Q.
I've seen your ad around for a long time. So why shouldn't I
buy vinyl until I talk to you?
When
I first came up with the slogan "Don't buy vinyl siding
until you talk to Bill", it was with the hope that you,
the homeowner, would take the time to talk to me as well as
any other contractors you may be considering for your home improvement
project and compare our products, installation, customer satisfaction
rate (referrals) and prices. When we are given the chance to
compete for your business, we will usually win, as do you.
A win-win situation is best.
Q.
What does vinyl have to offer?
Vinyl has the authentic look of premium cedar. In fact, many
patterns are molded exactly off premium wood panels. Today's
premium vinyls have a no gloss, natural finish. Nothing else
looks more like natural wood. Several years ago vinyl colors
were limited. Today you'll find many different shades from light
to dark. With vinyl you can throw your paintbrush away and say
goodbye to costly maintenance. Instead of scraping and painting,
you can enjoy quality time. Vinyl frees up your life to
do the things you enjoy instead of using the few sunny summer
days for maintenance. Normally we add a substantial
insulation board when residing, or a form fitted solid foam
backer, which provides insulating value and rigidity. Vinyl
is warm, doesn't sweat, and with the insulation, makes your
home warmer and quieter. Vinyl is a time proven product that
keeps getting better and better.
The homeowner didn't want to continue spending
a lot of time and money maintaining this large home so he chose
vinyl for its' easy maintenance and good looks.(click to enlarge
images.)
Q.
Are your prices competitive?
Absolutely.
When we enter a subdivision, we are the competition. We will
gladly match our workmanship, price, products, and level of
homeowner happiness against anyone in the industry. Many consumer
organizations recommend getting at least 2 estimates for work
to be done by professional contractors, and to see a list of
satisfied customers that have done business with the contractor
in question.
I felt then and I still feel today that we offer you the best
choice of Quality and Value for your hard earned dollar and
invite you to see for yourself.
Q.
Are you the cheapest company?
Not
necessarily. We offer the best value for your hard earned dollar.
That is different. There are some people that are only concerned
with the "lowest price" and are willing to sacrifice
quality and warranty to get it. While we can "sharpen our
pencil" with the best of them, (or worst of them) the lowest
price does mean a sacrifice in materials and / or labor. You
cannot get the best for the least, it just doesn't work that
way. Just as you cannot buy the best truck for the least money,
you cannot buy the best siding materials and workmanship for
the least money. We can however, get you the best value. We
constantly shop all the major suppliers for the best value and
products available to benefit you, and also us. The better grade
products install better, making the job easier for our installers
and offering a much nicer finished product. So we always shop
for the best products at the most reasonable cost. Costs rise
every year.
Nothing looks worse than a "cheap" vinyl job. The
best installers cannot make a cheap vinyl look good for long.
And the best materials cannot make a bad installer look good.
Generally when you get the "cheapest" vinyl job, you
get something I wouldn't put on my own house, installed by someone
I don't want near my house. We have all seen just how poor a
bad vinyl job can look. The vinyl "butchers" give
the industry a bad name by feeding off the people looking for
cheap.
Q.
Are your crews professional installers?
Yes!
In fact, many of our crews have been with us for a decade. Most
customers want a high quality job done because they have pride
in their homes and want to see a professional job done for their
dollars spent. If this sounds like you, then we need to talk.
We have installed siding, windows, and roofs on thousands of
homes just like yours, using only experienced professional crews.
We don't "train crews" on your home as many advertise
(I've never really understood the logic in that). We rely on
our full time proven craftsmen who made their mistakes many
years ago in their learning days and have mastered their craft
through years of hard work. We don't hire just any crew for
a single job like many of the big name retail stores. We carefully
hand nail all our jobs. We do not use staple guns or power nailers
that may lead to future failures and void your warranty. If
you want experienced installers working on your home call us.
Q.
How do I get a professional job?
When a professional installs a quality product,
you get a truly beautiful home. I often hear people say, "They
never realized how nice a vinyl sided home could look, and many
customers have told me their job turned out better than they
could have ever imagined." If you want great vinyl installed
by pros for a great price call me.
Q.
Do you have references?
Absolutely
yes! We have the largest list of satisfied customers in the
state available for you to keep. Lately I have been seeing some
ads with lines claiming "thousands of satisfied customers"
and find that pretty amusing as they have only been in business
a couple of years. And when I asked about receiving a list of
those customers, I was told they cannot give the list out. We
are seeing companies pretending they have a referral list like
ours. If they do indeed have such a list, ask to see it with
your very own eyes and call the customers to see if they are
happy!
Call
Bill to see the Largest BOOK of Satisfied Customers in Washington
Our
"list" is really a very large book. To recreate our
list a company will have to complete a home a week for twenty
years and have every customer sign off that they are happy with
the job. We did it and invite other companies to see how much
work, consideration, and attention to the smallest details,
it takes to accomplish this task. "The proof is in the
pudding" to quote an old adage. No one can create a list
like we have without putting the customers' wishes first on
every job over a long period of time.
Q. Do you give free estimates?
Yes,
we give free estimates throughout western Washington.
Q.
What do for you do for the homeowner when we come out to give
a free estimate
1.)
We will actually measure your home with a tape rather than do
the "eyeball and price method". (Many companies actually
do this) We will do a walk around the home with you and discuss
your needs and your desires. We will discuss in detail what
we propose to do and why. We will tell you all your options
as we have the trained personnel to do many custom things onsite
that you may not be aware of.
2.)
We will show you pictures of hundreds of homes that we have
improved.
3.)
We will explain in detail how we do the job. All the details
of the installation will be explained including the insulation,
corner posts, window accents, door trims, overhangs, gutters,
windows , and any other appropriate details. When we leave you
will be much more knowledgeable; a well informed homeowner makes
our best customer.
4.)
We will give you a written estimate with everything we discuss
written down. (Some companies just leave a price on a business
card...the theory being that you can leave a low price and if
someone "bites on it" you can put up something cheap
and still make money).
5.)
We will provide you with the largest list of satisfied customers
in Washington state.
Q.
What does the attorney generals office recommend?
The
Attorney Generals Office recommends: Ask your friends who used
this person. Did they like the contractor's work? Opt for the
local, well-established contractor. Don't assume that an ad
makes the contractor reliable. Get bids in writing. Does the
bid reflect the improvements you discussed? How long will the
project take? A detailed, written proposal allows you to shop
around. For more complete info check their web site at;
http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer/homeimprovement.htm
Q.
Are You members of the Better Business Bureau?
Yes. We are members of the BBB.
Click BBB logo for online report
Q.
Are you Licensed and bonded?
Yes.
Our Washington state contractors license number is CC01 NORTH
HI055MQ and in order to be licensed we must be bonded.
Q. How do I choose the right contractor?
In
my opinion, choose the right contractor, and price and quality
issues will take care of themselves. The lowest bid usually
does not provide the best product or service for the money (nor
does the highest bid). Bids should be evaluated based on the
quality of the items or services provided. Imagine if you needed
heart surgery - would you want the lowest bidder, or the best
qualified? Your home is your largest investment. Do you want
a quality job done the way you want it? You will
after all, look at the finished results for as long as you own
your home.
Who
is the right contractor? To the client, the right contractor
is the one who bids intelligently, executes the work skillfully
and perhaps with some innovation, keeps the client informed,
and completes work on time and within budget. The right contractor
responds to the customers' wishes and should a problem occur
in the future, responds in a timely and professional manner.
The right contractor builds a strong business foundation of
satisfied customers and then builds upon that with outstanding
customer service.
To their workers, the right contractor pays on time, takes their
concerns and ideas
seriously, treats them fairly and with dignity, and rewards
loyalty and extra effort.
Ultimately all these things will provide the client with the
best product and service.
Q.
How do you arrange payment?
We
generally ask for no money down and payment upon completion
of the job. Once the job is completed, we have you do a walk
around with the installers and sign off that you are happy with
the job, and that it has been completed to your satisfaction.
We do not give our installers another job until you have signed
off that you are happy. This is one of the ways we have built
such a large reference list; Not moving on until each homeowner
is happy and satisfied.
Q.
How do you start a residing project? What about preparation?
It
all begins with surface preparation. Your finished result will
only be as good as the preparation that goes in up front. We
make sure the exterior surfaces of your home are made as straight
as possible. That may require that the old siding be torn off,
low areas may need to be built out, wood may need to be installed
or removed. Typically, damaged plywood will be replaced with
OSB (oriented strand board) prior to install to provide a strong
substrate.
All
wood must be rot-free. In the cases where the old wood has deteriorated,
it must be replaced. If there is old LP (Louisiana Pacific)
lap siding, it will be removed. Overhangs may require new facia
boards installed. We will do whatever is necessary to do a proper,
long lasting, beautiful installation of one of our premium products.
We want you to be happy for a lifetime, and it all begins with
a good foundation. It is critical to achieving a beautiful finished
result. Our trained professional installers have been working
with homes like yours for many years. Our installations are
done to stringent manufacturers' specifications for a trouble-free,
lifetime of enjoyment and freedom from costly maintenance.
"No
clever arrangement of bad eggs ever made a good omelet."
- C. S. Lewis
Q. How do I know if I have LP siding?
Louisiana
Pacific siding is a composite wood exterior siding that has
failed in the northwest. Louisiana Pacific siding manufactured
between 1985 and Jan., 1996 is covered under a class action
lawsuit. LP is identifiable by examining the
knot pattern on the siding. It has an L on its side above a
P made into the pattern of the knot. LP has a "notice Package"
available by calling 1-800-245-2722 or go their website at www.lpsidingclaims.com
Because of the large number of claims filed against LP, the
amount of money you may receive has become quite small. Lately,
I have been seeing settlement offers under $200.00. The wait
for the small check can be considerable. Many homeowners report
waiting 2-3 years or more for their money. If you haven't filed
yet, you may not be able to. Their web site reports,"The
deadline to file a claim in the LP
Inner-Seal Siding Litigation was December 31, 2002 as stated
in the Settlement Agreement". If you did miss the deadline,
you may try their 1-877-677-6722 and keep your fingers crossed.
Q.
How do I know if my LP siding is bad?
If
you see that the original nails used to install the siding have
sunk beneath the surface, you have bad siding. If you see mushrooms
growing along the lower lap edges, you have bad siding. If the
panels are swollen and you see longitudinal cracks running along
the lower edges, you have bad siding. Unfortunately, sometimes
the damage is not easily spotted, and it can be quite severe.
We have been running into more and more bad rot cases as time
goes on. Often advanced decay will be evidenced by the growth
of mushrooms. LP mushrooms resemble a dark brown half oval hanging
down from the lower lap edges.
Q.
What if I have LP siding, do you side over it?
If there is old LP (Louisiana Pacific composite) lap siding,
it will need to be removed or you will still have to disclose
that you have LP siding on your home when you resell. Please
ontact your attorney or real estate agent to find out the exact
terms and conditions of disclosures.
Q.
What is starter strip?
Starter
strip is the metal strip that runs around the perimeter of the
house to which the first course of siding is attached. Starter
strip is used to correctly align the first course of siding
around your home. It is imperative that it be installed straight
and stays that way. We use coated steel starter as opposed to
the cheaper wood, to insure that your home retain its beauty
for life. Many of our crews use laser levels, transits (much
like the surveyors use) to further guarantee an exact install.
Diagram
of siding terms
Q.
Do you add insulation?
Yes.
The perfect time to add some insulation is when you reside your
home. Normally with a conventional type vinyl siding product
we use a 3/8 " breatheable fanfold poly styrene insulation
board with a foil reflective barrier to increase the efficiency
of it or if we are installing CRANEBOARD, the siding comes bonded
to a solid foam backer providing an R-4 (+) insulation rating.
Q.
Why do I need more insulation?
Added
insulation reduces your heating bills in the winter and helps
keep your home cooler in the summer. Along with reducing energy
bills, you will enjoy a home that is more livable.
Insulation reduces cold spots, hot spots and aggravating drafts.
Added insulation also dampens sound, resulting in a quieter
home. The amount of benefit you receive depends upon many factors
including your current level of insulation, power rates for
your neighborhood, your existing windows, etc.
We carry a full line of insulation materials to meet your individual
needs, with insulation boards ranging from 1/4" to 1"
thick, fully breatheable foams, foam boards contoured to fit
tightly behind your siding for a "solid feel", fire
treated foams, etc. We carry fully breathable foams for "tight"
homes, fire treated foams, and solid foam cut to fit behind
the vinyl for a rigid install. One thing is sure, a well insulated
house is a more comfortable and enjoyable home.
When
our representative comes out, he or she will help you choose
the right option for you.
Q. What is "J" channel?
"J"
channel is designed to channel water away and is used to trim
around windows and doors. "J" trims are typically
3/4" wide and are the standard finish trim for vinyl siding.
They can either be the same color as the siding or used as an
accent color. Wider "J" channels are also available
as an optional window trim accent. Our professional crews install
the trim with special care. The corners are mitred like a picture
frame, which results in a nicer job than the quick square cuts
you see so often by trainees and less experienced workers. We
also take special care to cut special water diverting tabs that
you don't see, but give added security against inclement weather. Diagram
of siding terms
Q.
Do you offer custom window trims?
Yes,
Often overlooked, custom window trims can express your individual
sense of style and set your home apart from the rest. Wide trims
can give a Colonial, country, or a traditional look while narrow
trims can look more modern. We can cover (wrap) your existing
wood trim to preserve the existing character while making it
maintenance-free. We have over many trim colors available to
you. Custom window trims can express your individual sense of
style. Wide trims give a colonial, country, or traditional look.
Narrow trims tend to look more modern. We can cover, or "wrap",
your existing wood frames to preserve its character in your
choice of over 100 colors. We offer of a full range of window
trims from the "J" trims to fancy wrapped frames and
window mantles for a distinctive look.
Q.
Can I trim my windows without "J" channel?
Yes,
you can. It is a customizing option. Some people prefer a wide
trim without any "J" trim, and the trim lineal provides
the solution. Once available only in white, today we carry lineal
in a wide color range. Diagram of siding terms
Q.
What about shutters?
Shutters
look nice on some homes and can be a nice option to add some
extra color and character. We offer them in a louver as well
as a raised panel design and all are custom made to fit your
widows exactly in a choice of widths and over a dozen colors.
