Business Q&A
If you’ve lived in New Town for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve seen a Siding Repair Systems crew… or perhaps had them work on your own home.
The O’Fallon-based company has worked on more than 400 homes in New Town, according to longtime company representative Dan Schwartz. Its connection to the community grew especially strong as homeowners began dealing with deteriorating siding and, for many, navigating a class-action settlement involving siding originally installed on their homes. Schwartz estimates Siding Repair Systems assisted around 200 New Town homeowners during that process.
But the company's history goes back much further.
Owner Mike Hudson started the business in 1991, originally operating as Choice Remodeling. Schwartz joined him during the Flood of 1993, and over the following three decades watched the business evolve as problems with older siding products created a growing need for something other than traditional replacement contracting.
That eventually helped shape the philosophy behind Siding Repair Systems: Repair or replace—you have a choice.
We recently talked with about the company, its long relationship with New Town and what homeowners should know as their homes continue to age.
When someone calls about their siding, how do you determine whether they need a repair or complete replacement?
Everybody’s situation is different. Some people ask if we can take care of what really needs attention now and do the rest later. We can repair and paint a house and sometimes give them another five or ten years before they decide they want to replace everything.
Then we have homeowners who are ready to do the whole house and have all-new siding. We try to explain the different options and let the homeowner decide what makes sense for their situation.
What warning signs should homeowners watch for as their siding gets older?
Cracked boards are a big one. You also want to watch for areas where moisture may be getting through, mold, chipping and other deterioration.
Some of the problems we’ve encountered over the years have also involved installation—things like using the wrong nails or nails that weren’t long enough. Paint matters, too. Fiber cement siding needs the appropriate type of paint, so it’s important that whoever works on it understands the product.
You’ve done more than 400 homes in New Town. What keeps that business coming?
Do good work, and it’ll follow you around. About 80% of our business comes from referrals.
We’ve been blessed to have really good crews that are conscientious about their work. We’re human and occasionally something can get overlooked, but we stand behind our work and take care of things.
What can homeowners expect when they call you for an estimate?
We don’t want people to feel pushed into something or think they’re going to get a “special deal tonight” that requires them to sign immediately.
I tell people, “Hang on to your money, hang on to your pen.” Get the estimate. Sleep on it. When you decide you’re ready, get back with us and we’ll figure out where you can go from there. It’s entirely up to you.
Despite the name, you do quite a bit more than siding, correct?
Yes. We do pretty much everything exterior. We offer windows, gutters, doors, decks and deck refurbishing, and we’ve done sunrooms as well. We can quote those independently; it doesn’t necessarily have to be part of a siding project.
We also have options for homeowners who have older vinyl siding but aren’t ready to replace it. In some cases, we can paint it and give the exterior a completely different look.
For homeowners who do choose replacement, Siding Repair Systems installs multiple exterior products, including James Hardie fiber cement siding, for which Schwartz says the company has achieved Elite Remodeler status.
For Schwartz, however, the goal remains the same whether the project involves a few damaged boards or an entirely new exterior: give homeowners options, provide value for their money and build the kind of relationship that brings customers back.
As he puts it: “Do good work, and it’ll follow you around.”
Siding Repair Systems is a proud member of the NTxConnect Business Network
Call them for a quote at 636.782.3041
https://www.sidingrepairsystems.com/