The ideal aluminum siding customer is not simply someone looking for an inexpensive siding option. Aluminum makes the most sense for homeowners with existing aluminum siding, repair or addition needs, a preference for metal cladding, traditional exterior styling, or a desire to coordinate siding with aluminum soffit, fascia and trim. Contractors should recognize these customers early instead of forcing aluminum into every appointment.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply Siding Sales Academy

Who Is the Ideal Aluminum Siding Customer?

Aluminum siding is not the right answer for every homeowner, but it can be an excellent fit for certain projects. The strongest aluminum siding salesperson knows how to recognize those customers quickly and present aluminum as one legitimate option beside vinyl, steel and other exterior cladding choices.

The wrong way to sell aluminum siding is to begin every appointment trying to convince the homeowner to buy aluminum.

The better approach is to identify situations where aluminum naturally belongs in the conversation.

Siding Sales Academy Rule

Do not manufacture an aluminum customer. Recognize one.

The Best Aluminum Customer Often Already Has Aluminum

One of the clearest aluminum siding opportunities is an existing aluminum-sided home.

The homeowner may need:

Storm-damaged siding replaced
Panels replaced after window installation
A new addition sided
A garage matched to the house
A damaged elevation repaired
A complete replacement using another aluminum system

Gentek still maintains current aluminum siding products, including Woodgrain Series 2000 and Deluxe Aluminum Siding .

"Since your home already has aluminum siding, let's first see whether a current aluminum product can solve the project before assuming the entire exterior has to change."

Customer #1: The Repair Customer

Aluminum siding repair calls can be valuable opportunities.

The homeowner may not be shopping for an entire exterior.

They may simply have:

Hail Damage

Wind Damage

Impact Damage

Remodel Damage

Start by identifying the existing siding.

Determine:

Manufacturer if possible
Profile
Color
Approximate age
Extent of damage
Current material availability

Do not turn every aluminum repair call into an automatic full-replacement pitch.

Customer #2: The Addition Customer

A homeowner builds an addition onto an aluminum-sided house.

They may have no interest in replacing the siding on the entire home.

Their first question may be:

"Can you make the addition look like the rest of the house?"

Aluminum deserves consideration.

But do not promise an exact match until the existing product and current samples are compared.

Gentek recommends using actual product samples for final color selections because screen appearance, lighting, profiles and materials can change how colors look.

Customer #3: The Homeowner Who Specifically Wants Metal

Some homeowners come into the appointment already saying:

"I don't want vinyl. I want metal siding."

Do not immediately assume that means steel.

Show both metal categories.

Aluminum

Lightweight metal siding with traditional residential applications, current Gentek product options and coordinated aluminum exterior components.

Steel

A more rigid metal siding category with different coatings, profiles, performance characteristics and investment levels.

Let the homeowner decide which metal better matches the priorities of the project.

Customer #4: The Traditional Exterior Customer

Aluminum can also appeal to homeowners who prefer familiar horizontal siding architecture.

Gentek's Woodgrain Series 2000 currently uses a Double 4-inch Clapboard profile with a woodgrain texture.

Gentek's Deluxe aluminum line provides smooth siding options for homeowners who prefer a cleaner appearance.

Woodgrain 2000 also uses an extra-deep 1/2-inch butt height to create more pronounced shadow lines.

"If you like the traditional horizontal appearance but want a metal siding product, aluminum is one option we should put on the table."

Customer #5: The Coordinated Exterior Customer

Some homeowners are not simply buying siding.

They are redesigning the entire exterior.

Gentek continues to offer aluminum:

Siding
Soffit
Fascia
Trim products
Rainware products

Gentek's Color Clear Through system is designed to coordinate colors across siding, soffit, fascia, trim and rainware throughout its vinyl, aluminum and steel product lines.

Gentek also currently offers a broad aluminum soffit and fascia color collection.

The ideal aluminum customer may be buying an exterior system—not simply siding panels.

Customer #6: The Homeowner Who Values Low Upkeep

Gentek positions its current aluminum siding products as low-upkeep exterior systems.

For example, Gentek says Woodgrain Series 2000 requires very little upkeep and typically needs little more than routine rinsing for ordinary cleaning.

Gentek also states that the product does not absorb moisture and uses a resilient LoMar polyester coating designed for exterior weather exposure.

Review current manufacturer information on Woodgrain Series 2000 Aluminum Siding .

Do not turn that into a promise that aluminum requires zero maintenance forever.

Customer #7: The Homeowner Who Values a Written Warranty

Gentek's current warranty center still lists a dedicated Deluxe and Woodgrain 2000 Aluminum Siding and Soffit Warranty.

Gentek describes Woodgrain 2000 as carrying a lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty with chalk and color-change protection.

Contractors should always review the exact current warranty before explaining coverage.

Use the Gentek Warranty Center instead of quoting warranty terms from memory.

Five Questions That Identify an Aluminum Customer

1. What siding is currently on your home?

Existing aluminum immediately makes the category worth discussing.

2. Are you specifically interested in metal siding?

If yes, compare aluminum with steel instead of assuming only one metal option.

3. Are we matching an addition, garage or repair?

Compatibility with an existing aluminum exterior can become the deciding factor.

4. How important is coordinating the entire exterior?

Aluminum siding, soffit, fascia and trim can work together as a larger exterior package.

5. What matters most—price, appearance, impact resistance, maintenance or matching the existing home?

This prevents the salesperson from recommending aluminum when another siding category better fits the homeowner.

The Ideal Aluminum Customer Is Not Always the Cheapest Buyer

Do not reduce aluminum to:

"The less expensive metal option."

That weakens the category.

The ideal customer may instead value:

Matching an existing exterior
Traditional appearance
Metal construction
Coordinating aluminum products
Low-upkeep ownership
A specific Gentek profile or finish

Find the reason aluminum fits before discussing whether it costs more or less than another system.

Who Is Probably NOT the Ideal Aluminum Customer?

Aluminum should not be forced into every project.

Maximum Impact Resistance Is the Top Priority

Aluminum can dent under sufficient concentrated impact. A steel conversation may be more appropriate.

Homeowner Wants a Steel-Specific Finish

If premium steel construction or PVDF technology is the priority, aluminum may not satisfy the project.

Desired Profile Is Unavailable

Do not force aluminum if the homeowner's architectural goal requires another siding system.

Vinyl or Composite Fits Better

The right recommendation may simply be another product in your lineup.

The ideal aluminum customer is the homeowner whose project is improved by choosing aluminum—not the homeowner the salesperson can somehow convince to buy it.

Aluminum Works Best When You Show Alternatives

Do not isolate aluminum.

Put it into the broader presentation.

OPTION 1

Premium Vinyl

Strong value, broad profile choices and extensive color options.

OPTION 2

Gentek Aluminum

Metal siding with particular strength in existing-aluminum, repair, addition and coordinated exterior applications.

OPTION 3

Gentek Steel

Premium metal siding with a different rigidity, coating, profile and durability story.

Use Samples to Confirm the Fit

Once aluminum appears to fit the customer, show the actual product.

Use:

Aluminum siding samples
Profile samples
Actual color samples
Aluminum trim coil
Soffit and fascia samples
Current Gentek literature

Gentek explicitly recommends confirming final color selections with actual samples because screens, lighting, viewing angle and different product profiles can affect appearance.

Contractors can also use the Gentek Visualizer as an initial design tool before confirming selections with physical products.

Seven Signs You May Have an Aluminum Customer

1. The home already has aluminum siding.

2. The homeowner needs a repair or addition.

3. The homeowner specifically asks for metal siding.

4. The homeowner likes a traditional horizontal siding appearance.

5. Coordinating siding, soffit, fascia and trim matters.

6. Low-upkeep ownership is an important priority.

7. Aluminum solves the project better than forcing another siding category.

What Should a Salesperson Never Say?

Avoid	Better Language
"Aluminum is perfect for everyone."	"Aluminum makes sense for certain priorities and certain projects. Let's see whether yours is one of them."
"Aluminum is the cheap metal."	"Aluminum and steel are different metal siding systems with different applications and benefits."
"You already have aluminum, so you should stay with aluminum."	"Your existing aluminum makes it worth evaluating, but we should still compare your other options."
"We can match the old siding exactly."	"We'll identify the existing profile and compare current samples before promising a match."
"Aluminum doesn't dent."	"Aluminum is a durable exterior material, but sufficient concentrated impact can dent it."

The 30-Second Kitchen-Table Presentation

Siding Sales Academy Script

"Aluminum isn't the siding I automatically recommend to every homeowner. Where it becomes really interesting is when you're matching an existing aluminum exterior, repairing part of the house, siding an addition, looking specifically for metal or trying to coordinate an aluminum siding, soffit, fascia and trim package. If those priorities describe your project, aluminum is absolutely something we should compare with vinyl and steel."

The One-Sentence Answer

"The ideal aluminum siding customer is someone whose project benefits from aluminum's metal construction, traditional profiles, existing-home compatibility and coordinated exterior product options."

Siding Sales Academy Takeaway

Aluminum is a fit question—not a persuasion exercise.

Look for existing aluminum, repair needs, additions, metal preferences, traditional styling and complete aluminum exterior opportunities.

If aluminum solves those needs well, present it confidently. If steel, vinyl or composite makes more sense, recommend that instead. The strongest contractor is the one who can explain why each product belongs—or does not belong—on the project.

Identify the Right Aluminum Project With Suburban Wholesale & Supply

Contractors do not need to guess whether aluminum is available or whether a current product may fit an older aluminum project.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply helps contractors throughout Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois compare siding products and current material options.

Explore siding products available through Suburban Wholesale & Supply or bring a piece of existing aluminum siding, project photographs and measurements to our Davenport wholesale center.

Contractors can also compare Gentek steel siding when a homeowner wants to evaluate multiple metal siding options.

The goal is not to make every homeowner an aluminum customer. It is to recognize the homeowner who already is one.

Sources & Contractor Resources

Gentek Building Products — Product Directory — current manufacturer directory listing Cedarwood, Woodgrain Series 2000 and Deluxe aluminum siding, aluminum accessories, profiles and color options.
Gentek Building Products — Woodgrain Series 2000 — current information on Double 4-inch Clapboard, woodgrain texture, LoMar polyester coating, low upkeep, moisture resistance and warranty positioning.
Gentek Building Products — Deluxe Aluminum Siding — current manufacturer information on smooth-texture aluminum siding, profiles, weather performance and low-upkeep positioning.
Gentek Building Products — Aluminum Soffit & Fascia — current coordinating aluminum soffit and fascia colors and product information.
Gentek Building Products — Color & Design — current Color Clear Through program coordinating siding, soffit, fascia, trim and rainware across Gentek's vinyl, aluminum and steel families.
Gentek Building Products — Warranty Center — current warranty resources, including Deluxe and Woodgrain 2000 Aluminum Siding and Soffit warranty information.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply — Siding Products — local contractor resource for siding products and material options.
Suburban Wholesale & Supply — Davenport siding distributor providing contractor education, product samples, material quotes and project support throughout the Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Who Is the Ideal Aluminum Siding Customer? | Suburban Wholesale Siding Sales Academy