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In just two years, the Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc., located in Washington, D.C. representing manufacturers of vinyl and polymeric siding and suppliers to the industry, has certified nearly 2,000 vinyl siding installers nationwide through the Certified Installer Program.

Launched in spring 2005, VSI’s Certified Installer Program tests vinyl siding professionals on their knowledge of vinyl siding installation techniques, based on the industry standard, ASTM D4756. More than 1,800 certified professionals are currently listed and now companies can qualify to become VSI Certified Installer Companies as well.

“VSI Certified Installers help build homeowners’ confidence that vinyl siding is applied properly to maintain its beauty for years to come,” said VSI President Jery Y. Huntley. “By adding Certified Installer Companies to the program, we encourage vinyl siding installation companies committed to quality to set themselves apart from the competition. We’re starting to hear about builders and contractors specifically asking for certified vinyl siding installers.”

VSI’s certification process involves a combination of classroom training, hands-on instruction and a written test given by a VSI Certified Trainer. Candidates must have at least one year of experience installing vinyl siding, and installers with at least three years of experience can become certified by passing VSI’s test. All VSI Certified Installers must apply for recertification after their first two years of certification and every three years after that, ensuring that they are using the most up-to-date installation techniques.

“Being certified is something I share with my customers and potential customers,” said Certified Installer Perry Greene, president of Taylor Commercial near Atlanta. “It adds credibility and confidence to the consumer that they’re making an informed choice on how to clad their home.”

Cambridge vinyl siding from Mitten Vinyl comes in four classic profiles in a low-gloss finish with traditional wood grain textures. The color-rich formula is designed to withstand extreme elements of nature and daily living and comes in 12 colors. Mitten Vinyl. Indicate #214 on e-Inquiry.

10-in. random hand split shankes are the newest shingle style in the Cedar Impressions family. The new style features the coarse texture and deep shadow lines found in authentic hand-split cedar shakes. New colors include barn red, buckskin, heritage cream and prairie sand for a total of 12 available colors. Cedar Impressions is available in 7-in. Perfection and 6 1/4-in. half-round shingles. CertainTeed Corporation. Indicate #215 on e-Inquiry.

Alcoa Home Exteriors pairs its most advanced insulated product line, Structure, with its virtually unlimited color palette, DreamColor. With Structure in DreamColor, a home will have a freshly painted look for years with the added benefits of noise reduction, water resistance and energy savings. In addition to the 700 baseline colors, Alcoa offers a custom color matching system. Alcoa Home Exteriors. Indicate #216 on e-Inquiry.

Cedar Hill Shakes have been inspired by genuine cedar wood shingles, using a unique blend of ultra-resistant polymer to combine the authentic look and style of natural cedar. Unlike wood, environmentally-friendly Cedar Hill Shakes won’t warp, split or swell and never needs staining or painting. Kaycan. Indicate #217 on e-Inquiry.

Classic Clapboard siding from NuCedar Mills is milled from solid boards of cellular PVC. Because NuCedar’s Classic Clapboard is milled like beveled cedar, the siding matches the profile of vertical-grain Western red cedar. Available in 4-, 6- and 8-in. exposures and Smooth and CedarGrain surface textures, Classic Clapboard is coated in Polane polyurethane from Sherwin-Williams. NuCedar Mills. Indicate #218 on e-Inquiry.

Crane Performance Siding’s Coastal Shores Collection includes four new colors: Regatta Blue, Cabin Brown, Lighthouse Red and Evergreen. Crane Performance Siding’s Solid Core Siding will withstand the equivalent of 130 mph windloads without damage when installed correctly. Crane Performance Siding. Indicate #219 on e-Inquiry.

Heartland Building Products has introduced a siding with a special finish designed to capture the look of cedar. Called HeartTech Rustic Shades, the new siding features a finish using Kynar 500 technology, which offers exceptional UV and abrasion resistance, fade protection and resistance to impact. The special finish allows Heartland to add deep, rich colors of stained cedar to its line of siding, including granite, lake, harvest and autumn. Heartland Building Products. Indicate #220 on e-Inquiry.

Gentek Building Products’ top-line vinyl siding, Sequoia Select, features a 0.046-in. wall thickness and full-roll nailing hem. It is designed to withstand winds up to 217 mph using 1 3/4-in. ring shank nails and 180 mph using standard roofing nails. The panel’s full 3/4-in. butt height further adds to Sequoia Select’s strength and rigidity. Gentek Building Products. Indicate #221 on e-Inquiry.

Revere Building Products’ Sovereign 16 is an extra long vinyl siding measuring 16 ft. 6 in. Designed to reduce the number of seams by up to 30 percent, the heavy-duty construction also withstands hurricane velocity winds. The panel features a .046-in. wall thickness, a full-roll nailing hem, the Advantage Lock system and ample 3/4-in. butt height for strength and rigidity. Sovereign 16 is available in double 5-in. Dutch lap and double 4-in. clapboard in 13 colors with matching or contrasting soffit and accessories. Revere Building Products. Indicate #222 on e-Inquiry.