Like picking a doctor, lawyer, or any other professional service provider, choosing a siding contractor involves a lot of personal preference. To ensure a great experience and a job performed to your expectations, you should feel comfortable working with your siding professional and be able to establish open communications and a rapport so you understand what you will get and what you will pay.
Whether you are siding your home or your business, you deserve a siding installation firm that appreciates your business and will work hard to provide you stellar workmanship and responsive customer service. Naturally, experience and longevity in the community go a long way toward establishing trust, but there are lots of other ways you can become comfortable in your choice of a siding contractor. Holeman has prepared this guide to help you.
Start with the Non-negotiables
You should never put your siding project in the hands of an unlicensed contractor. Licensing means much more than simply filling out an application and paying the fee. Licensed siding contractors in Florida must meet several requirements designed to protect your safety, your home, and your money:
- Must have at least five years of experience in their trade.
- Must pass a trade competency exam to prove they are adept in the profession’s best practices, accepted standards of workmanship, and the state’s building codes.
- Must pass the state construction examination to demonstrate knowledge of the business side of contracting – project management, contract administration, finance, and ethics.
- Must maintain liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
- Must have a credit score of at least 660 or keep in force a surety bond.
- Must undergo a thorough criminal background check.
You can verify a contractor’s license status by trade, city, county, number, or business name on the Florida Department of Business Professional Regulation website.
Narrow the Possibilities
There are thousands of licensed contractors in Florida; there is no way to consider them all when contemplating your siding project, but there are ways to cull the field. The best siding contractors often are those who focus on siding as one of only a few specialties. Have you heard the expression about being a jack of all trades and master of none? It is true in the construction game. You shouldn’t expect a contractor who is great at landscaping or masonry to understand the nuances of siding. On the other hand, siding connects with several other construction trades, including roofing, windows, and framing. An installer with experience in any of these other areas may be able to give you a holistic appraisal of your needs.
Another way to qualify siding contractors is to ask friends and neighbors whose siding installation you admire if they would recommend their contractors and why or why not. It’s fine to look at online reviews, but remember they are not always reliable or honest. Contractors are more than happy to provide a list of satisfied clients. Contractors are more than happy to supply you with the contact information of former customers. Companies that have been in business for several years likely will be your best bets. Florida contractors do not stick around unless they know how to conduct themselves and give great value to their projects.
With your finalists selected, obtain at least three estimates for your project. Take care to compare apples to apples. Especially when it comes to the siding material and brand you want to have installed. Note that the lowest bid is not always the best bid. A price significantly below the market rate should raise a red flag.
Get It in Writing
You are under no obligation to hire a contractor until the contract is signed. After you have settled on a siding contractor, you should still trust your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, take a step back and work through the issues. You can always walk away and start the selection process over or go with your second choice. Make sure everything you and your contractor agree to is included in the contract: start date, completion date, total cost, payment schedule, type, color, and brand of siding to be installed, etc.
Holeman is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Installer. That means the manufacturer of the best, most attractive, most durable siding on the market has verified that Holeman adheres to all its best practices regarding material storage, cutting, substrate preparation, fastener selection, and finishing techniques. We do it because your home is the most precious investment you can make in your family’s well-being. When you’re ready to start your siding project, we humbly ask that you give us the opportunity to bid. We would consider it an honor to work with you.