The difference between a profitable siding repair and a break-even one is often a second trip. You show up, look at the damage, don't have the panel, and have to come back. Carry a small stock of what's common in your area and you can fix a lot of jobs on the first visit.
Learn your area's siding
Every area has its own mix. Subdivisions built in the same decade by the same builders tend to use the same siding. Pay attention on every job:
- The profile (double 4", double 4.5", double 5", Dutch lap).
- The color (whites, tans, grays, clays, browns).
- The brand and product line, if you can find a mark on the panel.
Keep notes. After a season, you'll know the handful of profiles and colors that show up again and again.
What to carry
Start small:
- A few panels in the most common colors and profiles you see.
- J-channel, starter strip and utility trim in common colors.
- A few corner posts in the most common colors.
- Soffit panels in white and a couple of common colors.
- Aluminum coil in white and common trim colors for wrapping fascia and trim.
- Fasteners: roofing nails, trim nails, stainless where needed.
- Sealant and touch-up.
Storing siding on the truck
Vinyl is long and flexible, and it bends and kinks easily.
- A ladder rack or a long tube rack keeps panels flat and protected.
- Keep it out of direct sun and heat when you can; hot vinyl can warp.
- Keep it flat, not bent around other gear.
- Label it by profile and color.
Leftovers from jobs
Leftover panels from a job are your best stock. Ask homeowners if you can keep the extras (or offer a small credit). Old matching panels pulled from hidden spots can save the next job. See matching discontinued vinyl siding.
Don't overstock
Don't fill a garage with siding you'll never use. Keep what you use regularly, and buy the rest per job. Take photos when customers call so you know what to bring. See qualifying the phone call.
The payoff
When you can pull a matching panel off the truck and finish in an hour, you look like a pro and you make more money. Grill melts and wind-blown panels become one-trip jobs. See grill-melted siding and wind-blown panels.
Inside Siding Pro Academy, we share the starter stock list members carry.
Photo: from a real Siding Pro Academy repair job.
