“Premium” Is Not One Universal Industry Specification

This is the first thing contractors need to understand.

The word premium by itself does not tell a homeowner a specific panel thickness, profile, locking system, warranty, or performance level.

Manufacturers use product families and marketing categories differently.

So instead of saying:

say:

The adjective is not the sale. The differences are the sale.

Start With the Actual Product

Do not explain premium siding from a brochure alone.

Put the actual siding on the table.

Let the homeowner hold it.

Then ask:

They may notice:

• It feels more substantial.
• The profile looks deeper.
• The texture looks different.
• The panel flexes differently.
• The locking system looks more robust.
• The color or surface finish looks richer.

Let the homeowner observe before you tell them what they are supposed to see.

Thickness Can Be Part of the Premium Story

Panel thickness is one characteristic that homeowners can understand.

For example, Gentek Sequoia Select is marketed as an ultra-premium vinyl siding system and uses a nominal .046-inch panel thickness. Gentek describes that heavier construction as contributing to greater rigidity and a straighter, smoother finished appearance. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

At the kitchen table, you might say:

Then stop short of making thickness sound like the only measure of quality.

Thickness matters. It is not the whole story.

Do Not Turn .046 Into a Magic Number

A weak salesperson may say:

That is too simplistic.

The finished siding system can also be influenced by:

• Panel geometry
• Nailing hem design
• Locking system
• Profile depth
• Wall preparation
• Accessory compatibility
• Installation
• Warranty

Suburban Wholesale's current Gentek product guidance makes the same point: the best siding choice depends on the homeowner's architecture, expectations, budget, design goals, panel characteristics, accessories, installation requirements, and warranty—not one specification by itself. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Rigidity Is Easier to Understand Than a Specification Sheet

Give the homeowner two comparable siding samples.

Let them gently flex each one.

Then ask:

If they do, explain why.

Gentek specifically positions Sequoia Select's .046-inch construction, full-roll nailing hem, and Advantage Lock system as features that contribute to rigidity, stability, and wall attachment. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Do not manufacture the comparison. Use similar-size samples and let the actual products speak for themselves.

The Nailing Hem Can Be a Premium Feature

Turn the siding sample over.

Show the homeowner the nailing hem.

Gentek describes Sequoia Select as using a full-roll nailing hem designed to provide stronger wall attachment. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Your explanation can remain simple:

The homeowner does not need an engineering lecture.

The Locking System Matters Too

Bring two short siding pieces and lock them together.

Show the homeowner how one course engages the next.

Gentek's Sequoia Select uses its Advantage Lock system, which the manufacturer describes as securely connecting panels and enhancing rigidity and stability. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Say:

Profile Depth Can Make “Premium” Visible From the Street

Some premium differences are easier to see than to measure.

Gentek highlights Sequoia Select's full 3/4-inch lap height as a design feature that produces deeper shadow lines and a more dimensional exterior appearance. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Put two profiles beside each other.

Then ask:

Premium is easier to sell when the homeowner can see the difference from six feet away—not just read it on a specification sheet.

Texture and Gloss Matter

Homeowners may not know how to describe surface gloss or embossing.

They can still see and feel the difference.

Gentek describes Sequoia Select as having a rich cedar-grain emboss and low-gloss finish intended to create a natural appearance. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Instead of saying:

ask:

Let preference become part of the value decision.

Premium Can Mean More Profile Choices

A homeowner may think premium means only “better material.”

It can also mean more design flexibility.

Gentek currently offers Sequoia Select in multiple horizontal profiles along with a 7-inch Board & Batten vertical profile. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

That gives the contractor opportunities to discuss:

• Traditional horizontal siding
• Different lap appearances
• Deeper shadow lines
• Board-and-batten accents
• Mixed-profile exterior designs

A premium product can create more ways to design the house—not simply a more expensive way to cover the wall.

Premium Can Mean More Color Flexibility

Color is one of the most visible parts of the purchase.

Suburban Wholesale currently stocks 29 Gentek Sequoia Select colors for contractors across Iowa and Illinois. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

That matters because the contractor can help the homeowner compare:

• Traditional neutrals
• Deeper designer colors
• Siding and trim combinations
• Contrasting corners
• Soffit and fascia colors
• Accent materials

But not every profile, accessory, or product is available in every color, so confirm current availability before promising a final combination. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Coordinated Accessories Are Part of the Premium Story

Do not stop at the siding panel.

The house also has:

• Outside corners
• Window trim
• Door trim
• Soffit
• Fascia
• Rainware
• Mounting accessories
• Accent siding

Gentek's Color Clear Through system is designed to coordinate colors across portions of its siding, soffit, fascia, trim, and rainware offerings. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Premium should help the contractor sell a more intentional exterior—not simply a premium panel.

Show the Corner Post

Put the premium siding sample into the compatible outside corner sample.

Now the homeowner sees how the product becomes part of an actual wall system.

Then compare appropriate corner and trim alternatives.

Ask:

That conversation is more meaningful than repeating the word premium five times.

Extended-Length Panels Can Be a Premium Appearance Option

Premium can also describe options that improve the finished presentation of large wall areas.

Gentek Sequoia Select Extended Length panels are available in longer lengths and Gentek states that they can reduce overlaps by up to 50 percent compared with standard 12-foot siding on suitable wall layouts. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Show the homeowner a photograph of a long elevation.

Explain:

That is a premium feature the homeowner can actually understand.

Premium Does Not Mean Seamless

Be careful with language.

Longer panels can reduce overlaps.

They do not automatically eliminate every overlap on every house.

Gentek's own product information describes extended-length siding as reducing overlaps rather than guaranteeing an entirely seamless wall. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Sell the documented benefit. Do not improve the manufacturer's claim in your sales pitch.

Wind-Load Performance Can Be Part of the Conversation

Some premium siding systems publish tested wind-load information.

Gentek states that Sequoia Select is tested for negative wind-load resistance per ASTM D5206 and that its extended-length product has undergone independent wind-load testing. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

This can be useful information, but explain it carefully.

Do not tell the homeowner:

Actual installed performance depends on the complete system, substrate, fasteners, wall conditions, installation, and manufacturer requirements.

Use published test data as evidence—not as permission to make absolute promises.

Premium Siding Still Needs Proper Installation

This may be the most important lesson in the article.

A premium panel does not fix a poorly prepared wall.

It does not eliminate the need for correct fastening.

It does not eliminate expansion and contraction.

It does not replace appropriate flashing, water management, corners, J-channel, finish trim, and other installation details.

Industry installation guidance continues to treat preparation, fastening, clearances, accessories, and correct panel movement as essential parts of vinyl siding installation.

Premium material installed poorly is still a poor siding project.

Warranty Can Be Part of “Premium”

A premium product should be accompanied by a clear explanation of the actual written warranty.

Gentek describes Sequoia Select as carrying a lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty with hail protection and lifetime fade coverage, subject to the complete warranty's terms and limitations. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Show the homeowner the warranty.

Explain:

• Who provides it
• What product it applies to
• What coverage is stated
• Important exclusions
• Transfer provisions
• How claims work

“Lifetime” is a headline. The written warranty is the actual product.

Premium Can Mean Better Design Support

The premium conversation can also include how easily the siding integrates into the complete exterior design.

Suburban Wholesale's current Sequoia Select resources emphasize multiple profiles, broad color availability, coordinated accessories, and design flexibility rather than presenting premium purely as a thickness claim. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Use:

• Actual siding samples
• Corner samples
• Trim samples
• Color samples
• Board-and-batten samples
• Completed project photographs
• Exterior visualization tools

Now premium becomes something the homeowner can design with.

Do Not Confuse Premium With “Most Expensive”

A premium product is not automatically the right product for every homeowner.

Suppose the homeowner tells you:

A quality value-oriented vinyl siding system may make more sense than pushing the highest-priced product you carry.

Suburban Wholesale's own Gentek comparison guidance makes this point directly: the best product depends on the homeowner's architecture, expectations, budget, and long-term plans. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Premium should be an option—not a verdict.

Do Not Trash the Value Product

Never make the mistake of saying:

If the first siding is a legitimate product you sell, you have just undermined your own company.

Instead explain:

Different does not have to mean bad.

Put Premium Into a Good-Better-Best Presentation

Premium vinyl siding becomes easier to understand when it sits between other legitimate choices.

Now the homeowner can decide whether premium features are worth the additional investment.

Sell the Price Difference, Not Just the Higher Price

Suppose:

Do not say only:

Say:

Let the homeowner decide whether premium is worth the premium.

Use Actual Color Samples Before Finalizing the Upgrade

If part of the premium value is access to deeper or broader color options, do not let the homeowner finalize from a screen alone.

Suburban Wholesale's Gentek color guidance recommends comparing physical samples because lighting, texture, material, gloss, and viewing angle can affect perceived color. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

Take the finalists outside.

Compare them against:

• Roofing
• Brick
• Stone
• Windows
• Doors
• Soffit
• Fascia
• Gutters

A 5-Minute Premium Vinyl Siding Demonstration

You do not need a 30-minute speech about premium siding.

Five focused minutes with the actual product can be enough.

A Kitchen-Table Script Contractors Can Use

What Not to Say About Premium Siding

The Premium Siding Test

Before calling a product premium in your presentation, make sure you can answer:

If you cannot answer those questions, “premium” may be nothing more than a label.

The Bottom Line: Make Premium Tangible

Do not simply tell the homeowner:

Show the panel.

Let them hold it.

Show the thickness.

Show the rigidity.

Show the nailing hem.

Show the lock.

Show the profile depth.

Show the texture.

Show the colors.

Show the corner and trim system.

Show the warranty.

Then show the price difference.

Premium should be something the homeowner can understand before they are asked to pay for it.