The Short Answer

Gentek Sequoia Select and Norandex Great Barrier are closely matched premium products. Both manufacturers publish a nominal .046-inch thickness and a 3/4-inch panel projection. Both also emphasize reinforced attachment, secure panel locks, premium colors, weatherability, and ASTM-based performance.

Norandex publishes particularly detailed technical data for Great Barrier, including dimensional tolerances, impact testing, heat shrinkage, design pressure, sustained wind-load test pressure, code reports, and applicable VSI certification references.

Gentek answers with Sequoia Select’s full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, premium .046-inch construction, deep cedar-grain profiles, ChromaTrue color technology, Color Clear Through coordination, and valuable local inventory in the Quad Cities market.

Begin With VSI Certification and ASTM Standards

Manufacturer literature explains the features of individual products, but independent standards provide a stronger technical foundation. The Polymeric Exterior Products Association, formerly known as the Vinyl Siding Institute, owns the VSI Product Certification Program.

According to the association, the program uses independent, accredited certification bodies. Products listed through the program have demonstrated compliance with the ASTM standard applicable to their product category.

• ASTM D3679: Standard Specification for Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Vinyl Siding. It addresses materials, dimensional requirements, weatherability, impact resistance, expansion and shrinkage, surface distortion, and wind-load resistance.
• ASTM D5206: A laboratory test method used to evaluate rigid vinyl siding under negative wind-load pressure.
• ASTM D4756: Standard practice covering the installation of rigid vinyl siding and soffit.
• ASTM D7793: Standard specification applicable to insulated vinyl siding.
• ASTM D7254: Standard specification applicable to polypropylene siding, including qualifying shake and shingle products.

Compliance establishes a meaningful baseline. It does not mean every certified panel has the same thickness, rigidity, wind-load rating, color technology, lock, nail hem, or warranty.

Gentek and Norandex at a Glance

Product specifications, colors, profiles, and market availability can change. Verify the exact product and current manufacturer literature before ordering.

Premium Comparison: Gentek Sequoia Select vs. Norandex Great Barrier

Sequoia Select and Great Barrier offer the clearest premium comparison. Both are nominal .046-inch vinyl siding products with 3/4-inch projections, low-gloss cedar-grain textures, reinforced attachment systems, and multiple traditional profiles.

Where Sequoia Select Stands Out

Sequoia Select combines its .046-inch wall thickness with a full-roll nail hem, Advantage Lock system, full 3/4-inch projection, premium darker colors, and a broader collection that includes a heavy Board and Batten profile. Gentek’s Color Clear Through system also helps coordinate designated siding, trim, soffit, fascia, aluminum, steel, and rainware products.

Where Great Barrier Stands Out

Norandex publishes unusually detailed technical information for Great Barrier. Its certificate identifies a .046-inch thickness with a plus-or-minus .001-inch tolerance, 3/4-inch projection, impact-test results, heat-shrinkage data, sustained wind-load test pressure, standard design pressure, relevant code reports, and VSI certification references.

Gentek Sequoia Select vs. Norandex Cedar Knolls

Cedar Knolls is a strong Norandex product, but it should not be presented as identical to Sequoia Select. Norandex publishes a nominal .044-inch thickness and 5/8-inch projection for Cedar Knolls, while Gentek publishes a nominal .046-inch thickness and 3/4-inch projection for Sequoia Select’s horizontal profiles.

Sequoia Select offers greater nominal thickness and projection. Cedar Knolls provides a strong .044-inch alternative with detailed ASTM D3679 compliance information, numerous colors, and published wind-load data.

Understanding Norandex Polar Wall Plus

Polar Wall Plus is an insulated siding system and should not be compared directly with conventional uninsulated vinyl siding based on panel thickness alone. Norandex combines its vinyl panel with contoured insulating foam and product-specific locking and fastening features.

Norandex identifies the following Polar Wall Plus features:

• Nominal .046-inch horizontal vinyl panel
• Nominal .052-inch S12 Board and Batten panel
• Contoured expanded-polystyrene insulation
• BearHug locking system
• Rolled-over nail hem
• NailRIGHT installation indicators
• Published profile R-values from 2.42 to 2.7
• Published permeability rating of 5.0
• ColorHold capstock on designated colors

ASTM D7793 applies to insulated vinyl siding. Norandex states that Polar Wall Plus exceeds the standard’s insulated-siding requirements and publishes product-specific thermal data. Contractors should verify the current certification listing and specification guide for the exact profile.

Comparing Wind-Load Performance Correctly

Gentek states that Sequoia Select has been tested for negative wind-load resistance under ASTM D5206 and meets or exceeds the applicable industry standard.

Norandex publishes a standard wind-load design-pressure rating of 78 pounds per square foot for the documented Great Barrier configuration. Norandex associates that rating with a maximum wind speed of 180 mph under stated assumptions involving ASCE 7, a 30-foot building height, and Exposure B.

For Cedar Knolls, Norandex publishes a standard design-pressure rating of 56 pounds per square foot and a maximum wind speed of 152 mph under its stated assumptions.

These numbers should not be simplified into a universal claim about what will happen during every storm. Wind-speed conversions depend on the test assembly, design pressure, building height, exposure category, wall zone, substrate, and fastening schedule.

The design-pressure rating is generally more useful to a building professional than the largest wind-speed number printed in promotional literature.

Color Technology and Exterior Coordination

Gentek ChromaTrue and Color Clear Through

Gentek uses ChromaTrue fade-defying technology on designated darker Sequoia Select colors. Its Color Clear Through system is designed to coordinate selected siding, soffit, fascia, trim, aluminum, steel, and rainware products.

Norandex ColorHold

Norandex uses ColorHold capping resins on designated premium and designer colors. Norandex describes ColorHold as a UV-stable acrylic polymer intended to resist fading and discoloration.

Final color selections should be made from current physical samples viewed outdoors. Screen settings and printed brochures cannot perfectly reproduce an installed exterior color.

Thickness Is Important—but It Is Not a Complete Quality Score

Panel thickness is a useful specification. A heavier panel may feel more substantial, provide additional rigidity, and help create a straighter appearance over a properly prepared wall.

Total installed performance also depends on:

• Profile geometry and projection
• Panel-lock construction
• Nail-hem design
• Material formulation
• Fastener spacing and penetration
• Substrate flatness
• Thermal movement allowances
• Flashing and drainage details

A correctly installed .044-inch panel can outperform an improperly installed .046-inch panel. Product selection and installation quality must be considered together.

Installation Standards Remain Decisive

Vinyl siding expands and contracts as outdoor temperatures change. The panels must be attached securely while remaining free to move. Tight fasteners, insufficient clearance, poor wall preparation, and incorrect panel engagement can cause buckling, waviness, or loose courses.

ASTM D4756 provides an industry-recognized installation practice. Manufacturer instructions then establish the product-specific requirements.

1. Prepare a flat and structurally sound substrate.
2. Install the required water-resistive barrier and flashing.
3. Use the manufacturer-approved fastener type and length.
4. Center fasteners correctly within the nail slots.
5. Do not drive fasteners tightly against the nail hem.
6. Provide temperature-appropriate clearance inside receiving channels.
7. Fully engage panel locks without stretching panels upward.
8. Follow the required fastening schedule for high-wind applications.
9. Use product-specific details around windows, doors, corners, and penetrations.

Neither brand can compensate for poor flashing, improper fastening, or an uneven substrate. Installer training and workmanship remain critical.

Comparing Warranty Coverage

Gentek states that Sequoia Select is backed by a lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty with hail protection and lifetime fade coverage, subject to its written terms.

Norandex offers limited lifetime transferable warranty protection on qualifying products and identifies lifetime fade protection for designated ColorHold products. Exact coverage depends on the product and current written warranty.

Review the following before purchasing:

• Original-owner eligibility
• Transferability to a future owner
• Proration after transfer
• The definition of excessive fading
• Hail protection and exclusions
• Labor, removal, freight, and disposal coverage
• Registration and claim-documentation requirements
• Improper-installation exclusions

Do not rank warranties using the word “lifetime” alone. The current written warranty is the controlling document.

Local Availability Can Change the Best Choice

Norandex supports its siding with detailed specifications and a broad distribution network. Gentek can offer a powerful local advantage when products are stocked in depth and ready for prompt jobsite delivery.

For Quad Cities contractors, Gentek availability through Suburban Wholesale & Supply can help:

• Reduce special-order lead times
• Keep installation crews working
• Replace damaged or mismeasured pieces quickly
• Coordinate siding, trim, soffit, and accessories
• Reduce excess jobsite inventory
• Protect contractor cash flow
• Provide access to knowledgeable local support

Local inventory does not change laboratory test results, but it can materially improve project scheduling, profitability, and customer service.

Which Brand Is the Better Fit?

Final Gentek vs. Norandex Comparison

Gentek and Norandex both manufacture credible vinyl siding. Sequoia Select and Great Barrier are closely matched premium .046-inch products. Norandex Cedar Knolls offers a strong .044-inch alternative, while Polar Wall Plus provides a specialized insulated siding system.

Norandex deserves credit for publishing detailed certificates containing dimensional, impact, wind-load, fire, certification, and code information. Gentek competes with robust premium construction, a full-roll nail hem, Advantage Lock, extensive colors, coordinated exterior products, and meaningful local availability in the Quad Cities.

The best decision comes from comparing equivalent products, confirming current VSI certification, reviewing ASTM-based performance data, examining physical samples, reading the written warranties, and selecting an installer who follows manufacturer specifications and industry-approved installation practices.

Technical References

1. Polymeric Exterior Products Association — VSI Product Certification Program
2. ASTM International — ASTM D3679, Standard Specification for Rigid PVC Siding
3. Gentek — Sequoia Select Manufacturer Specifications
4. Norandex — Great Barrier Certificate of Compliance and Technical Data
5. Norandex — Cedar Knolls Certificate of Compliance and Technical Data
6. Norandex — Polar Wall Plus Insulated Siding Specifications
7. Norandex — Vinyl Siding Installation Instructions

Product offerings, profiles, colors, certification status, wind ratings, and warranties can change. Confirm current information using manufacturer specification guides, current VSI certification listings, applicable building codes, and written warranties. Published wind speeds depend on stated design assumptions and should not be interpreted as universal storm-damage guarantees.