Begin with Gentek’s Own Recommendation

Gentek’s Fairhaven Sound warranty information recommends choosing a licensed and insured contractor who will properly install the siding. This is meaningful because Fairhaven Sound is polypropylene specialty siding—not simply another conventional horizontal vinyl panel.

General Experience and Product-Specific Experience Are Different

A contractor may have years of experience installing horizontal vinyl siding while having limited experience with polypropylene shakes and scallops. The skills overlap, but the products are not interchangeable.

Fairhaven Sound includes features such as an integrated panel-locking system, self-concealing side tabs, self-aligning nail slots and a temperature chart intended to assist with panel positioning. The installer should understand how Gentek directs those features to be used.

Ask for photographs of completed shake or scallop projects—not only photographs of standard lap siding.

PEPA/VSI Certification Is Useful Evidence

The Polymeric Exterior Products Association administers the VSI Certified Installer program through an independent administrator. PEPA states that certification is based on experience, training and an examination covering industry-recognized installation practices.

PEPA also says certification is valid for five years and requires recertification. Homeowners can use its official registry to check whether a credential is current.

Certification is evidence of training. It is not a substitute for:

• Fairhaven Sound product-specific experience
• Appropriate licensing where required
• Current liability and workers’ compensation coverage
• Reliable local references
• A complete written contract
• Manufacturer-instruction compliance
• Competent project supervision

Verify the Individual, Not Just the Company Logo

PEPA describes VSI certification as an individual credential. A company may employ one certified person while assigning a different crew to the project.

Ask:

• Which individual holds the certification?
• Is the certification currently active?
• Will that person supervise or perform work on this project?
• Who is the daily crew leader?
• Who has installed Fairhaven Sound previously?
• Who has authority to stop and correct questionable work?

A credential displayed in sales materials has limited value when the credentialed individual never visits the jobsite.

Ask to See Relevant Completed Work

Review projects that resemble the proposed design. A contractor who installed shakes on one small dormer may not have demonstrated the same layout ability required for a two-story full-wall installation.

Look for:

• Level courses across connected walls
• Balanced gable layouts
• Panel joints that do not form distracting vertical lines
• Clean window and door surrounds
• Consistent corner treatments
• Well-proportioned transitions between siding materials
• Proper mounting blocks at fixtures and penetrations
• Soffit and fascia that visually coordinate with the siding

If possible, review older work as well as recently completed projects. A fresh installation does not show how well the contractor’s detailing has performed over time.

Ask the Contractor to Explain the Wall Assembly

A qualified contractor should be able to explain what will exist behind the finished panels in plain language.

The explanation should address:

1. Existing siding: Will it remain, be repaired or be removed?
2. Wall condition: How will rot, bowing or damaged sheathing be handled?
3. Water-resistive barrier: Which product and installation method are included?
4. Flashing: How will windows, doors, rooflines and penetrations be integrated?
5. Fastening base: What material will receive the fasteners?
6. Insulation: Is exterior insulation included, and how does it affect fastening and trim depth?
7. Drainage: How will incidental water be directed outward?

A proposal discussing only panel color and square footage does not adequately define the exterior wall work.

Test Product Knowledge with Specific Questions

Homeowners do not need to know every installation detail. A few focused questions can reveal whether the contractor has reviewed the product.

Insurance Should Be Verified Directly

Ask for current certificates of insurance showing the legal contracting entity. Verify the documents with the listed insurance professional rather than relying on an old photocopy.

Confirm coverage appropriate to the project, including general liability and workers’ compensation where applicable. Ask how subcontractors are insured and who is contractually responsible for their work.

Insurance is not proof of craftsmanship. It is part of responsible risk management.

Licensing Requirements Must Be Checked Locally

Contractor registration, licensing and permit requirements can differ between Iowa, Illinois and individual Quad Cities jurisdictions. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate government office for the property address.

Do not accept a license number without verifying:

• The legal name matches the contract.
• The credential is current.
• It applies to the type and location of work.
• Required permits will be obtained.
• The responsible party is clearly identified.

The Written Scope Should Be Detailed

A strong contract eliminates assumptions before the old exterior is opened.

It should identify:

• Exact Gentek profile, color and product code
• Elevations receiving shakes or scallops
• Existing-siding removal or overlay preparation
• Sheathing and concealed-damage procedures
• Water-resistive barrier and flashing scope
• Exterior insulation, if included
• Trim, corners and mounting blocks
• Soffit, fascia, gutters and rainware, if included
• Waste handling and site protection
• Permit responsibility
• Payment schedule and change-order process
• Product and workmanship warranties
• Final inspection and documentation

Require Written Change Orders

Re-siding can expose conditions that were not visible during estimating. Rotten sheathing, incomplete flashing and several layers of old material may require additional work.

The contract should establish who can authorize a change, how price and schedule effects will be documented and whether photographs are required. Verbal approvals during demolition are difficult to reconstruct later.

Low Price Can Conceal Missing Scope

Compare bids line by line. A lower estimate may exclude wall repair, flashing, accessories, disposal, permits or final trim work that another contractor included.

A suspiciously low number deserves direct questions:

• Are the quoted shakes actually Fairhaven Sound?
• Does the price include all profile-compatible accessories?
• Is wall preparation included or treated as an open allowance?
• Who pays for material shortages?
• Are permits, cleanup and disposal included?
• Is the installer insured?
• Who provides the workmanship warranty?

The cheapest proposal is not a bargain if it achieves its price by omitting the parts of the wall that protect the finished appearance.

Warning Signs During Contractor Selection

• No written product identification: The proposal says only “shake siding” or “vinyl siding.”
• No current installation instructions: The crew plans to install it like every other siding product.
• Certification cannot be verified: A logo appears in marketing, but no current individual credential is provided.
• Insurance documents are outdated: The named entity does not match the contract.
• Large immediate payment pressure: The contractor discourages time for document review.
• No concealed-damage process: Pricing after demolition is left completely undefined.
• Promises of guaranteed resale or energy savings: The claims are not supported by a defined project scope.
• Warranty claims stronger than Gentek’s writing: The salesperson treats “lifetime” as unlimited protection.

Inspect the First Completed Section

Do not wait until every wall is covered to review the design. Inspect an early representative section from several distances.

Confirm:

• The approved profile and color are being installed.
• Courses are level and aligned.
• Pattern repetition is controlled.
• Panel connections are visually consistent.
• Trim depth and color match the approved design.
• Mounting blocks are correctly placed.
• The wall is not showing unexplained waviness.

Raise concerns through the project manager rather than directing individual crew members to improvise changes outside the approved instructions.

Contractor Quality and Resale Documentation

Hiring a particular contractor does not guarantee a resale premium. A documented professional installation may make future inspection, maintenance and warranty discussions easier.

At project completion, collect:

• Final contract and approved change orders
• Permit and inspection records where applicable
• Material invoices and product labels
• Installation photographs
• Manufacturer warranty information
• Written workmanship warranty
• Care and cleaning instructions
• Remaining labeled repair material
• Final payment and lien-related documentation required for the project