The homeowner’s existing siding can tell you a great deal about the next siding project—but only if you ask the right questions. Learn which questions siding contractors should ask about appearance, maintenance, repairs, weather exposure, comfort, previous remodeling and homeowner priorities before recommending new siding.
Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy
Questions to Ask About the Homeowner's Existing Siding
Before you start explaining the siding you sell, spend some time talking about the siding already on the house.
Why?
Because the existing exterior gives you a starting point. It can help you understand why the homeowner called, what they want to change, what they want to avoid repeating and which product or design differences may actually matter to them.
Do not start with:
“Let me tell you about our siding.”
Start with:
“Tell me about the siding you have now.”
Existing Siding Is the Beginning of the Discovery Conversation
A homeowner rarely wakes up one morning and decides they would like to spend money replacing siding for no reason.
Something usually started the conversation.
Condition
Damage, deterioration, loose material or other concerns.
Maintenance
Painting, repairs, cleaning or ongoing upkeep.
Appearance
Color, profile, trim or an exterior that simply feels dated.
Remodeling
Windows, doors, roofing or another project may have triggered the siding discussion.
Your first job is to discover which of those reasons applies to this homeowner.
Question #1: “What Made You Start Thinking About New Siding?”
This may be the most important siding discovery question you ask.
“What made you start thinking about replacing the siding?”
Then listen.
Do not interrupt the homeowner three sentences into the answer because you heard a product opportunity.
Their response may immediately establish the direction of the appointment.
| Homeowner Says | What You Should Learn More About |
|---|---|
| “We're tired of painting.” | Maintenance expectations |
| “It looks dated.” | Design, color, profile and trim |
| “We had storm damage.” | Visible damage, scope and appropriate product choices |
| “We're replacing the windows too.” | Project sequencing and opening details |
| “The siding keeps coming loose.” | Existing conditions, exposure and installation history |
| “We just want the house to look better.” | Exterior design priorities |
Question #2: “Do You Know What Type of Siding You Have Now?”
Do not assume the homeowner knows.
They may call aluminum siding vinyl, fiber cement wood, or refer to everything simply as “siding.”
That is fine.
Your goal is not to test their product knowledge. Your goal is to learn what is on the house and what experience they have had with it.
“Do you know what kind of siding is on the house now? If not, that's no problem. I'll take a look while we're outside.”
Question #3: “Do You Know How Old the Siding Is?”
The homeowner may know exactly when the siding was installed.
Or they may have no idea.
Either answer is useful.
Useful Follow-Up Questions
- “Was it here when you purchased the house?”
- “Do you know whether there is another siding material underneath it?”
- “Have any sections been replaced since you've lived here?”
- “Have windows or doors been replaced since the siding was installed?”
- “Have you made any additions to the house?”
That history can help explain why different elevations or openings may have different details.
Question #4: “What Do You Like About Your Current Siding?”
Contractors often focus only on what is wrong.
Ask what is right.
“What do you like about the exterior you have now?”
The answer might be:
- “I like the color.”
- “I like how simple it looks.”
- “I like the wide boards.”
- “I like the white trim.”
- “I like that everything matches.”
- “I like the low maintenance.”
Those are not obstacles to your sale. They are design instructions.
Do not accidentally remove something the homeowner already loves.
Question #5: “What Don't You Like About It?”
Now ask the opposite.
“If you could change three things about the exterior, what would they be?”
That wording is often more productive than simply asking whether they dislike the siding.
You may hear concerns about more than the panel itself.
Color
Seams
Corners
Window trim
Plain gables
Maintenance
Loose panels
Dated appearance
Roofline colors
Question #6: “Has the Siding Required Repairs?”
Past repairs can reveal useful project history.
Ask:
- “Have you had any siding repaired?”
- “What happened?”
- “Was it one area or several?”
- “Did the repair solve the problem?”
- “Do you know who performed the repair?”
- “Was anything discovered behind the siding?”
Document what the homeowner tells you, but distinguish their recollection from conditions you can independently verify.
Question #7: “Are There Areas That Give You More Trouble Than Others?”
A homeowner may have lived with the house for 10, 20 or 30 years.
They know which walls take the weather.
“Are there any sides of the house that seem to get more wind, rain or weather exposure?”
“Have you noticed siding coming loose in any particular area?”
“Are there areas you find yourself checking after storms?”
Then inspect those areas instead of assuming the cause from the homeowner's description alone.
Question #8: “Have You Ever Had Water Problems Around the Exterior?”
This is an important question, but it needs to be handled carefully.
DOE Building America guidance for re-siding existing walls calls for inspection of the existing water-resistive barrier, flashing and evidence of moisture damage, especially around penetrations.
Ask About History
- “Have any windows or doors leaked in the past?”
- “Have you ever had water staining inside?”
- “Have any exterior walls required repairs?”
- “Do you know of any areas that were previously flashed or repaired?”
Do not turn those answers into a diagnosis.
Avoid
“If that window leaked, the wall is probably rotten.”
Better
“That's helpful to know. We'll document that area so it can receive the appropriate evaluation when the project is scoped.”
Question #9: “What Kind of Maintenance Have You Had to Do?”
Maintenance experience can help uncover one of the homeowner's strongest motivations.
Painting
How often? Which elevations?
Cleaning
What bothers them about upkeep?
Repairs
What has needed recurring attention?
Caulking/Trim
Is the frustration really with siding or surrounding details?
If reduced exterior maintenance is a major priority, product selection and finishing details should reflect that conversation.
Question #10: “Are You Happy With the Current Color?”
Do not wait until you pull out the color fan to ask.
Try:
“If we could put brand-new siding on this house in the same color tomorrow, would you be happy—or are you ready for a change?”
That quickly tells you whether the homeowner is trying to preserve the home's appearance or reinvent it.
Question #11: “Do You Want the New House to Look Similar—or Different?”
This is broader than color.
A homeowner may like the current color family but want stronger trim, a different siding profile or an architectural accent.
| Direction | What You Might Explore |
|---|---|
| “Keep it similar.” | Similar profile, familiar color family and restrained trim |
| “Modernize it.” | Updated color, trim proportions and potentially cleaner profile choices |
| “Give it more character.” | Architectural corners, window trim, gable accents or another compatible design feature |
| “Completely change it.” | Broader design exploration and visualization |
Question #12: “Are the Windows Staying?”
This question belongs in almost every siding appointment.
Window and door openings require proper project planning, and PEPA's installation guidance addresses opening preparation, flashing and finishing details as distinct parts of the siding installation.
Ask:
- “Are all of these windows staying?”
- “Were any replaced recently?”
- “Are you planning to replace any in the next few years?”
- “Are you happy with the exterior window color?”
- “Do you like the current amount of trim around them?”
If another window project is planned, understand the sequencing before finalizing siding scope.
Question #13: “Are the Doors Staying?”
The same principle applies to entry doors and patio doors.
A front door is also an important design element.
“If the door is staying, do you plan to keep it this color? I want to make sure the siding and trim choices work with it.”
Question #14: “Are the Soffit and Fascia Staying?”
New siding can make an older roofline more noticeable.
Clarify the scope before presenting the final project.
- “Are you happy with the condition of the soffit and fascia?”
- “Do you want to keep the existing color?”
- “Do you want the roofline to blend with the siding or coordinate with the trim?”
- “Would you like the proposal to show the siding alone and an option including the roofline?”
Question #15: “Are You Keeping the Gutters?”
Discussing gutters during a siding appointment is good project planning.
Automatically selling gutters is something different.
“Are you planning to keep the current gutters and downspouts?”
“Are you happy with how they're working?”
“Do you like their current color with the new exterior you're considering?”
If the homeowner is happy with them and the project can appropriately retain them, document that decision.
Question #16: “Have You Changed Anything Else on the Exterior?”
Ask about remodeling history.
Replacement windows
New doors
Additions
Deck construction
Roof replacement
Gutter replacement
Electrical changes
Exterior repairs
Porch modifications
Different remodeling periods can produce different wall and opening details. The history helps you know where to look more closely.
Question #17: “Is There Anything on the Exterior You Absolutely Want to Keep?”
This is an underrated question.
“What do you definitely want to keep?”
Maybe it is:
- The brick
- The stone
- A front door
- Existing gutters
- New windows
- A particular trim color
- Decorative shutters
- An architectural feature
Those fixed elements become part of your new design.
Question #18: “What Would You Most Like to Improve?”
Now move from the old siding toward the new project.
“If we do this project right, what would you most like to improve about the house?”
This helps prioritize the sales presentation.
| Priority | Relevant Conversation |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Color, profile, corners, trim and accents |
| Maintenance | Material characteristics and appropriate maintenance expectations |
| Insulation | Compatible insulated siding or continuous-insulation options |
| Durability | Relevant product construction and installation details |
| Complete exterior | Siding, soffit, fascia, trim, accessories and other applicable scope |
Question #19: “How Long Do You Plan to Stay in the Home?”
Ask this conversationally, not as a qualifying trick.
A homeowner preparing to sell may have different priorities than someone planning to live in the home for decades.
“Are you thinking of this as a long-term exterior for your family, or is there a chance you'll be moving in the next few years?”
Do not assume either answer automatically means “cheap” or “premium.” Use it as one piece of the homeowner's overall priorities.
Question #20: “What Would You Not Want to Repeat?”
This question can reveal strong emotional buying criteria without using a high-pressure sales tactic.
“If you've had frustrations with the siding you have now, what would you definitely not want to repeat with the new project?”
Maybe they never want to paint again.
Maybe they dislike the current profile.
Maybe a previous repair was difficult because the product was unavailable.
Maybe they regret choosing a color they never really liked.
Whatever the answer, write it down.
Do Not Ask 20 Questions Like an Interrogation
This article gives you a question bank.
It is not a script that must be recited from top to bottom.
Bad discovery sounds like:
Question. Answer. Question. Answer. Question. Answer. Clipboard. Check box. Next question.
Good discovery sounds like:
Question. Answer. Follow-up. Observation. Conversation. Walk outside. Point to the house. Ask another relevant question.
Let one answer determine the next question.
Use Follow-Up Questions
The best discovery question is often not the one printed on your checklist.
It is the follow-up question created by the homeowner's answer.
| Homeowner Says | Follow Up With |
|---|---|
| “We hate the color.” | “What colors have you been drawn to?” |
| “It looks cheap.” | “What specifically makes it look that way to you?” |
| “We want more character.” | “Where on the front of the house would you most like to see a change?” |
| “We're tired of repairs.” | “What kinds of repairs have you had to make?” |
| “We're worried about insulation.” | “Tell me more about what you're hoping to improve.” |
Be Careful With Comfort and Energy Questions
A homeowner may mention cold walls, drafts or high utility bills.
Listen—but do not diagnose the house from a siding appointment.
DOE Building America notes that continuous exterior insulation can add thermal resistance and reduce thermal bridging, but actual building performance depends on the complete wall assembly and other house-specific factors.
Avoid
“New insulated siding will solve that cold room.”
Better
“We can show you a siding option that adds compatible continuous insulation to the exterior wall assembly and explain exactly what that product adds.”
Ask Questions Outside Whenever Possible
Many of these questions become more powerful when the homeowner is looking at the actual house.
At the siding:
“What do you like about this profile?”
At the window:
“Do you like the amount of trim around this opening?”
At the corner:
“Would you like this corner to blend in or stand out more?”
At the gable:
“Would you like this to remain consistent or see an accent option?”
At the roofline:
“Are you happy with the existing soffit and fascia?”
The homeowner does not have to imagine what you mean.
Turn Answers Into a Presentation Plan
The purpose of discovery is not to collect information and then ignore it.
Use the answers to decide what you demonstrate.
Example Discovery Notes
- Likes current neutral color family.
- Dislikes narrow-looking corners.
- Wants more definition around front windows.
- Does not want a busy exterior.
- Existing gutters are relatively new and staying.
- Soffit and fascia are staying.
- Interested in learning about insulation.
- Front gable could potentially use one restrained accent.
Now you do not need to show 30 different ideas.
Your presentation might focus on:
Discovery should edit your presentation before the demo kit hits the table.
Turn Answers Into Good / Better / Best
Good, better and best packages should not be three random price levels.
They should reflect what you learned.
| Package | Example Direction |
|---|---|
| Good | Quality siding system addressing the primary replacement need |
| Better | Preferred siding plus the trim/design improvements the homeowner identified |
| Best | Premium exterior package incorporating relevant performance and architectural options |
The options should solve different homeowner priorities—not manufacture artificial pressure.
Questions Should Help You Sell Less—but More Effectively
A good discovery process may tell you not to offer certain products.
They love their relatively new gutters?
Leave them alone unless the siding scope requires a discussion about handling them.
They want a very simple exterior?
Do not bury them in accent choices.
They are happy with their soffit and fascia?
Document that they remain.
They have no interest in an insulation upgrade?
Do not spend 20 minutes forcing the conversation.
Your job is not to show every product you can sell.
Your job is to show the relevant choices well enough that the homeowner can make an informed decision.
A Simple Existing-Siding Discovery Flow
1
Why?
Why are they considering siding?
2
Problem?
What do they dislike or want changed?
3
Keep?
What do they already like?
4
Improve?
What matters most in the new project?
5
Show
Demonstrate only relevant choices.
10 Questions to Keep on Your Clipboard
You do not need all 20 questions at every appointment. If you want a shorter field version, start here:
- What made you start thinking about new siding?
- What do you like about the siding you have now?
- What don't you like about it?
- Have you had to make any repairs?
- Are there particular areas of the house that concern you?
- Have you had any known water problems or previous exterior repairs?
- Do you want the new exterior to look similar or noticeably different?
- What exterior components are definitely staying?
- What would you most like to improve with this project?
- What would you definitely not want to repeat from the existing siding?
The Question That Brings Everything Together
After you understand the homeowner's experience with the existing siding, ask:
“If we could improve the things you don't like while keeping the things you do like, would that be the right direction for the new exterior?”
That question transitions naturally from discovery to product and design.
Now you have permission to show differences that relate to what the homeowner just told you.
Ask → Listen → Inspect → Demonstrate → Recommend
1
Ask
Learn their experience.
2
Listen
Let answers guide you.
3
Inspect
Compare history with the house.
4
Demonstrate
Show relevant differences.
5
Recommend
Build the project around their priorities.
The Bottom Line
The homeowner's existing siding is not simply material you plan to remove.
It is part of the discovery process.
Ask what they like.
Ask what they dislike.
Ask what they have repaired.
Ask what they want to keep.
Ask what they want to improve.
Then inspect the house and build the presentation around the answers.
Discovery should create the product conversation.
The product conversation should not create fake homeowner needs.
Turn Better Discovery Into a Better Siding Package
Once you know what the homeowner wants from the project, Suburban Wholesale & Supply can help you build the material package around those priorities.
Bring your measurements, project photos, opening information, colors and product questions to our Davenport showroom and sales counter. Our team can help contractors compare siding products, profiles, accessories, insulation options, soffit, fascia and other exterior materials before the order is placed.
You can also bring your customer into the showroom to compare actual siding, trim and exterior products at full scale.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply
3602 North Harrison Street
Davenport, Iowa 52806
563-391-4000
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-4:30pm
Part of: Selling Siding & Windows
More in Selling Siding & Windows
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- Why Contractors Should Show Homeowners Custom Aluminum Work
- Can Better Aluminum Work Help Sell Higher-End Siding Jobs?
- How to Help Homeowners Compare Vinyl Siding Quotes
Sample books, color decks, demo kits and cutaways are available at the counter, and most are free.
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