Questions to Ask Your James Hardie Installer in Blue Bell, PA

When planning a siding replacement project, two of the most important decisions you’ll make are which materials to use and which contractor to hire to install it. More and more Blue Bell, PA homeowners are realizing that James Hardie siding is the best option for their homes. But, how should you go about choosing the right James Hardie installer for your project?

Before hiring a contractor, we recommend taking the time to talk to potential installers and ask them key questions to help you determine if they’re qualified to work on your home. Throughout this guide, we’ve rounded up the most important questions to ask to help make it easier for you to choose the right installer for your siding replacement.

Continue reading to learn what to ask and why they’re important in helping you make your decision.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

Every siding contractor has to get started somewhere, but hiring a novice for your project is risky. An inexperienced James Hardie siding contractor may not know how to properly install the products. This could result in faulty siding, which can lead to dangerous and expensive issues down the line.

Before choosing your contractor, ask them how much experience they have specifically in projects like yours. For example, if you’re replacing your stucco siding with James Hardie, make sure a contractor has completed similar projects before agreeing to hire them.

Are You Licensed and Insured?

Next, you need to make sure that your installer can safely work on your home. By hiring a licensed James Hardie contractor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that they have received the proper training and certification to work on your home. As a result, your project will be done right every step of the way, so you won’t have to worry about issues later on.

Your contractor should also have liability insurance so you’re not held responsible, as the homeowners, if an accident should happen on your project.

Here at MHX Designs, our team is licensed and insured, so you can feel confident that your home is in good hands when you hire us.

Can I See a Portfolio of Your Work?

One of the best ways to get a sense of the kind of work a contractor can do is to look through a portfolio of past projects. Seeing actual before and after photos of a James Hardie siding installation can help you envision what your own home might look like should you hire that team for your project.

Here at MHX Designs, we love to showcase our work! We invite you to check out our featured projects, which you can filter by type, so you can see exactly what we can do for your home.

What Do Your Past Customers Have to Say?

Along those same lines, it’s also a good idea to read through reviews from previous customers before hiring a contractor. Reviews are a customer’s opportunity to share their unbiased thoughts about what it’s like to work with a particular company, whether good or bad.

We recommend visiting a contractor’s Google listing and reading through several reviews, paying attention to consistent themes you see. For example, if multiple reviewers mention excellent customer service, it’s a good sign that you’ll also have the same experience if you hire them for your project.

The MHX Designs team proudly boasts an average 4.9-star rating on Google!

Are You a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor?

There are plenty of siding contractors out there that can install James Hardie siding. But, did you know that only some contractors are recognized as expert installers by James Hardie? Before making your hiring decision, ask if the installer is a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor.

Earning this designation means that a company completes annual James Hardie training, complies with installation best practices, maintains a satisfactory background check and record with the BBB, and more.

In short, hiring a James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor (like MHX Designs!) means you’ll get the best possible experience during your siding installation.

What Kind of Warranties Do You Offer?

Replacing your siding is an investment and you want to ensure it’s protected. Before you hire an installer, don’t forget to ask about the warranties they offer on their products.

At MHX Designs, we’re proud to have been one of the selective contractors chosen by James Hardie to offer their special 10-year warranty offer. It covers all labor and James Hardie materials for 10 years. If anything goes wrong, James Hardie will cover the costs of materials and labor for repair, repainting, or replacement of the affected products.

How Long Will My Project Take to Complete?

Few things are more frustrating than a home improvement project that seemingly never ends. We recommend asking your siding installer to give you an estimated timeline of how long you might expect your replacement project to take.

While the actual timeline of your project can vary based on a number of different factors, an experienced James Hardie installer should be able to give you a rough estimate for each step of the process so you can schedule a project at a time that works best for your family.

What Kinds of Styles and Colors Are Available?

One of the many reasons we love recommending James Hardie siding to local homeowners is that it comes in a wide variety of styles, colors, and finishes. No matter what kind of curb appeal you want to create for your home, you can bring your ideas to life with James Hardie siding.

When searching for the right contractor, make sure they can walk you through all of the different design options, answering any questions you have. The right contractor can make recommendations based on your wants and needs so you choose a style you’ll love for years to come.

Here at MHX Designs, we even have an industry-leading virtual exterior design service so you can visualize different styles and colors down to the tiniest detail. From there, you’ll receive an actual 3D rendering of your home to help you make your final design decision.

Is James Hardie Good Siding for Blue Bell’s Climate?

Before you replace your home’s siding, you need to ensure that it can withstand the wide range of weather we get here in Blue Bell, PA. In particular, your siding needs to be able to stand up against very wet weather like rain, ice, and snow.

Your James Hardie siding installer should be able to explain exactly how you can expect your James Hardie siding to perform in our unique climate. When you hire our team, we’ll show you examples of James Hardie siding and tell you more about how it’s specifically designed to perform well in our Southeastern Pennsylvania weather, so you won’t have to worry the first time a storm rolls through after your siding replacement.

What Do I Have to Do to Clean and Maintain My Siding?

When hiring a siding contractor, don’t forget to also think beyond the project. Once your new siding is installed, your construction team cleans up after themselves, and moves on to their next project. You become in charge of caring for your home’s exterior.

The right siding contractor will be able to answer any questions you have about how to properly maintain and care for your siding.

Many of our customers love James Hardie siding because it’s a relatively low-maintenance option. As a very durable material, it’s not susceptible to the same types of damage that plague other siding materials. Beyond that, it requires very little maintenance. All you have to do is gently clean it with soap and water a few times per year to keep it looking great.

Can You Provide Me With a Written Estimate?

The final, and perhaps most important, question to ask a siding contractor before signing a contract is if they’ll give you a written estimate. Too often, homeowners will only get a verbal estimate for their renovation project. Then, after signing the contract, they’ll receive a bill at the end of the project that’s much higher than that verbal estimate.

To prevent that, ask for a detailed written estimate that provides transparency about what exactly your payments will cover. If you find that a contractor is hesitant to give you a written estimate, it could be a sign that they’re not the right choice for your project.

Hire the Most Experienced James Hardie Installer in Blue Bell, PA

After reading this guide, we hope you feel more prepared when searching for a James Hardie installer. By taking the time to ask these questions, you can have peace of mind that you’re making the right hiring decision and that your project will go as smoothly as possible.

If you live in the Blue Bell, PA area, we think you’ll find that our team here at MHX Designs is the right choice for the job. As the area’s leading James Hardie siding installer, we’ll be here for you every step of the way, so you never have to worry. When you’re ready to get started, contact us to set up a free consultation for your project.