Residential Siding - Ratings and Reports

ATLANTA - Fiber Cement Siding Reviews* and Customer Testimonials in the Greater Atlanta Area.
( * Our companyreviews are ONLY published after we have collected input from OVER 100 homeowners that have used that particular company for the product or service that is the subject of our review. ) 

Published February 15, 2007 

Fiber Cement Siding Industry Terms: Siding Many homeowners in Atlanta find replacement siding a cost-effective way to substantially increase curb appeal. Beyond improving a home’s beauty, certain siding types also reduce annual home maintenance costs. Before making a buying decision, homeowners should understand the various siding options. Siding types Wood siding, fiber cement siding, and vinyl siding The main types of siding Atlanta homeowners install on their homes are wood siding, fiber cement siding, and vinyl siding. Masonite, a wood composite, is a low-cost siding alternative to real wood, which can be more expensive. Certainteed and HardiPlank are two popular examples of fiber cement siding, which is made of cement, sand, and wood fibers. Vinyl siding is also a popular choice; it can retain its original look after years, and never requires painting. Problems with Wood-Composite Siding Crumbling wood siding Much of the wood-composite siding on homes was installed in the 1980s, and has already started to deteriorate. However, much of the material in crumbling wood siding is still under warranty, and you may be entitled to a claim against the manufacturer. This section includes more information on how to make such claims.

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Siding Information

Siding contractors
Read this section for some information about your siding installation that you should know. Learn about the materials used to make siding, how siding contractors might try to cut corners, and whether your old siding needs to be removed before your new siding is installed. Then, read more about the siding contractors identified through Home Reports research reviews as A rated companies.

Siding types
Wood, fiber cement, and vinyl are common siding types. Each carries its own advantages and disadvantages and is available in a variety of quality levels and prices.
Wood siding. A low-quality wood-composite product, such as Masonite™ or LP, is the cheapest siding option. Real wood, such as pine, oak, and redwood, is usually much more expensive. Wood naturally absorbs water and will deteriorate over time. To protect wood and to keep it looking good, you must paint it every few years.

Fiber cement siding
Two major manufacturers of fiber cement siding are HardiPlank, who pretty much invented the material and generic fiber cement siding that many other companies place their own name on.  Fiber cement siding is a composite material made of cement, sand, and natural wood fibers and is manufactured to look just like wood. However, it is more durable than wood and resists damage from water and termites. Fiber cement siding must be painted. It is usually less expensive than brick, but more expensive than vinyl or a wood product, such as Masonite or LP.

Vinyl siding (Which is not approved for new construction in some Georgia areas)
Vinyl siding is usually less expensive than aluminum siding and most grades of wood siding. The vinyl siding manufactured today is available in a wide variety of colors and never needs painting. Good quality, thick vinyl siding with stiffeners rarely warps or breaks down, and usually carries an extremely long warranty. In general, the thicker the vinyl siding and the more stiffeners that reinforce it, the fewer problems the siding will develop down the road. Periodic pressure washing returns vinyl to its original appearance.

Crumbling wood siding
Many Atlanta homeowners experience major problems with wood-composite siding only a short time after installation. When this siding was introduced in the 1980s, manufacturers predicted it would last much longer than it has, and in some cases, warranted it for as long as 40 years. If you have cracking, crumbling, or buckling Masonite or wood-composite siding, you may be able to make a claim against the manufacturer. For information about making a claim, contact the siding manufacturer. If you do not know who made your siding, you may be able to identify the company from the markings on the backside of the siding. For information on filing a claim, call Louisiana-Pacific at 800-245-2722, Masonite at 800-330-2722, or Georgia-Pacific at 800-284-5347. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not recover enough money to cover the full cost of replacement.

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ATLANTA - Atlanta fiber cement siding contractors reviews and Consumer Comments - Top 3 Atlanta area fiber cement contractors:

DuraCraft of Lawrenceville  (770) 831-6795

“I had to have all my siding replaced. They cleaned up every day, they were here when they said, and everything ran smoothly. I have been pleased.” “I was happy with their work. It looks good on my house.”

According to the majority of homeowners who have re-sided their homes throughout North Georgia, they did so with DuraCraft of Georgia.

DuraCraft is one of the best siding and window companies throughlut North Georgia and is hands down favorite throughout North Georgia for the ninth consecutive year. The company installs and Hardiplank siding with heavy insulation, and vinyl replacement windows. Founder and owner John Powell, who started DuraCraft in 1989, is known for his honesty and low-pressure sales approach. He and his team go out of their way to educate potential customers, so that they can make informed decisions. John explains, “Our success is due to the fact that we are an installation-driven company. I started out as an installer, and four of our key managers have a combined 150 years of installation experience.

As the company has grown, they have grown with it. Our installation knowledge carries over. Because we have hands-on experience, we will impress you with our product knowledge and work quality. We have grown into a larger company since we started, but we still focus on service.”

DuraCraft carries both liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and is a member of the Better Business Bureau of Metro Atlanta. As John says, “At DuraCraft of Georgia, it’s easy to see the difference in our work.”

Consumer Comment:  “I had to have all my siding replaced. They cleaned up every day, they were here when they said, and everything ran smoothly. I have been pleased.  I was happy with their work. It looks good on my house.”

North Georgia Exteriors of Buford    (678) 714-2170

"These consumate professionsals under promise and over deliver!  I did my homework, got quotes from five roofing and siding contractors, and pursued the top two until I ended up with the company that I felt most comfortable with.  Their original quote was as competitive as the others, but when I told them how much I could affort to re-side and re-roof my house, that number was almost 20% lower than the lowest bid.  The folks at North Georgia Exteriors stayed in touch with me for over four months while I worked on getting my money together - and when it was time to install, they took very good care of me.  They met the figure that I could afford while playing absolutely no games or magical acts of salesmanship.  Our home is the biggest investment my family will ever make and it's also the most important.

"Since their work, I had my home re-appraised and the $38,000 I spent on HardiPlank Siding and a new roof increased the value of my home more than twice what I paid.  And it looks absolutely breath taking and beautiful!  Everyone in our neighborhood says so.  Now we have a 20 year warranty covering my roof and a 50 year transferable materials AND labor warranty on the siding on our home.  It's like living in a much nicer house, only we didn't have to move!  Thank You, North Georgia Exteriors!"

Atlanta HardiPlank Siding & Home Improvements    (678) 357-7077

Atlanta HardiPlank Siding, & Home Improvements is a highly reputable family business that again received extremely positive reviews. It has been an Atlanta long time favorite for HardiPlank siding, roofing and many other residential general contracting projects for almost a quarter century. "Atlanta HardiPlank Siding" installs Hardie siding, Hardi-Soffit, Hardi-Fascia and U.S. Department of Energy partners Gorell vinyl replacement windows and doors, gutters with optional solid gutter cover systems, decks, and both residential and commercial roofing.

The company is known for exceptional work quality and integrity. Atlanta HardiPlank also provides exterior painting, deck repairs, and rotted home overhang or chimney chase rebuilding. T.J. Jones, Sr. started the business in the early 1970's and recently passes ownership and control to his son, T.J. Jr., who grew up in the business and runs the daily operations.

T.J. Junior exclaims the company's long time first rule for success, “Perform in each job like it's the most important job you'll ever do, treat each customer like they're the most important customer you'll ever serve and maintain your integrity at all costs.”  T.J. Junior further states "even though you may have over a thousand successful jobs under your belt, your entire reputation rests on the quality of each and every customer you ever worked for," or more plainly stated - one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Atlanta HardiPlank Siding, & Home Improvements carries workers’ compensation and $1,000,000 liability insurance. Even though the word "Atlanta" is first in their name, their main offices recently expanded and forced them to re-locate in Lawrenceville. 

“We couldn’t have been happier with the siding. I just love it. They clean up so well.  We had a very good experience overall. The folks that came out were very thorough and detailed, and they paid attention to the job.” 

Selection of other rated companies - Identity Withheld": 
 
 Company B      Withheld. . . . . . .
 “We used "Company B" for my siding and for my gutters. The siding was OK, but the gutters were a total failure. I would not recommend their gutter service to anybody. The gutter covers don’t work at all. Overall, they did average work, it could have been a lot better - especiall for the price we paid.”

 Company C      Withheld. . . . . . . 
 “I had "Company C" on the siding. I think I’d give them a [low grade]. That is for the forcefulness of the salesman on my original contact. The install went pretty good, although I did catch some mistakes after they completed it. But otherwise, it was good.”

 Company D      Withheld. . . . . . . 
 “The work they did was so bad that I had to threaten them. I was so upset. They put up siding around the garage door. It was like the ugliest thing. I was embarrassed for the neighbors, it was so ugly. After I threatened them, they gave me half of my money back. I’m afraid to use them again. I’d give them a D, because they didn’t send out a good person. I was very disappointed.” 

 Company E      Withheld. . . . . . . 
 “I really did not like "Company E"I was trying to find someone for siding, soffit, and fascia work. The salesman came out and was really hard selling. They were horrible. I would not have had them in my house. As soon as he found out we weren’t ready to buy that day, that we were still talking to other companies, he was done with us. I would not recommend them to anybody, ever. I felt like I was at one of those vacation-resort things where they are trying to sell you a timeshare. That’s what I felt like he was trying to do. It was a buy-now kind of thing. He even pulled this thing where he went out to the car to call his manager. I was like, ‘Come on, we’re not stupid.’” 

 Company F      Withheld. . . . . . . 
 “Their sales pitch was horrible. I am a single woman, and I was nervous...the guy would not leave. I almost called the police....they get an F. The price was outrageous, and the minimum was much more than they said on the phone. He was trying to scam me. I think they don’t make the commission if they don’t sell it right there. I stood up and opened the door, and he kept on talking. He even called his boss, and I could hear the boss in the background saying, ‘Well, if she thinks she is going to get a better deal, she is crazy.’”