topic Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates in Community Chat

Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

NickNack — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 18:57:09 GMT

I would like to replace the cedar siding on my house with Hardiplank siding. I haven't had any major work like this done on my house in years. Where would I go to get reputable recommendations of someone to do this? I know I've read about places like Angie's List on this board, but forget the names of other places. Thank you for any suggestions you have.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

cherry — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:05:42 GMT

I would only deal with an established company, and not sideliners. Make sure they are insured. Find out if they carry any debt. We went with a well known firm, that had an excellent credit rating, and an established business for many years

You might pay more, but after all ,you only get what you pay for

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

riley1 — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:13:33 GMT

I agree with what @cherry said. Try and get a look at some of the houses they have finished. Also, make it very clear (whoever you choose) that the work site has to be kept clean and if they don't you need to get on them.

Ask if they use reliable workers who know what they are doing. Sometimes workers will swear up and down they know what they are doing just to get a job.

Good Luck!

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

hoosieroriginal — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:15:18 GMT

Lowe's does a great job on siding.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

Meowingkitty — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:20:03 GMT

I don't know anything about siding because we don't use it out here but I have had good luck with Home Advisors. We also have several Home Shows during January through April and then again when it cools down in November that have vendors for just about anything you want done. Don't know if those shows are just an Arizona event or if they are all through the country. Stay away from anyone on Craig's List. Make sure to go to the Better Business Bureau, and register of contractors. Also make sure they are licensed, bonded and insured and have been in business for awhile. Get at least three estimates and ask for addresses where you can go and look at the product.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

esmeraldagooch — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:20:24 GMT

Better business bureau ratings may be of help.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

drizzellla — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:46:56 GMT

When we had our siding replaced, we talked to our neighbors. We saw which neighbor had siding done and talked to them. When we bought our house we knew we wanted to replace the siding but it wasn't the first thing on our list - it was around the 5th. So there was plenty of time to investigate.

We were thrilled with the job and the contractor.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

151949 — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 19:56:49 GMT

When I wanted new siding , plus other work done we asked among our friends who had work done if they could recommend their contractor. One neam came up more than a few times as being very good so we called him. He came and looked at the job as a whole and gave us a price. We could not afford it all, had another meeting with him and we chose some different finishes to lower cost & my DH & him agreed on some work DH could do himself and it came down within our available money. Basically DH & I did all the demo work and the painting.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

hennypenny — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:12:41 GMT

I don't know if your community has the feature Next Door. It is a neighborhood feature with reviews etc.

make sure the place has a valid up to date contractors license. Good rating with BBB. If you see a home with the siding you like. stop and ask them.

Always get several bids, and do background checks and ask for references. EVERYTHING IN WRITING!!!!!

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

Lilysmom — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:16:44 GMT

@NickNack, before you settle in on one type of siding, you may want to ask for recommendations on siding options. I built a house ten years ago and I was surprised at some of the items available that I was unaware of at the time. It pays to ask contractors and also to use the internet to get reviews on a particular item such as a brand of siding. Asking neighbors is also a good idea. One of the lessons I learned from our building experience was to canvass widely for opinions on products, especially when it is an expensive job like siding.

Good luck to you on your project. New siding will give your home a nice facelift! LM

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

NickNack — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:20:41 GMT

@cherry @riley1 @hoosieroriginal @Meowingkitty @esmeraldagooch @drizzellla @151949 @hennypenny Thank you all so much for your excellent suggestions. I'll write them all down and take your advice. Henneypenny, we do have a Next Door group for our area. I'll put the question to them, too, and maybe go look at some of their houses if they have the same type of siding.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

NickNack — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:22:19 GMT

@Lilysmom Yes, you're right. I need to find out about other types of siding. This is the newest one that I've heard of, but I'm sure there are other options.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

Lilysmom — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:25:00 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
@Lilysmom Yes, you're right. I need to find out about other types of siding. This is the newest one that I've heard of, but I'm sure there are other options.

@NickNack, I replied to this thread because I thought I remembered some bad reviews about Hardiplank siding. I am in Canada so perhaps it was just here that there was an issue. I just googled and the reviews are mixed. Please make sure you do your due diligence on any product. Ask, google, call BBB, the whole nine yards. It is a big job and you don't need any surprises. There is a lot of info out there if you go looking.

Good luck! LM

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:30:50 GMT

@cherry Pray tell, how do you get a business' credit rating and find out if they have debt?

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

Kachina624 — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:34:36 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
Lowe's does a great job on siding.

@hoosieroriginal Everything Lowe's has done at my house has been a disaster. They use contractors who can't make it on their own. I use Angie's List to get workers and so far, knocking on wood, this has worked out well for me. I believe you can use that service without joining.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

cherry — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:34:37 GMT

@Kachina624our salesman told us when he spoke about the company. We knew what kind of credit rating they had . How many offices they operated from. If a place carried a lot of debt its not a good thing

My sister had her kitchen remodeled and the contractor didn't pay his bills. They put a lien on her kitchen cupboards

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

skuggles — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:38:41 GMT

May I suggest that you get three recommendations too. Over the years, I have run into "reputable" outfits that had problems providing just the one. Then call all three. You can sometimes tell just by the hesitancy and evasiveness that there were issues that probably didn't amoun't to a crime being commited, but left them less than happy.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

NickNack — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:55:32 GMT

@Lilysmom wrote:
@Nicknack wrote:
@Lilysmom Yes, you're right. I need to find out about other types of siding. This is the newest one that I've heard of, but I'm sure there are other options.
@NickNack, I replied to this thread because I thought I remembered some bad reviews about Hardiplank siding. I am in Canada so perhaps it was just here that there was an issue. I just googled and the reviews are mixed. Please make sure you do your due diligence on any product. Ask, google, call BBB, the whole nine yards. It is a big job and you don't need any surprises. There is a lot of info out there if you go looking.

Good luck! LM

Thanks for the information @Lilysmom. I've just started thinking about this seriously and haven't done any research yet. I'll definitely look at reviews and other things before I make any decision. I would hate to make that big of an investment and not be happy.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

tobes — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:52:51 GMT

I could not agree more. I had three ceilings painted by a local painter at a very reasonable cost. Then when I needed a room painted I could not get the same local painter and another one was recommended. The price was steep, but I need this done asap. Lo and behold, the difference in the ceilings alone was unbelievable and the whole room is beautiful. Can't compare with the other job.

Re: Need To Replace Siding--How To Get Estimates

OnlyShopsOnline — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 23:04:39 GMT

When we had new siding put on our house, we were at a loss. There are so many siding scammers out there. Reminded me of the old movie, Tin Men.

After sitting through a couple of "sales pitches," I tried something different. There is a house in our community that was always being updated. And it always looks so nice. So, I stopped one day and talked to the owner. I got the name of the company she used, and I contacted them.

The company provided me with addresses of other jobs they had done in the area, and we talked to those people as well.