Candy,
References and check em out. Go look at some houses they've done and talk to the people that own the house(s) If they are good and treat their customers well, the customers should be more than willing to talk to you. If the contractor balks at giving you names and addresses to check out tell him to take a hike. Call the Better Business Beaureau ( how the hell do you spell that word) and see if there are any complaints.
As to what to look for in the work, the major thing you want to look at when you go look at jobs the Ktrs have done is the seams. You want at least a 12" overlap for expansion and contraction. The siding should be hung and not nailed tight to the house but also not so loose it rattles. Check out how they siding fits in the corner moldings both inside and out, also around the windows. Check out how they cut the moldings around doors and windows. Good Ktrs should 45 the joints and not do staight cuts. If you are going with full coverage and having all of the wood covered, you want to pay close attention to the soffit and facia as well as how they finish out the rakes up the roofline etc. My best advice would be to go to the library and get one of those Time/Life home improvement books on do it yourself siding and read up and then as I said References, references, references. Siding is one of those things you can really get shafted by fly by night Ktrs that are in it for many quick hits as they can and then they move to another state. Look for someone who's been in business for at least 5 years in your area. Don't be tempted by someone saying they don't have a license blah blah blah but they'll give you a deal. And whatever you do, don't watch the movie " Tin Men" LOL
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