I live in Maryland and how may I ask how do you find a siding contractor that actually know how to install siding. Just had a poorly done new install & a defective product on top of it and it's all coming back down. I looked at other contractors work around here & sloppy sloppy sloppy. Everyone promises you the world but no one delivers. All I want is a good insulation & siding job. I want insulation installed right without hammer holes all in it looking for studs and they still missed the studs, I want siding installed right in the studs and not look like someone took a hammer to it and appears all dented up. I want the soffit installed right without being extremely tight. How do you go about finding a siding contractor out there that takes their time and does a professional job? Please Help!

SJM, it is unfortunate that you are in the predicament you are in now.

The only way to effectively find a decent company is to talk to everyone you meet. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, store owners, the people who shop and along with the people who work at your local hardware store. Gather as many names as you can. Call these companies. Ask them over to do estimates. Ask them for a list of their clients and if you can arrange to look at their work. Then do it and talk to the homeowners without the contractor being around. The companies that balk over that process have something to hide!

Another way to find these companies, now that it is spring and people are out and starting to work in their yards, is to take a drive around your area. Look at all the houses. Find one that you think looks great. See if the owner is working outside, stop and talk to him/her. If they aren't around when you pass by, make a note of the house, and try again at another time when you think they might be in their yards. When people have found a great company they love to talk about it.

It comes down to putting in a lot of leg work and gathering recommendations. Always, always request to see their work, and then follow up and do it. The older jobs are the better ones to see. You want to see if they held up. You want assurances that they have been around for a while. These guys are a dime a dozen. The ones that seem desperate for your work, or can fit you into their "schedule" within a couple of weeks are ones to be wary of. Just like house painters, if they try to put pressure on you to "book now", offer you a discount if you do book now, or try to suggest that if you don't they are filling up fast and you better act and hurry, are the guys to stay away from.

Something to keep in mind above all else is, don't rush. We all want to have it done now but that is when we make the mistakes we do. Take your time and really do your research thoroughly.

I hope you found this helpful.

OK I have had 7 siding estimates & haven't received an estimate as of yet. I really don't think people want to work today. My house is no different than anyone else and these people come out and run. So I have a bad siding job on the house. Is the reason their running because they do the same kind of work? I just don't understand this at all. I went through the vinyl siding institute and the siding company reference list and still no luck. I have 12 more to call and them I'm running out of where to turn.

SJM, I won't be able to get back on this forum until this weekend. When were these people in to give you estimates? Did they give you a time frame as to when to expect an estimate? Have you called to follow up and they just haven't returned your calls?

Sometimes it takes them a couple of weeks to give an estimate. I am not sure what the problem could be. Can you give me a bit more detail as to the discussions you had with them? Did they ask what your budget is or did you tell them what you can afford? Did you bad mouth the previous company? I am just wondering if they feel you won't accept the price they might quote or are afraid of a lawsuit. Or, they may have spoken with the previous contractor and something about the exchange made them uneasy? This is quite perplexing.