The Short Answer

Gentek Sequoia Select and Royal Woodland provide the most direct premium horizontal siding comparison. Both manufacturers publish a nominal .046-inch thickness. Both also emphasize secure wall attachment, strong panel engagement, low-gloss wood-grain appearance, premium darker colors, wind resistance, and limited lifetime warranty protection.

Gentek Sequoia Select stands out with its full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, full 3/4-inch lap projection, multiple horizontal profiles, premium Board and Batten option, and Color Clear Through coordination.

Royal Woodland stands out with its double nail hem, 12-foot and 16-foot panel lengths, .046-inch construction, Chromatix color technology, and Royal’s Double Lifetime Warranty, subject to the complete written terms.

Begin With VSI Certification and ASTM Standards

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

The association states that its program uses independent, accredited certification bodies. Products appearing in its certification directories 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, dimensions, weatherability, impact resistance, expansion and shrinkage, surface distortion, and wind-load performance.
• 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, such as qualifying foam-backed siding systems.
• ASTM D7254: Standard specification applicable to polypropylene siding, including qualifying shake and shingle products.

ASTM compliance provides a meaningful baseline, but it does not make every panel identical. Thickness, profile geometry, nail-hem construction, panel locks, formulation, color technology, and tested design pressure can still differ.

Gentek and Royal at a Glance

Specifications, profiles, colors, warranties, and regional availability can change. Confirm current manufacturer documents before specifying or ordering materials.

Premium Comparison: Gentek Sequoia Select vs. Royal Woodland

Sequoia Select and Woodland provide the fairest premium comparison because both manufacturers publish a nominal .046-inch thickness. Both are designed for homeowners and contractors who want more rigidity, deeper exterior character, darker color choices, and stronger attachment than many entry-level panels provide.

Where Sequoia Select Stands Out

Sequoia Select offers more horizontal profile choices than Woodland and includes a premium Board and Batten option within the collection. Its full 3/4-inch projection creates substantial shadow lines, while the full-roll nail hem and Advantage Lock are designed to strengthen wall attachment and panel engagement.

Where Royal Woodland Stands Out

Woodland offers both 12-foot and 16-foot lengths. The longer option can reduce the number of visible overlaps on broad wall sections when planned and installed correctly. Royal also highlights its double nail hem, Chromatix color technology, and Double Lifetime Warranty.

Gentek Sequoia Select vs. Royal Estate

Royal Estate is a strong product, but it is not a direct thickness match for Sequoia Select. Royal publishes a nominal .044-inch thickness and 5/8-inch projection for Estate. 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. Royal Estate answers with a broad range of traditional profiles, including a Colonial Beaded option in applicable markets, along with its Colorscapes palette and Chromatix technology on designated shades.

Royal Haven Is a Different Product Category

Royal Haven combines a vinyl exterior panel with contoured expanded-polystyrene foam. Because it is an insulated siding system, it should not be compared with conventional uninsulated vinyl siding using panel thickness alone.

Royal identifies the following Haven features:

• D6 and D7 horizontal profiles
• Insulated Board and Batten profile
• Contoured EPS foam insulation
• TXL lamination technology
• Low-gloss wood-grain appearance
• Chromatix technology on designated Premium and Dark colors
• Published wind resistance up to 160 mph for qualifying configurations
• Published noise reduction of up to 45%
• Double Lifetime Warranty, subject to written terms

ASTM D7793 is the applicable product specification for insulated vinyl siding. When comparing Haven with another insulated system, review the exact R-value, profile, permeability, wind-load documentation, fire data, foam thickness, code reports, and installation requirements.

Understanding Wind-Resistance Claims

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

Royal publishes wind-speed claims of up to 180 mph for Estate, up to approximately 186 mph for Woodland in Canadian literature, and up to 160 mph for Haven. These claims apply to qualifying product configurations and the manufacturer’s stated test assumptions.

Wind-speed claims cannot be responsibly compared without reviewing the corresponding design pressure and tested assembly. A larger advertised number does not automatically make one panel the better choice for every building.

ASTM D5206 identifies a test method. It does not establish that every tested product has the same design-pressure rating.

Comparing Dark-Color Technology

Gentek ChromaTrue

Gentek states that designated darker Sequoia Select colors use ChromaTrue fade-defying technology. Gentek combines this with its Color Clear Through system for coordinating selected siding, trim, soffit, fascia, steel, aluminum, and rainware colors.

Royal Chromatix

Royal uses Chromatix technology on designated Premium and Dark Colorscapes shades. Royal describes the technology as combining infrared-reflecting pigments with a UV formulation and mineral-based pigments to control heat buildup and support long-term color performance.

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

Thickness Matters, but It Is Not Everything

Panel thickness is a useful specification. A heavier panel may provide additional rigidity, feel more substantial during installation, and help create straighter wall courses when installed over a properly prepared substrate.

Total siding performance also depends on:

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

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

Installation Standards Remain Decisive

Vinyl siding expands and contracts as temperatures change. It must be attached securely while remaining free to move. Overdriven fasteners, inadequate clearance, incorrect overlaps, and poor wall preparation can cause buckling, distortion, or loose courses.

ASTM D4756 provides an industry-recognized installation practice. Each manufacturer’s instructions then establish 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. Position 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 profile-specific fastening schedules for high-wind applications.
9. Use approved details around windows, doors, corners, and penetrations.

Neither Gentek nor Royal can compensate for poor flashing, improper fastening, or an uneven substrate. Installer knowledge and workmanship remain critical.

Comparing Warranty Protection

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

Royal promotes its Double Lifetime Warranty as providing coverage to the first and second owner on qualifying products. That can be a meaningful resale consideration, but the exact protection remains subject to the current written warranty.

Before purchasing, examine:

• Original-owner eligibility
• Coverage provided to a second owner
• Transfer requirements and time limits
• Whether transferred coverage is prorated
• 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 compare warranties using the words “lifetime” or “double lifetime” alone. Compare the actual remedies, exclusions, transfer provisions, and owner responsibilities.

Local Availability Can Change the Best Choice

Royal provides a broad exterior portfolio through Westlake Royal Building Products. Gentek can provide an equally important practical advantage when products are stocked locally and ready for prompt 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, soffit, trim, and accessories
• Reduce unnecessary jobsite inventory
• Protect contractor cash flow
• Provide knowledgeable local product support

Local inventory does not alter laboratory performance, but it can significantly improve scheduling, profitability, and customer service.

Which Brand Is the Better Fit?

Final Gentek vs. Royal Comparison

Gentek and Royal both manufacture strong siding products. Sequoia Select and Woodland are closely matched premium .046-inch choices. Royal Estate provides a strong .044-inch alternative, while Haven offers an insulated system that belongs in a separate product category.

Royal deserves credit for extended Woodland panels, Chromatix technology, attractive Colorscapes palettes, insulated siding options, and its Double Lifetime Warranty positioning. Gentek competes with premium panel thickness, a full-roll nail hem, Advantage Lock, a deep projection, broader premium profiles, 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. Westlake Royal — Woodland Manufacturer Brochure and Specifications
5. Westlake Royal — Estate Manufacturer Brochure and Specifications
6. Westlake Royal — Haven Insulated Siding Manufacturer Brochure
7. Westlake Royal — United States Product Directory

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