Timestamps
0:00 Introduction to C&L Ward and siding material options
1:15 Vinyl siding benefits
1:42 Engineered wood siding benefits
2:13 Composite siding benefits
2:36 Design and visualization tools
3:12 Certifications and Installation
3:50 Financing and next steps
During a recent WXYZ interview, C&L Ward CEO Pat Ward discussed the advantages and drawbacks of today’s most popular siding materials.
WXYZ (the ABC affiliate in Detroit) featured C&L Ward on Channel 7 News’ “7 Home Pros” special, a show featuring expert advice from across metro Detroit to help residents enhance their living spaces.
During the interview, Ward addressed common homeowner concerns, including material durability, maintenance requirements, curb appeal, project costs, and financing options.
Michigan’s climate presents unique challenges for exterior remodeling products. Homeowners must consider temperature fluctuations, moisture, snow, ice, and UV exposure when choosing siding materials. During the WXYZ segment, Pat Ward discussed how different siding products perform under Michigan weather conditions and how homeowners can select the best option for their goals and budget.
Ward shared three popular siding options—vinyl, composite, and engineered wood—and how the best siding material for your Michigan home depends on factors such as maintenance preferences, budget, durability requirements, and curb appeal goals.
Table of Contents
5 Key Takeaways from C&L Ward’s WXYZ Interview About Siding Materials
Vinyl Siding Benefits
During the segment, Pat Ward shared that vinyl siding is most often used in C&L Ward’s projects. Vinyl siding is the most affordable option. Vinyl siding also offers durability, low maintenance, and is available in a wide variety of colors.
Over the years, Ward said, many enhancements and changes to the product have transformed vinyl siding to make fading less of a concern.
Engineered Wood Siding Benefits
C&L Ward offers Diamond Kote engineered wood siding, a proprietary blend based on a strand board-type product, Ward said. Diamond Kote utilizes a capping and painting process over the top of the board, which is guaranteed for 30 years.
The engineered wood offers richer colors and wider laps, with the option to create different looks that can’t quite be matched with vinyl siding.
If you’re replacing a cement board or wood siding and still want that authentic look, Ward said, engineered wood is a great solution.
Composite Siding Benefits
Composite siding has become one of the fastest-growing siding categories among Michigan homeowners. During the interview, Ward explained that Everlast Advanced Composite Siding combines the appearance of real wood with minimal maintenance requirements and exceptional color retention.
The composite siding offers minimal expansion, deep and rich colors, and mimics an authentic wood grain. Ward says composite is a great alternative to wood for those seeking a maintenance-free product that won’t crack or split.
Design Options
At your free consultation, a C&L Ward design consultant will help you choose a siding color that complements your home, Ward said. With the help of digital tools, the consultant can create a 3D rendering of your home to help you visualize a variety of styles and color options before making that big decision.
Financing Options
C&L Ward offers several financing options, including same-as-cash plans. Right now, Ward said, many clients are opting for C&L Ward’s low monthly payment option for as low as $199 a month.
C&L Ward also offers an online cost estimator tool, where you can answer just a few questions and get an instant range of what your project could cost.
FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions Michigan homeowners ask about siding materials, installation, financing, and choosing the right product for their home.
What siding materials are available from C&L Ward?
C&L Ward offers CertainTeed vinyl and insulated vinyl siding, Everlast Advanced Composite Siding, and Diamond Kote engineered wood siding.
Which siding material is most affordable?
Vinyl siding is generally one of the most affordable siding options available. The total cost of a siding project depends on factors such as material selection, home size, installation requirements, and design preferences.
Which siding material performs best in Michigan weather?
Michigan homeowners should consider durability, moisture resistance, maintenance requirements, and appearance when choosing siding. Vinyl, engineered wood, and composite siding can all perform well in Michigan’s climate when professionally installed. The best choice depends on your home’s style, budget, and long-term goals.
Which siding option best mimics real wood?
Engineered wood siding is designed to closely replicate the appearance of traditional wood siding while offering improved durability and lower maintenance requirements. Composite siding is another popular option for homeowners seeking a wood-look exterior.
Does modern vinyl siding fade?
Modern vinyl siding is significantly more fade-resistant than earlier generations of the product. Advances in manufacturing and color technology help today’s vinyl siding maintain its appearance for many years when properly installed and maintained.
What siding colors are available, and can I preview siding colors before installation?
A variety of color options are available for each siding material. You can easily preview popular siding colors with C&L Ward’s Design Online tool, or see the full selection by scheduling a consultation with one of our experts.
What is the Peace of Mind guarantee?
C&L Ward’s Peace of Mind guarantee ensures that your siding will perform on the day of installation, for as long as you own your home. If at any time a problem arises due to the quality of our installation of your siding, C&L Ward will pay for the materials and labor needed to correct the problem.
If I choose C&L Ward, who installs my siding?
C&L Ward will assign an installation crew to your project. All of our crews are certified and undergo specific, continuous training on all products C&L Ward offers. The work of all our installers is protected under warranty and exceeds manufacturer criteria.
How long will my siding installation take?
Once installation begins, the siding project takes one or two weeks to complete, on average.
Does C&L Ward offer financing for siding projects?
Yes, C&L Ward offers financing for all projects, including siding projects. You can read more about C&L Ward’s financing at GoCLWard.com.
How do I estimate the cost of a siding project?
You can easily find an estimate of what your siding project could cost with C&L Ward’s online cost estimator tool. Take less than two minutes to answer a few questions, and you’ll receive an instant range of what your project could cost.
What’s the next step towards my new siding?
Whether you already know what siding you want or would like to learn more about different materials and options, schedule a consultation with one of our experts design consultants. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and work with you to make custom selections.
Full WXYZ Interview Transcript
The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and readability while preserving the substance of the original interview.
Erin Nicole, WXYZ: Let’s head outside, where new siding can transform the look of your home while being low-maintenance and durable. C&L Ward offers personalized service, high-performance products, and a Peace of Mind Guarantee.
C&L Ward has been helping clients since 1972.
Pat Ward, C&L Ward CEO: The company was actually founded by my father and uncle, and they started in the siding business. And over the years, we’ve done thousands of siding projects. Not only do we bring the expertise in the selection of color and design, but we also bring the expertise in the installation and workmanship, which is equally important.
Our process really starts with homeowners reaching out to us because they do have siding concerns or are looking to replace the siding on their home. And our first step is to schedule a free in-home consultation where we’ll send out a design consultant that’ll come out, assess the looks of the home, what your needs are, and what you’re trying to accomplish with your siding project.
Nicole: A design consultant will walk you through your siding options. Vinyl siding, composite siding, and engineered wood products.
Ward: Vinyl siding is probably the one siding product that we use the most. Definitely the most affordable. But it has some great features such as durability, low maintenance, and a wide variety of colors.
You know, we’ve been doing vinyl siding for nearly 25, 30 years now. So, it’s tried and true, and it’s a very popular product here in Michigan. Vinyl siding, over the years, has really transformed. You just don’t see the fading that we used to with vinyl siding, with a lot of the enhancements and changes they’ve made in the product.
Engineered Wood, we offer a product called Diamond Kote, and it’s kind of a proprietary blend. It’s based on a strand board-type product. But then they have a capping and painting process that goes on top of it that’s actually guaranteed for 30 years. A little richer colors, if you will, wider laps in the product, so you can get different looks that maybe you can’t quite get in vinyl siding. Maybe you’re replacing a cement board, or you’re replacing a wood siding, and you want that authentic, rich look that you’ve had. We find engineered wood is a great product solution.
Composite is probably the latest trend in siding, from what we’re seeing. We use a product called Everlast. It has complete color retention throughout the product. Minimal expansion, real deep, rich colors again, authentic wood grains. It’s just a great alternative for those that are looking for a solid substrate product that you don’t have to worry about ever cracking or splitting, and is virtually maintenance-free.
Nicole: The design consultant will also help you choose a siding color that will complement your home.
Ward: We really want to make it cohesive with the roofing, cohesive with their window colors. So when you look at it, it kind of blends well, and it all works well together.
Nicole: They can also create a 3D rendering of your home so you can visualize the style and color.
Ward: And what we’re able to do at that point is mock up your home with different colors. So you could see it in a dark rich color or maybe something a little more in a gray tone or something in a white. So, it allows, really, people to get a visualization before they purchase or make that big decision.
From there, once you decide to move forward with the project, we’re able to assign a project manager that’ll come out to the home and really assess the whole scope of the project to make sure we have the right materials on site.
We assign an installation crew. All of our crews are certified, so they all go through specific training on the different products we’re putting on. So, everything’s under warranty and we meet all the manufacturer criteria.
Once we start the installation, really, it’s a week or two long project. We clean up every day. We keep the house tidy. And, really, within a couple weeks, I mean, you can virtually transform your home and have that Peace of Mind that you know the siding is going to last for decades to come.
Nicole: C&L Ward also offers clients a Peace of Mind workmanship guarantee.
Ward: We’re going to stand behind our workmanship for as long as you own the home.
Nicole: C&L Ward offers several financing options.
Ward: We have a lot of same-as-cash plans. What we find most people are more inclined to do right now is a low monthly payment option. We can get into siding someone’s home and have a payment really as low as $199 a month and have a completely renovated new home.
Nicole: You can also check out their new cost estimator tool on their website, goclward.com.
Ward: When someone has their siding replaced on their home and we’re done with the project, it’s usually, “Wow, I didn’t know it could look that great.” They’re happy they made the decision to not only upgrade, but really give their home a whole new curb appeal that they didn’t think was possible.