanship. To help you get the maximum benefit from a new siding installation on your Sacramento home, here’s what you should look for in a professional job:
Knowledge of Installation Best Practices
Your contractor and their crew need to be well-versed in your material manufacturer’s installation guidelines and recommended best practices. When the proper installation techniques are used, you won’t have future worries about issues that can cause repair and maintenance nightmares or even void your warranty coverage, such as:
- Inadequate clearance at grade, roofing, and other hard surfaces
- The use of caulk instead of flashing at seams with cement board siding
- Insufficient spacing at joints with engineered wood siding
- Damage to planks from over-driven or improperly driven nails
- Leaving drip edges unpainted and exposed to the weather
On-the-Job Etiquette
When you’re vetting siding contractors, you’ll likely verify proper licensing, business history and ample insurance coverage. You’ll probably also contact previous customers to get their feedback about whether the work was done on schedule and to their satisfaction. Another question to ask is how the customer’s home and property were treated. Was extra care taken so damage wasn’t done during the installation, and did they clean up thoroughly and not leave a mess behind when the project was completed? Knowing that a siding professional will treat your home and property well tells you that they’re detail-oriented and likely to provide top-notch customer service.
In-House Installation Crews
Reputable siding contractors have their own in-house installation crew(s) and don’t subcontract. If you hire a contractor who plans to subcontract your siding installation, you have no way of knowing whether the crew doing the work has the training and skills to do the job right. If the contractor neglects to pay the subcontracted crew, you can also end up with a lien on your property even after you’ve paid your bill in full.
If you’re looking for a well-established local contractor who cares about quality and integrity for a new siding installation on your Sacramento home, contact us at Straight Line Construction.
