1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. Do you give free estimates?

Yes, we give free estimates throughout western Washington and Oregon.

• 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 and Oregon.

9. 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.

10. Are you members of the Better Business Bureau?

Yes. We are members of the BBB and have an excellent A+ rating. See report.

11. Are you Licensed and bonded?

Yes. Our Washington state contractors license number is CC01 NORTH HI055MQ. Our Oregon contractors license number is 185463. In order to be licensed we must be bonded.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.