What should I look for in a siding contractor?

A good siding contractor is licensed in Virginia for the size of your job, installs to the siding maker's instructions, can show you finished houses, and puts everything in a written contract before taking much money. Check the licence yourself, ask every bidder the same questions about how they install, and compare written bids on one specification.

A Virginia licence in the right class

Virginia law is plain: "No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter."^[1] The licence class has to fit the price: a Class C contractor works on single contracts over $1,000 but less than $30,000, a Class B contractor on $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, and a Class A contractor on $150,000 or more.^[2] A whole-house re-side can be a Class B job.

The licence also has to cover the work. The home improvement (HIC) specialty covers repairs and improvements to dwellings and townhouses, and the residential building (RBC) classification also covers that work.^[3]

Check it yourself. DPOR warns that a licence number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the licence is valid,^[5] and information on past complaints and disciplinary actions is available from the Board.^[5] How to check a contractor's licence in Virginia shows how to use the lookup.

Proof they install vinyl properly

Installation matters as much as the product, and the maker's warranty will not pay for it: Alside's, for example, does not warrant installation nor defects caused by installation.^[11]

Ask questions that show whether a crew knows the details:

• Whose instructions do you follow? The answer should be the siding maker's installation guide for the product you are buying.
• How do you nail it? Listen for loose nailing in the centre of the slots so the panels can slide, and gaps at the trim for expansion. Why vinyl siding buckles explains why that matters.
• What goes behind it? House wrap, flashing at windows and doors, and how they handle rotten sheathing when the old siding comes off.
• Are your installers certified? The VSI Certified Installer programme trains installers to fasten siding so it can expand and contract, keep it straight and secure on the wall, and prepare openings to keep water out.^[9] It certifies installers with a year of industry experience who pass an exam, and the certification has to be renewed every five years.^[10] It is a plus, not a licence.

Then check references. DPOR suggests asking for local references and calling them, looking at finished projects, and asking whether the contractor kept to the schedule and fixed problems willingly.^[5] It also suggests you verify the business address and phone number with the Board.^[5]

Lead-safe certification on an older house

If your house was built before 1978, painted wood siding or trim may be cut, scraped or torn off. EPA's rule requires that anyone paid to perform work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 be certified, and their employees trained in lead-safe work practices.^[8] That includes all firms, even sole proprietorships.^[8] Ask for the firm's certification before work starts.

Permits

Most Virginia re-siding jobs need none: the building code says no permit is needed to replace any amount of siding on houses in residential Groups R-3, R-4 and R-5 outside areas where the design wind speed is above 100 miles per hour,^[12] though a building official may require one for replacement siding in a locally designated historic district.^[12] Where a permit is needed, the contractor should get it. DPOR warns that the permit holder becomes the general contractor and takes on responsibility for the overall job.^[5]

Bids, the contract and payments

DPOR advises you to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications,^[5] and warns that a bid substantially lower than the others probably means a mistake or work left out.^[5] What new siding costs in Virginia lists what each bid should spell out.

For residential work, the Board for Contractors requires a written contract that includes when work is to begin and the estimated completion date, the total cost, the amounts and schedule of progress payments including the down payment, a list of the specified materials and work,^[4] and a statement that the contractor will comply with local permit, inspection and zoning requirements, the cancellation rights of the parties, and the contractor's name, address, licence number, class and specialty.^[4] It also says any change to cost, materials, work or completion date must be in writing and signed by all parties.^[4] Add a written workmanship warranty, the siding brand and colour, and how rot repair will be priced.

If a salesperson signed you up at home, Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act may apply: the buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after signing,^[7] by written notice to the seller at the address in the agreement.^[7]

On money, DPOR's rule of thumb is a deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less, and up to 30% for custom-made or special-order items,^[5] and do not pay 100% of the bill until the work is 100% complete.^[5] See how much deposit a contractor can ask for.

If things go wrong after the job, a single Recovery Fund claim is limited to $30,000,^[6] and a claim needs a court judgment against a licensed contractor based on improper or dishonest conduct, and mere breach of contract does not count.^[6] How to file a complaint against a contractor covers the first steps.

Stop and call a pro if

These are signs to walk away from a contractor or slow down:

• Red flags from DPOR's list: pressure to sign today for a special price, a promise of a low price because your house will be a model or advertising job, a demand for the whole job in advance or for cash, or a contractor whose name, address and licence you cannot verify.^[5]
• The bid has no product, no colour and no mention of what happens to rotten sheathing.
• They plan to nail the panels tight, or say vinyl can go straight over studs or crumbling old siding.
• The house was built before 1978 and they have no lead-safe certification.
• Water damage turns up in the walls. Have it priced as its own repair before the new siding covers it.

Finding a siding contractor in Virginia

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses from the state register with their licence number, class and a link to DPOR's lookup. Browse siding businesses, find exterior contractors around Blacksburg, or read the other exterior answers. Describe the siding job once and licensed local businesses will quote it.