Don't Begin With the Product Catalog

A manufacturer catalog may contain many profiles, exposures, textures, colors, and accessories.

That is useful for the contractor.

It can be overwhelming for the homeowner.

Instead of opening the catalog and saying:

Start with:

That is a question a homeowner can answer.

Profile Means the Shape and Exposure of the Siding

A simple definition is:

The profile can affect:

• How wide each course appears
• How deep the shadow lines look
• Whether the siding runs horizontally or vertically
• How traditional or contemporary the exterior feels
• How busy or simple the wall looks

Suburban Wholesale's current Gentek guide encourages contractors to compare profile depth, shadow lines, shakes, scallops, and actual panels in person rather than treating every siding product as interchangeable. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Start With Traditional Horizontal Siding

Horizontal lap siding is the easiest starting point because homeowners already recognize it.

Say:

Now show them two actual samples.

Do not immediately bury them in model names.

How to Explain Clapboard

Clapboard-style siding creates relatively clean horizontal courses.

You can explain it as:

That is enough for most homeowners.

You do not need a five-minute history lesson on traditional wood clapboards.

How to Explain Dutch Lap

Do not describe Dutch lap only by name.

Show the homeowner the profile from the side.

Then say:

Now the homeowner understands the difference visually.

Clapboard versus Dutch lap should be a design conversation—not a vocabulary test.

Explain Exposure With Your Hands

Homeowners may hear terms such as 4-inch, 5-inch, 7-inch, or other exposures.

Instead of saying:

“This is a Double 4.”

Point to the panel.

Show where one visible course begins and ends.

Then say:

That explanation immediately connects the number to the finished appearance.

Use This Rule: More Lines vs. Fewer Lines

This is one of the simplest ways to explain profile width.

How to Explain Board and Batten

Board and batten is even easier because the orientation changes completely.

Say:

ASCEND, for example, currently offers a 12-inch Board & Batten composite profile built around a 10-inch board and integrated 2-inch batten. ASCEND also emphasizes balanced wall layouts, particularly in gables, to create a symmetrical finished appearance. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Don't Automatically Sell Board and Batten on the Entire House

A homeowner may love board and batten but not need it everywhere.

Show possible applications:

• Front gable
• Garage peak
• Dormer
• Entry projection
• Second-story accent
• Entire elevation
• Whole-house installation

This is especially useful when the homeowner likes the style but the full upgrade exceeds the budget.

A profile can be an accent rather than an all-or-nothing decision.

How to Explain Shake Siding

Keep this simple too.

Gentek Fairhaven Sound is one example of a specialty collection offering shake, shingle, and scalloped looks for architectural accents. Suburban Wholesale currently presents these products as options for contractors who want to add texture and detail to siding packages. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

How to Explain Scallops

Do not overcomplicate them.

Say:

Then show a photograph.

A physical scallop sample by itself can look strange if the homeowner cannot visualize where it goes.

Show the Homeowner Where the Profile Would Go

This is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your presentation.

Take a photo of the homeowner's house during the initial walkaround.

At the kitchen table, point to the gable and say:

The profile now has context.

Use the House Before You Use the Sample

A good order is:

1. Show where on the house the profile could be used.
2. Show a photograph of a completed home.
3. Show the physical siding sample.
4. Show the color options.

That is easier for homeowners to process than throwing six loose siding pieces on the kitchen table.

Use Three Samples, Not Twelve

Choice is good.

Too much choice creates confusion.

For most appointments, start with three:

If the homeowner wants more choices, then expand the conversation.

Ask Which Direction They Like Before Showing More

After showing the first three options, ask:

That question is better than:

“Which profile do you want?”

The homeowner may not know the profile name yet.

They know what they like.

Use Architecture to Narrow the Choices

You can also guide the homeowner by looking at the house itself.

Consider:

• Ranch
• Split-level
• Two-story traditional
• Farmhouse-inspired
• Craftsman
• Contemporary
• Colonial
• Older historic-style exterior

Do not claim there is only one “correct” profile for each architectural style.

Use architecture to narrow the field, not eliminate homeowner choice.

How to Explain ASCEND Profiles

ASCEND makes the profile conversation especially easy because its current system centers on two primary profiles:

• 7-inch horizontal plank
• 12-inch vertical board and batten

ASCEND explicitly encourages mixing the two to create design-forward exteriors, and both are available in Cedar Mill Grain and Matte finishes. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Your sales explanation can be:

Texture and Profile Are Different Decisions

This is another area where homeowners can get confused.

Explain:

• Profile: the shape and layout of the siding.
• Texture: what the surface looks and feels like.
• Color: the finish color.

ASCEND, for example, offers both its horizontal plank and board-and-batten profiles in two texture options, showing that profile and texture are separate choices. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Don't Mix Thickness and Profile Too Early

Another common sales mistake is saying:

You may understand every word.

The homeowner probably heard:

“Blah blah blah siding.”

Separate the conversations.

1. First explain what the profile looks like.
2. Then explain product construction.
3. Then demonstrate thickness and rigidity.
4. Then explain nail hem and lock.
5. Then discuss warranty and installation.

One concept at a time.

The Profile Should Solve a Design Problem

Do not recommend specialty profiles simply because they are upgrades.

Tie them to the homeowner's goals.

Shakes and Scallops Should Usually Be Presented as Accents First

Gentek Fairhaven Sound and other molded specialty products can create very strong architectural detail.

Suburban Wholesale currently highlights shake, shingle, and scallop options as complementary exterior choices that can coordinate with Gentek siding colors. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Instead of asking:

“Do you want scallops?”

Try:

Use Visualization Whenever Possible

Profiles are easier to understand on an entire wall than on an eight-inch sample.

Use:

• Manufacturer visualizers
• HOVER renderings
• Before-and-after photos
• Photos of similar homes
• Your own completed projects

ASCEND provides homeowner visualizer and profile resources specifically to help users see horizontal plank and board-and-batten configurations in finished applications. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Explain Why Layout Matters With Vertical Siding

Vertical siding introduces another design issue: balance.

ASCEND's installation guidance specifically calls for planning board-and-batten layouts so walls and gables have balanced end pieces and, when appropriate, centered battens. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

That means you can tell the homeowner:

That turns installation planning into visible design value.

The Three-Sample Kitchen-Table Demonstration

You can explain siding profiles in under five minutes with three samples:

Then ask:

Only Add More Choices When the Homeowner Wants Them

If they choose the traditional horizontal direction, continue with:

• Exposure
• Shadow-line options
• Texture
• Colors

If they like the vertical look, move into:

• Board and batten locations
• Whole-house versus accent use
• Layout
• Colors
• Material choices

If they like specialty accents, then show:

• Shakes
• Shingles
• Scallops
• Stone

Don't Let Profile Names Become the Sale

The homeowner is not buying the words “Double 4 Dutch Lap.”

They are buying:

• The lines they will see from the street
• The shadow the siding creates
• The architectural character
• The way the siding works with windows and doors
• The way the house looks when the project is finished

Sell the appearance first. Use the technical profile name second.

How to Talk About Premium Profiles Without Making Them Sound Like Gimmicks

Suppose you want to show an ASCEND 7-inch horizontal plank or 12-inch board-and-batten option.

Do not say:

“This is our premium composite upgrade.”

Start with appearance:

Then explain the product and price difference.

ASCEND's current profile lineup supports exactly this type of comparison between its 7-inch horizontal plank and 12-inch board-and-batten system. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Don't Present a Profile Without a Price Context

The homeowner may love board and batten.

That does not mean they want to spend the additional amount required to install it everywhere.

Once design interest is established, give them options:

This keeps the homeowner in control.

The Exact Script You Can Use

That Script Does Four Things

1. Explains profile in plain English.
2. Limits the number of decisions.
3. Connects each option to appearance.
4. Lets the homeowner choose a direction before discussing details.

The Biggest Profile-Selling Mistakes

Write the Selected Profile on the Proposal

Once the homeowner chooses a direction, document it clearly.

Do not write:

“Vinyl siding.”

Write the actual:

• Manufacturer
• Product line
• Profile
• Color
• Accent locations
• Trim color

Suburban Wholesale recommends contractors identify the actual product, profile, colors, and accessory package before ordering so the material package matches the final project requirements. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Use the Showroom When the Homeowner Is Still Unsure

Some homeowners need to see more than a corner cut.

Bring them to the showroom.

Suburban Wholesale's Davenport siding showroom allows contractors and homeowners to compare actual panels, profiles, shakes, scallops, textures, colors, soffit, fascia, and accessories side by side. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

That can be especially useful when deciding between:

• Two horizontal profiles
• Horizontal versus vertical siding
• Vinyl versus composite
• Shake versus board-and-batten accents
• Similar colors in different textures

The Bottom Line: How Do You Explain Siding Profiles Without Confusing the Homeowner?

Start with appearance.

Use plain English.

Group the choices into traditional horizontal, deeper-shadow horizontal, vertical, and accent siding.

Show only a few samples at first.

Connect every specialty profile to a specific part of the homeowner's house.

Use photographs and visualization to show the finished effect.

Then introduce the exact manufacturer name, profile, and pricing once the homeowner understands what they like.

The homeowner does not need to become a siding expert. They need to understand enough to confidently say, “That's the look I want on my house.”