Gentek Sequoia Select gives siding contractors a premium vinyl product they can demonstrate instead of simply describe. Learn how to present its .046-inch nominal horizontal panel thickness, full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, 3/4-inch lap, cedargrain texture, color choices and extended-length options at the kitchen table without overwhelming or pressuring the homeowner.
Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
How to Sell Gentek Sequoia Select at the Kitchen Table
Gentek Sequoia Select gives a siding contractor something extremely valuable during a sales appointment:
Differences the homeowner can actually see, touch and compare.
That matters because homeowners do not buy siding by reading specification sheets. They buy siding after they understand how one product differs from another and why those differences may matter on their home.
Sequoia Select's primary horizontal profiles use a .046-inch nominal thickness. Gentek also highlights a full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, 3/4-inch lap height and low-gloss cedargrain appearance. Selected profiles are also available in extended lengths that Gentek says can reduce overlaps by up to 50% compared with standard 12-foot siding.
Do not tell the homeowner Sequoia Select is premium.
Put it in their hands and show them why it is positioned as premium.
The Kitchen Table Is Where Sequoia Select Makes Sense
A siding proposal can easily become a conversation about square footage and price.
That is especially dangerous when you are presenting a better product.
If the homeowner sees only:
Option A
Vinyl Siding
Option B
Vinyl Siding
Option C
Vinyl Siding
then the easiest comparison becomes price.
Your presentation needs to reveal the differences before the homeowner is asked to evaluate the price.
Demonstrate the difference before asking the homeowner to pay for the difference.
First: Make Sure Sequoia Select Fits the Customer
Do not walk into every house determined to sell the same siding.
Your discovery questions should tell you whether Sequoia Select deserves a prominent place in the presentation.
Listen for Priorities Such As:
- A more substantial siding panel
- A premium exterior appearance
- Deeper shadow lines
- More color choices
- Darker designer colors
- Long-term ownership
- Reduced visible overlaps where extended lengths fit
- A coordinated siding, soffit, fascia and trim design
If the homeowner's only objective is obtaining the lowest initial project price, you can still show Sequoia Select. Just recognize that you may need a value-focused alternative beside it.
Discovery should determine which product you recommend—not which product you happen to have in your sample bag.
Bring the Actual Panel to the Table
If you want to sell Sequoia Select, bring Sequoia Select.
A brochure is useful. A website is useful. A specification sheet is useful.
But none replaces an actual siding sample.
“Before we talk about the different packages, I want you to actually handle the siding I'm recommending.”
Hand the panel to the homeowner.
Do not immediately start talking.
Give them a moment to look at it and feel it.
Then ask:
“What do you notice?”
Let the Homeowner Discover the Product
This is one of the most important principles in a kitchen-table siding demonstration.
Do not tell the homeowner what they are supposed to notice before they have a chance to notice it.
They may say:
Now you are not trying to convince them that the panel feels substantial.
They told you.
The homeowner's observation is often more powerful than the salesperson's adjective.
The Five-Part Sequoia Select Kitchen-Table Demo
1
Feel
Panel construction
2
Look
Profile & shadow
3
Connect
Lock & nail hem
4
Design
Colors & accessories
5
Choose
Package & value
Demo #1: Explain the .046-Inch Nominal Thickness
Gentek identifies Sequoia Select's primary horizontal profiles as having a .046-inch nominal thickness.
You do not need to turn this into an engineering lecture.
Simple Explanation
“This horizontal Sequoia Select panel has a manufacturer-stated nominal thickness of .046 inch. Thickness isn't the only thing that determines siding quality, but it is one measurable difference between this product and lighter vinyl siding panels.”
That is accurate and understandable.
Avoid turning .046 into a magical number.
Say
“This is a heavier-duty .046-inch nominal horizontal panel.”
Do Not Say
“.046 siding can never warp, buckle, crack or have problems.”
Premium siding still requires a properly prepared wall and correct installation.
Compare It Side by Side With Another Panel
The number .046 means more when the homeowner has a comparison.
If you offer a lighter value-focused panel, place both samples on the table.
“Both of these are vinyl siding products. Both can be appropriate products when properly installed. I want you to feel the difference in construction before we look at the price difference.”
Then hand them both panels.
| Compare | What to Demonstrate |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Use the manufacturer's stated nominal specifications. |
| Rigidity | Let the homeowner handle both samples. |
| Nailing Hem | Turn the panels over and show the construction. |
| Lock | Show how the panel courses engage. |
| Profile | Compare lap depth and shadow lines. |
| Texture | Compare the visible surface and gloss. |
Do not trash the less-expensive panel. Let the homeowner compare the products.
Demo #2: Show the Full-Roll Nailing Hem
Most homeowners have never looked at the back of a siding panel.
That gives you an opportunity.
Turn the sample around.
“This is the part of the siding you won't see after installation, but it matters. Gentek uses what it calls a full-roll nailing hem on Sequoia Select. This is the attachment area at the top of the panel.”
Gentek describes the feature as providing stronger wall attachment. Keep the explanation tied to the manufacturer's description rather than inventing your own performance claims.
Do Not Tell the Homeowner the Siding Is Nailed Tight
Showing a substantial nailing hem can accidentally lead to a bad explanation:
“We nail this siding really tight to the wall.”
That is not how vinyl siding is intended to function.
Vinyl siding expands and contracts as temperatures change. Installation guidance from the Polymeric Exterior Products Association emphasizes allowing the siding to move freely and following manufacturer fastening requirements.
“The nailing hem provides the attachment area, but vinyl siding still needs to be installed so it can move as temperatures change. Premium product construction and proper installation work together.”
Rigidity is a product feature. Proper movement is an installation requirement. We want both.
Demo #3: Show the Advantage Lock System
Next, show how the siding courses connect.
Gentek identifies Sequoia Select's interlocking design as the Advantage Lock system and states that it is designed to enhance panel rigidity and stability.
If you have two sample pieces, let the homeowner connect them.
“This is the locking system that connects one course to the next. Gentek calls it Advantage Lock. Instead of asking you to take my word for it, I want you to see how the panel actually connects.”
Again, the physical demonstration does more work than a paragraph of sales language.
Demo #4: Turn the Sample Back Over and Sell Appearance
Contractors can spend so much time explaining product construction that they forget the homeowner will spend the next several years looking at the front of the siding—not the nail hem.
Turn the panel back over.
Gentek highlights a low-gloss cedargrain texture and a 3/4-inch lap height on Sequoia Select horizontal siding. Those details create a much easier homeowner conversation.
“Now forget the technical side for a second. This is what you're actually going to see on the house. Look at the texture, the profile and the shadow line.”
Technical features justify the product. Appearance often creates the desire for the product.
Explain the 3/4-Inch Lap in Homeowner Language
Do not simply say:
“This has a three-quarter-inch lap.”
The homeowner may have no idea why that matters.
“The shape of the panel creates a deeper shadow line. That's part of what gives this siding more dimension once you put it across an entire wall.”
Then show it from an angle.
If you have two profiles available, stand them beside each other and let the homeowner compare the shadows.
Sell the Wall—Not the Six-Inch Sample
A small sample can only tell part of the story.
Help the homeowner translate the sample to the entire house.
“This sample shows the texture and profile. Now picture that shadow line repeated across the entire front of your house.”
This is where photographs, full-size showroom displays and visualization tools become valuable.
The sample is small. Its visual role on the house is not.
Demo #5: Introduce Extended-Length Sequoia Select
Extended-length siding gives contractors another visible premium feature to discuss when it makes sense for the house.
Gentek states that its extra-long Sequoia Select panels can reduce overlaps by up to 50% compared with standard 12-foot siding. Availability varies by profile and color, so verify the exact product before promising it.
“On some of the longer walls of your house, we can also look at extended-length Sequoia Select. The longer panels may allow us to reduce the number of overlaps you see across those elevations.”
Notice the wording.
You are not promising a seamless house.
You are explaining how longer panels may reduce overlaps on applicable walls.
Better
“Longer panels can reduce visible overlaps on appropriate elevations.”
Avoid
“This gives you seamless siding.”
Use a Photo of Their House to Explain Extended Length
This becomes much easier when you took good exterior photographs during the walk-around.
Pull up a full-elevation photo.
“See this long wall between the corner and the garage? This is the type of elevation where panel length can affect how many overlaps are visible. Once we confirm the measurements and product availability, we can determine whether extended lengths make sense here.”
Now you are not selling a generic manufacturer feature.
You are explaining how that feature could apply to their house.
Do Not Lead With Wind-Test Numbers
Gentek publishes wind-load testing information for Sequoia Select, including specific extended-length configurations.
That information belongs in the product discussion when the homeowner asks about it, but it should be presented carefully.
A laboratory test result for a particular product configuration is not a promise that every house, installation, profile or storm will experience the same result.
If wind performance is important to the customer, use the current Gentek technical literature for the exact profile and explain that proper installation, substrate conditions, fastening and the complete wall assembly matter.
Demo #6: Bring Out the Colors
Product construction may establish value.
Color often creates excitement.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply currently promotes 29 Sequoia Select colors in stock for contractors, giving the product a strong local design story.
Do not put 29 colors on the kitchen table.
Use discovery to narrow the choices first.
Three to Five Colors Is Usually a Better Presentation
If the homeowner told you they want a darker modern exterior, there is little reason to begin with every beige, cream, gray, green and blue in the collection.
Use what you learned outside.
Build a Shortlist Around:
- Roof color
- Brick or stone
- Window color
- Entry door
- Home architecture
- Homeowner preferences
Then ask:
“Which direction feels most like your house?”
Take Final Color Decisions Outside
Digital renderings and kitchen-table samples are excellent narrowing tools.
They should not be the only basis for the final color decision.
“Let's take the finalists outside and look at them against your brick and roof in natural daylight.”
Light, surrounding materials, shadows and orientation can all change how a color appears.
Do Not Stop at the Siding Color
Once the homeowner chooses a siding direction, move into the complete exterior.
Gentek's Color Clear Through system is designed to coordinate selected colors across portions of its siding, soffit, fascia, trim and rainware product families.
Corners
Blend or create contrast.
Soffit & Fascia
Coordinate the roofline.
Window Trim
Define the openings.
Rainware
Consider gutters and downspouts.
Not every Sequoia Select color is necessarily available in every accessory, profile or market. Verify current availability before promising an exact combination.
Sell a coordinated exterior palette, not a collection of unrelated pieces.
Use the House Photo to Build the Complete Exterior
Now return to the exterior photograph you took during the inspection.
Ask:
- “Do you want the corners to blend or stand out?”
- “Should the window trim be subtle or more architectural?”
- “Are we keeping the current soffit and fascia color?”
- “Would you like to see one accent in the front gable?”
- “Do you want the gutters to disappear into the roofline or become part of the contrast?”
This is how a siding presentation becomes an exterior-design conversation.
Do Not Automatically Add Every Upgrade
Sequoia Select gives you a platform for additional design options.
That does not mean every house needs all of them.
Do Not Automatically Add:
- Contrasting corners
- Oversized window trim
- Board-and-batten gables
- Shake accents
- Stone accents
- New soffit and fascia
- New gutters
- Insulation
Offer the upgrades that make sense based on the house and the homeowner's goals.
Discovery should create the upgrade conversation. The upgrade conversation should not create fake needs.
The Sequoia Select Good / Better / Best Presentation
One effective way to present Sequoia Select is to place it inside a legitimate package comparison.
| Package | Product Direction | Customer Priority |
|---|---|---|
| GOOD | Quality value-focused vinyl siding | Complete project with initial price emphasized |
| BETTER | Gentek Sequoia Select | Premium vinyl construction, appearance and design choices |
| BEST | Sequoia Select plus relevant premium exterior upgrades | More complete exterior transformation |
The exact packages should reflect the actual products you sell and the homeowner's project.
The important part is that the homeowner understands what changes from one package to another.
Do Not Hide Sequoia Select Inside a Lump-Sum Upgrade
If the homeowner sees only:
Premium Package — +$X,XXX
they may focus entirely on the additional number.
Instead, make the scope differences visible.
Sequoia Select Package
- Gentek Sequoia Select specified profile
- .046-inch nominal horizontal panel thickness where applicable
- Full-roll nailing hem
- Advantage Lock system
- 3/4-inch lap height on applicable horizontal profiles
- Selected color
- Specified corners and accessories
- Extended-length panels where selected and appropriate
- Required installation scope
- Applicable manufacturer warranty documentation
Scope first. Number second.
How to Present the Price Difference
Once the homeowner understands the product, presenting the price becomes much easier.
“The first package gives you a quality vinyl siding project and the installation scope we discussed.”
“The Sequoia Select package moves you into the .046-inch nominal horizontal panel, the full-roll nailing hem, Advantage Lock system, deeper lap and the Sequoia Select color and design options we just compared.”
“The difference between those two complete installed packages is $X,XXX.”
“Based on what you've seen, does the Sequoia Select package have enough additional value for your project?”
Then stop talking.
Do Not Sell Sequoia Select by Attacking Cheaper Siding
Avoid
- “That thinner stuff is junk.”
- “Builder-grade siding won't last.”
- “Nobody should put that on a house.”
- “The competitor's siding is cheap garbage.”
Better
“There are several legitimate vinyl siding price points. Sequoia Select is the premium option I'm showing you because it gives us specific construction and design differences that match what you told me matters to you.”
Sell a better product by demonstrating better—not by insulting everything below it.
What if the Homeowner Says, “It All Looks the Same to Me”?
Do not argue.
“That's fair. From across the street, two vinyl siding products can look very similar. That's why I wanted you to handle the samples and see how the panels are actually constructed before deciding whether those differences matter to you.”
Then revisit only the differences relevant to that homeowner.
Do not restart the entire presentation.
What if They Say, “I Don't Care About Thickness”?
Believe them.
Move to something they do care about.
A homeowner does not need to value every feature for Sequoia Select to be the right product.
Sell the benefits the customer values—not every benefit printed in the brochure.
What if They Say, “Why Should I Pay More?”
Go back to the samples.
“You shouldn't pay more just because I call something premium.”
“The question is whether the differences we just looked at—the panel construction, rigidity, profile, color choices and the option for longer panels on parts of your house—have enough value to you to justify the difference.”
That puts the decision where it belongs.
With the homeowner.
Do Not Oversell the Warranty
Warranty coverage can support the Sequoia Select presentation, but it should not replace the product demonstration.
Use the current written Gentek warranty and explain that coverage is subject to its terms, limitations, exclusions, transfer provisions and claim requirements.
Do not turn “limited lifetime warranty” into “everything is covered forever.”
Let the actual warranty document define the warranty.
Premium Product Does Not Replace Premium Installation
Sequoia Select's construction does not eliminate the fundamentals of siding installation.
The wall still needs appropriate preparation. Water-resistive barrier and flashing details still matter. Vinyl still needs room for thermal movement. Fasteners, accessories, clearances and panel engagement still need to follow manufacturer instructions and applicable requirements.
Premium material cannot rescue careless installation.
The strongest proposal combines a good product with a clearly defined installation scope.
The 10-Minute Sequoia Select Kitchen-Table Presentation
| Time | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Minute 1 | Hand them the panel. | Let them form an impression. |
| Minutes 2–3 | Compare construction and rigidity. | Establish measurable differences. |
| Minute 4 | Show nail hem and locking system. | Explain the hidden construction. |
| Minute 5 | Show profile, texture and shadow line. | Move from technical to visual. |
| Minutes 6–7 | Discuss extended lengths where relevant. | Connect product to their elevations. |
| Minutes 8–9 | Narrow colors and exterior design. | Create homeowner involvement. |
| Minute 10 | Compare packages. | Give the demonstrated value a price. |
The Complete Sequoia Select Sales Script
“You told me you want a siding product that looks substantial, gives you good color choices and makes the front of the house look more updated.”
“I want to show you one of the products I think fits those priorities.”
“This is Gentek Sequoia Select. Go ahead and pick that up. What do you notice?”
“The horizontal profiles we're looking at use a .046-inch nominal panel. Thickness isn't everything, but it is one measurable part of the construction.”
“Now look at the top. Gentek uses a full-roll nailing hem here, and this is the Advantage Lock system that connects the courses. Those features are designed to contribute to the rigidity and stability of the panel.”
“Turn it back over. This is the part you're actually going to look at every day. Notice the cedargrain appearance and the depth of that lap and shadow line.”
“On some of your longer walls, we can also investigate Sequoia Select extended lengths. Gentek says those longer panels can reduce overlaps by up to 50% compared with standard 12-foot siding. We'll verify which lengths make sense once we confirm the elevations and exact product availability.”
“Now let's get away from the technical side and talk about your house. Based on your roof, brick and windows, I narrowed the colors down to these four.”
“Which direction do you like?”
“Once we have the siding direction, we can decide whether the corners, window trim, soffit, fascia and gutters should blend or create contrast.”
“Then I'll show you the complete installed price for the standard package and the Sequoia Select package so you can decide whether these differences have enough value for your home.”
What Should Be in Your Sequoia Select Demo Kit?
□ Sequoia Select horizontal sample
□ Comparison vinyl siding sample
□ Two pieces that demonstrate panel engagement
□ Current Sequoia Select brochure
□ Current color samples
□ Outside corner sample
□ J-channel / trim samples
□ Soffit / fascia color samples
□ Current warranty
□ House photographs or tablet
Ten Sequoia Select Sales Mistakes to Avoid
Thickness is one feature, not the entire product story.
Let the physical product help you sell.
Compare measurable differences instead.
Homeowners live with the visible exterior, not the specification sheet.
Narrow choices based on discovery.
Longer panels can reduce overlaps; they do not guarantee zero overlaps.
Verify current product and market availability.
Use current manufacturer data for the exact configuration.
Correct installation is the baseline.
Demonstrate first. Price second.
Use Suburban Wholesale Before the Sales Appointment
Contractors do not have to build the Sequoia Select presentation alone.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply stocks Sequoia Select colors for contractors and can help review current profiles, colors, accessories, product literature, quantities and availability before you make promises at the homeowner's kitchen table.
Do not use your distributor only to buy the material after the sale.
Use your distributor to help build a better project before the sale.
Practice the Demonstration Before You Need It
A product demonstration should look natural because the salesperson understands the product—not because they memorized a speech five minutes before the appointment.
Practice with your team.
If a salesperson cannot explain the product simply to another salesperson, they are probably not ready to explain it simply to a homeowner.
The Sequoia Select Sales Formula
1
ASK
Learn what matters.
2
HAND
Give them the sample.
3
SHOW
Demonstrate differences.
4
DESIGN
Apply it to the house.
5
PRICE
Let them choose.
Ask → Hand → Show → Design → Price
That is a stronger Sequoia Select presentation than reading a list of features from a brochure.
The Bottom Line
Gentek Sequoia Select gives contractors a premium vinyl siding story built around differences that can be demonstrated.
The .046-inch nominal horizontal construction matters.
The full-roll nailing hem and Advantage Lock system matter.
The profile, 3/4-inch lap, cedargrain appearance, color choices and extended-length possibilities matter.
But simply listing those features is not the best way to sell them.
Put the product in the homeowner's hands.
Let them feel it.
Let them compare it.
Show them how it connects.
Show them how it looks.
Then show them what it could look like on their house.
Premium should be something the homeowner can understand before they are asked to pay for it.
Build a Better Sequoia Select Presentation at Suburban Wholesale
Suburban Wholesale & Supply distributes Gentek Sequoia Select to contractors throughout Iowa and Illinois and currently promotes 29 Sequoia Select colors in stock.
Bring your sales team into our Davenport showroom to compare siding panels, colors, profiles and accessories. Our team can help you review current product literature, build sample kits, confirm availability and put together the complete material package before you present it to the homeowner.
A contractor who understands the product can sell it with confidence. A contractor who can demonstrate the product gives the homeowner a reason to understand the difference.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply
3602 North Harrison Street
Davenport, Iowa 52806
563-391-4000
Part of: Selling Siding & Windows
More in Selling Siding & Windows
- How to Build a Sequoia Select Contractor Demo Kit
- How to Help Homeowners Compare Vinyl Siding Quotes
- Selling Vinyl Siding Quality Instead of Price
- How to Explain the ROI of Premium Vinyl Siding
Sample books, color decks, demo kits and cutaways are available at the counter, and most are free.
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