It's not too early to begin planning next spring's DIY siding project
, and you may be wondering about your options for purchasing house siding; can you find your best deal at a siding distributor or should you buy your siding from a contractor? If you're an experienced DIYer and have installed a lot of siding, then you may find your best prices at a distributor, but if this is your first foray into the siding world, purchasing from a contractor could give you a better overall experience.
Should You Purchase Siding from a Distributor or a Contractor?
Most siding distributors are used to dealing with customers who install siding on a daily basis and have a list of materials they need when they walk through the door. The salespeople can be very helpful, but in many cases they've never installed vinyl siding themselves even though they're familiar with the various products. If you have a list of the siding and accessories needed to do your home, then you'll probably get your best price from a distributor.
If you aren't quite sure what you need, then a contractor can give you a little more personalized service than a distributor. A good siding contractor can:
Visit your home and help make a list of siding materials needed
Give you tips on preparing your home for new siding
Point out possible problem areas on your house and how to handle them
Help you with some informal instruction on siding installation
Let you know about time saving tools and how to use them
You may pay a little more for your siding by purchasing from a contractor but perhaps not as much as you think. Many contractors receive volume discounts from their distributors, and their helpful customer service may make you consider the few extra dollars money well spent.