The mistake is trying to sell aluminum siding exactly the way it was sold decades ago.

Homeowners today have more choices.

A contractor may be comparing:

• Premium vinyl siding
• Insulated siding systems
• ASCEND Composite Cladding
• Steel siding
• Aluminum siding
• Specialty accent products

Aluminum needs a clear position within that larger product offering.

Aluminum Siding Still Exists in the Gentek Product Line

Contractors sometimes assume aluminum siding has completely disappeared from the market.

It has not.

Gentek's current Siding Product Directory continues to list three aluminum siding families:

Contractors can review current availability through Suburban Wholesale & Supply before promising any specific aluminum product, profile or color.

Start With the Right Question

Do not begin with:

"Would you like aluminum siding?"

Most homeowners do not know enough about the siding categories yet to answer that question intelligently.

Start with:

"What are the most important things you want from the new exterior?"

Then listen.

Aluminum may become relevant when the homeowner is interested in:

• A metal siding product
• A specific traditional profile or appearance
• Matching or replacing existing aluminum siding
• A lighter-weight metal cladding option
• Coordinating siding with aluminum soffit, fascia or trim
• A product option between standard vinyl and premium steel

Do Not Sell Aluminum With Nostalgia

Some contractors grew up installing aluminum siding.

That experience is valuable.

But saying:

"We've always used aluminum."

does not explain why a homeowner should choose it today.

Instead, explain the current product.

"Aluminum is still available, and Gentek continues to manufacture several aluminum siding systems. Let's compare what aluminum gives you with the vinyl and steel options you're considering."

Position Aluminum Between Vinyl and Steel

One of the easiest ways to present aluminum is as part of a broader metal and siding conversation.

Do not use this table to declare one material universally better.

Use it to help the homeowner understand that each category solves a different set of priorities.

Aluminum Can Be Particularly Relevant on Existing Aluminum Homes

One of the most natural aluminum siding customers is a homeowner who already has aluminum siding.

They may need:

• A large repair
• An addition sided
• A garage matched
• An entire exterior replaced
• Soffit, fascia and siding coordinated

In those situations, the conversation should begin with product identification and current material availability.

"Since your home already has aluminum siding, let's first determine what you have and whether a current Gentek aluminum product makes sense for the new work."

Do Not Promise an Exact Match to Old Aluminum

This is critical on repair and addition projects.

Older siding may differ because of:

• Different manufacturer
• Discontinued profile
• Discontinued color
• Decades of weather exposure
• Different surface texture
• Different panel dimensions

Gentek itself recommends making final color decisions using actual physical samples rather than relying solely on screens or digital representations.

Review current aluminum products such as Gentek Woodgrain 2000 and compare samples in natural daylight before promising a match.

Use the Physical Product at the Kitchen Table

Aluminum becomes easier to understand when the homeowner can touch it.

Bring:

Contractors can stop at Suburban Wholesale & Supply for current product information and aluminum samples available for their sales presentations.

Sell the Complete Exterior Package

Aluminum siding becomes more interesting when it is presented as part of a coordinated exterior.

Gentek continues to manufacture:

• Aluminum siding
• Hi-Tensile aluminum soffit
• Deluxe aluminum fascia
• Aluminum accessories
• Aluminum trim coil
• Aluminum gutter coil

Gentek's aluminum soffit and fascia offering also participates in the Color Clear Through system for coordinating exterior colors.

Color Clear Through Helps the Presentation

Gentek's Color Clear Through system is designed to help coordinate colors across its siding, soffit, fascia, trim and rainware product families.

That gives the salesperson an easy transition from:

"What siding color do you want?"

to:

"Let's design the entire exterior and decide how the siding, corners, soffit, fascia, windows and gutters work together."

That is a stronger sales conversation.

Sell Aluminum Based on Fit—not Hype

Aluminum has strengths.

It also has limitations.

A contractor earns credibility by explaining both.

Do Not Pretend Aluminum and Steel Are the Same

Both are metal siding.

They are not the same product category.

Steel generally gives the contractor a different rigidity, coating and premium-performance conversation.

Aluminum creates its own value proposition.

"If you want metal siding, we can show you aluminum and steel. They solve that request differently, so let's compare the actual products rather than treating all metal siding as the same."

Aluminum Can Dent

Do not dodge this conversation.

Aluminum is a metal siding product, but concentrated impact can dent the panel.

Contractors should never promise:

"Aluminum won't dent."

Better:

"Aluminum is a proven metal siding material, but enough concentrated impact can dent it. If impact resistance is one of your highest priorities, let's compare the aluminum with our steel siding options."

Do not hide a product limitation when another product in your lineup may better answer the concern.

Aluminum Does Not Rust Like Steel

Aluminum does not contain iron in the same manner as steel, so the classic red rust associated with iron oxidation is not the same concern.

That does not mean aluminum is immune to every form of corrosion or environmental reaction.

Contractors should still follow manufacturer requirements concerning installation, cleaning and material compatibility.

Do Not Sell "Maintenance-Free"

Aluminum siding can be positioned as a low-maintenance exterior.

But no exterior should be promised as requiring absolutely no care forever.

Better language:

"Aluminum gives you a factory-finished exterior designed to reduce the ongoing maintenance associated with traditional painted wood siding."

Know the Warranty Before You Sell It

Gentek currently maintains written warranty coverage for Deluxe and Woodgrain 2000 aluminum siding and soffit.

Contractors should review the current documents through the Gentek Warranty Center .

Do not assume aluminum carries the same hail, fade or finish protection as SteelTek Supreme or a Gentek vinyl siding system.

Use Aluminum in a Good-Better-Best Presentation

Aluminum becomes easier for homeowners to understand when they can compare it with real alternatives.

Good-better-best does not always have to mean cheap, medium and expensive.

It can mean three different siding systems solving the homeowner's priorities in different ways.

Five Questions That Help Identify an Aluminum Customer

Do Not Sell Aluminum Only on Price

Price matters.

But if the entire aluminum presentation is:

"It's cheaper than steel."

you have not built much value.

Instead explain:

• Why aluminum fits this specific project
• Which Gentek product you are recommending
• How it coordinates with the rest of the exterior
• What warranty applies
• Why the homeowner might choose it instead of vinyl or steel

Use the Gentek Visualizer

Aluminum siding should be sold visually whenever possible.

Gentek's Visualizer allows homeowners to compare siding, trim, roofing, window and door color combinations.

Explore the Gentek Visualizer during the sales presentation.

Then confirm the final decision using physical samples.

When Should You NOT Push Aluminum?

A strong salesperson should know when to move to another product.

Aluminum may not be the best choice when:

• The homeowner's highest priority is maximum metal rigidity
• The homeowner wants a specific steel-only profile or finish
• The requested aluminum color or profile is not available
• A premium vinyl system better fits the budget and goals
• ASCEND or another cladding better delivers the desired architecture

Do not lose the siding project because you became emotionally attached to one material.

What Should a Salesperson Never Say?

The 30-Second Kitchen-Table Presentation

The One-Sentence Answer

Build Your Aluminum Siding Presentation With Suburban Wholesale & Supply

Contractors sell more effectively when they can compare real products instead of describing siding categories from memory.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply helps contractors throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois compare siding products, colors, profiles and exterior systems.

Explore siding products available through Suburban Wholesale & Supply and talk with our team about current Gentek aluminum siding availability.

Contractors can also compare Gentek steel siding when a homeowner wants to understand the differences between aluminum and premium steel.

Stop in our Davenport wholesale center with your project information and build a siding presentation around the customer's priorities—not simply the product you normally sell.

Sources & Contractor Resources