Factory Direct Siding has been in the siding industry for over 80 years. Although it isn’t as popular as Alside or CertainTeed, the company has excellent product quality and adequate pricing.
But is Factory Direct Siding your best bet?
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What Is Factory Direct Siding?
FDS siding is a premium-quality vinyl siding manufacturer. Unlike many competing companies that produce various types of vinyl siding, Factory Direct Siding specializes in cedar shake style siding.
Although the design selection is limited, such a narrow focus allowed the company to master its product quality.
Factory Direct Siding’s vinyl cedar shake siding is one of the most realistic on the market, blending a wooden shake look with vinyl’s durability.
Factory Direct Siding’s vinyl shakes are produced using modern 3D scanning technology. The company scanned numerous real cedar shakes to recreate the shape and texture in vinyl authentically.
Factory Direct shakes resemble real wooden shakes from a distance – the visual difference with cheap vinyl cedar shake sidings is drastic.
FDS Siding Color Options
All Factory Direct Siding shakes have the same size and texture but come in 35 colors to fit any preference. The colors are divided into two collections – Classic Color and Designer Color.
The Designer Color range shakes have a more realistic, three-dimensional look. Overall, Factory Direct Siding’s color range is one of the best on the market. It includes neutral shades like brown, charcoal, and beige and unusual colors like mint, sunny yellow, and grassy green.
Additionally, the company can make shakes of a custom color by request. For example, the homeowners can match the new siding to their old siding or choose a creative color like pink.
The minimum custom order size is 1,800 square feet. If the homeowners feel hesitant to make such a large order, they can request three shake samples to check the color and quality.
All shakes take two to three weeks to manufacture because they are made to order, although some popular colors may be in stock.
Check out our guide on Top House Siding Colors For Your Home.
How Much Does Factory Direct Siding Cost?
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Factory Direct Siding pricing is very straightforward since the company only has one siding type. Vinyl cedar shakes come in cartons.
One carton is sufficient to cover 50 square feet and is priced at $149.50 for the Classic Color range and $157.50 for the Designer Color range.
To cover an average single-story home with a 1,800 square feet wall surface, the homeowners would have to pay approximately $5,382-$5,670 for Factory Direct Siding materials.
The price is in line with the nationwide average of $2-$3 per square foot.
The company also offers the lowest price guarantee, claiming they will meet any similar quality shake siding price.
The competing products must be made from virgin polypropylene in the U.S., have a solid color, and be backed by a lifetime warranty. The guarantee doesn’t apply to discounted or custom-order products and inferior quality siding.
Did you know? Vinyl siding may allow moisture to accumulate below the surface. Unlike wood and other breathable materials, vinyl doesn’t let the water trapped inside the wall cavity evaporate, resulting in mold growth and structural deterioration. Proper installation, wall insulation, and caulking will help to avoid the issue.
How Good Is Factory Direct Siding Warranty?
Factory Direct Siding provides a limited lifetime warranty on all vinyl cedar shake sidings applied to all manufacturing defects.
The company guarantees that the siding won’t peel, flake, blister, or corrode. If any such defect occurs and Factory Direct Siding determines it’s a craftsmanship fault, they will repair, replace, or refund the product, excluding any labor costs.
The warranty is non-transferable, meaning that property sale or death of the owners will void the warranty.
Furthermore, the lifetime warranty only applies to single-family residential homes. Commercial projects are backed by a limited 50-year warranty, which still isn’t bad. Other warranty exceptions include damages caused by:
Although vinyl siding is durable, it isn’t resistant to normal weathering and fading. Factory Direct Siding warrants all shake sidings against excessive fading for 10 years from the installation date.
The fading extent is determined by the company using Hunter’s scale. If the color difference between the new and installed shakes is greater than nine Hunter units, the company will replace or refund the siding.
As for the installation, Factory Direct Siding provides clear installation guidelines on the website. The siding must be installed according to the instructions; otherwise, it will not be backed by the warranty.
Transparency is a major benefit because the definition of “correct installation” is often vague, and companies may use it to their advantage.
If the siding is damaged by hail, the homeowners should first seek insurance coverage. If the siding repair cost is greater than the insurance payment, the company obliges to reimburse the remaining amount necessary to replace the damaged shakes. The coverage doesn’t include labor costs.
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Factory Direct Siding Return Policy
Homeowners who aren’t satisfied with the purchase can return the siding within 14 days from the purchase date.
All returns are subject to a 25% restocking fee, so customers will only receive 75% of the paid sum. The shipping costs are the homeowner’s responsibility.
Furthermore, the company doesn’t accept returns on custom color orders. Thankfully, the homeowners can request free shake samples before making an order.
Factory Direct Siding Installation and Maintenance
Factory Direct Siding only sells the siding material and doesn’t offer installation. However, the company provides clear installation and maintenance instructions.
This is beneficial for homeowners because they can prolong the siding lifespan by following the guidelines.
The installation guidelines thoroughly explain which hardware and tools should be used, the spacing requirements, recommended weather conditions, and other basic rules.
Although the guidelines don’t state that the installation must be performed by a licensed technician, professional installation is always a good idea.
The maintenance guidelines recommend annual cleaning using soapy water and a garden hose, but power washing may damage the shakes and void the warranty.
The company recommends using a detergent, trisodium, and water solution for mold, mildew, and algae. No other maintenance is necessary, such as repainting. In fact, repainting or any other kind of coating will void the warranty.
Did you know? Typically, new siding increases the home’s resale value. However, vinyl siding may lower the resale value of historic buildings.
If you live in a historically significant home, choose premium-quality cedar shake vinyl siding that doesn’t flatten the exterior look and looks realistic.
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Why Choose Factory Direct Siding for Your Home?
Vinyl shake siding has numerous benefits, including long lifespan, durability, versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of maintenance.
However, these points apply to all vinyl sidings. Let’s see which benefits are inherent specifically to Factory Direct Siding.
Lifetime Warranty
Although Factory Direct Siding isn’t the only vinyl siding company providing an extended warranty, not every brand warrants their product for a lifetime. Siding is a long-term investment in your home’s visual appeal and protection, so the warranty is vital in decision-making.
Expertise
Factory Direct Siding has been on the market for many decades, focusing on one specific siding type. The company has undoubtedly mastered its product, constantly improving it throughout the years.
Color Selection
Not many siding companies have such a vast color selection as Factory Direct Siding. Most competitors only offer classic shades like tan, beige, grey, brick, and dark green.
On the other hand, Factory Direct Siding has unusual bright shades like mint and a custom color option.
Realistic Look
The whole point of vinyl cedar shake siding is to replicate the look of wooden shakes, so what’s the point of getting an unrealistically looking product?
Factory Direct Siding shakes are some of the most realistic on the market, featuring authentic 3D scanned wood texture.
Free Samples
Returns and refunds are always a hassle. The problem is that each monitor has different color settings, so choosing the right shade online is tricky. Free shake samples are beneficial, allowing homeowners to see the color in real life.
Quality
Factory Direct Siding shakes are three times thicker than the closest competitor shakes, ensuring better durability.
Furthermore, they have nearly invisible seams, contributing to the ultra-realistic look. The color isn’t painted but rather fully penetrates vinyl, preventing warping and chipping.
Lowest Price Guarantee
Factory Direct Siding customers always get the best value due to the lowest price guarantee. While this may seem like a marketing trick, the company clearly outlines the competitor’s product requirements.
Transparent Terms and Conditions
A lifetime warranty doesn’t mean much if the terms aren’t clear, and a company can use it to its advantage.
Factory Direct Siding is fully transparent about the warranty conditions and installation requirements. All the rules are laid out on the company’s website.
Free Shipping
The company offers free shipping on all orders in the continental U.S. Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii is calculated individually based on the order size and exact customer location.
Did you know? Many homeowners think that vinyl siding doesn’t require maintenance apart from occasional cleaning.
However, homeowners must regularly inspect vinyl siding for physical damage such as holes and cracks that may let the moisture accumulate below the surface.
Repairing shake siding is typically easy because the homeowner can replace the damaged shakes only. Vinyl siding will also benefit from annual caulking for extra weather resistance.
Factory Direct Siding vs. Georgia Pacific
Georgia Pacific is an industry-leading vinyl siding manufacturer in the U.S. and one of Factory Direct Siding’s main competitors. Let’s see how the companies differ.
Product Range
Georgia Pacific manufactures vinyl fascia and soffit, skirting, and siding. Unlike Factory Direct Siding, Georgia Pacific offers different siding types, including shake, horizontal lap, and vertical.
Additionally, the company produces high-performance insulated siding. Every type is available in different styles – for example, cedar shakes come in four different styles to match any aesthetics.
Although the selection is broader, the shakes don’t look as realistic as those of Factory Direct Siding. The color range is wide but lacks bright, unusual colors. The company also doesn’t accept custom orders.
Pricing
Georgia Pacific isn’t as transparent with the pricing as Factory Direct Siding. The company’s website doesn’t mention the product prices – the customers are expected to request a quote.
On average, Georgia Pacific lap vinyl siding costs $1 per square foot. Realistic cedar shake siding costs approximately $3 per square foot, about the same as Factory Direct Siding.
Warranty
Georgia Pacific provides a limited lifetime warranty on all vinyl siding types. Like Factory Direct Siding, the company covers all manufacturing defects and excessive fading.
Overall, the warranty terms and conditions are very similar, but the Georgia Pacific warranty is transferable. However, the transfer reduces the percentage of the total cost covered.
Verdict: Georgia Pacific is a better option for homeowners wanting horizontal, vertical, or insulated siding.
Meanwhile, Factory Direct Siding is better for homeowners striving for an authentic wooden shake look or looking for unusual colors.
The pricing for cedar shakes is about the same, but Georgia Pacific has more affordable siding options. Factory Direct Siding is more transparent about the pricing and warranty terms.
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Factory Direct Siding vs. Alside
Alside is another popular siding company in the U.S. market. Here’s how Alside and Factory Direct Siding compare.
Product Range
Alside manufactures a wider product range than Factory Direct Siding, including steel siding, composite cladding, soffits, gutters, windows, sliding patio doors, etc.
The vinyl siding range includes horizontal and vertical types, each in multiple styles. The color selection is wide but only includes neutral colors, such as grey, beige, and muted blue.
Pricing
Alside vinyl siding is slightly cheaper than Factory Direct Siding, ranging from $0.90 to $1.60 per square foot.
The lack of realistic vinyl cedar shake siding in Alside’s catalog can explain the price difference.
Unlike Factory Direct Siding, Alside doesn’t explicitly state the prices of each siding type on the website. This may be a downside for homeowners concerned about the budget.
Warranty
Alside offers limited lifetime coverage on all vinyl siding types. The warranty is transferable, but the terms and conditions aren’t as transparent as Factory Direct Siding. Customers may email the company with specific warranty questions.
Verdict: The choice between Alside and Factory Direct Siding comes down to style preference because the selection of both brands is limited.
Homeowners preferring a natural wood look should go for Factory Direct Siding, and those wishing for vertical or horizontal siding should opt for Alside.
Since Alside only offers vertical and horizontal vinyl siding that doesn’t replicate the natural wood look, the company’s pricing is lower.
Did you know? Accent trims can add your home’s siding a modern touch and increase the home’s resale value.
You may also mix and match different siding types, textures, and colors for a more appealing look. Consider ordering shake samples of different shades to see how they go together.
Factory Direct Siding vs. CertainTeed
Another Factory Direct Siding competitor is CertainTeed siding. Although both companies are worth consideration, they have different product ranges and warranty conditions.
Product Range
CertainTeed manufactures a wide range of roofing, siding, decking, railing, and other residential and commercial products.
The vinyl siding selection is vast, from simple vertical and horizontal panels to ultra-realistic vinyl cedar shakes and insulated siding.
Each type comes in multiple styles and dozens of colors, including unusual shades such as mint and cypress.
Furthermore, homeowners can choose the preferred siding thickness, profile, and finish. The company doesn’t accept custom color orders, but overall, CertainTeed is a clear winner in terms of product selection.
Pricing
CertainTeed isn’t particularly transparent when it comes to pricing – customers must request a quote to determine the specific siding type price.
CertainTeed cedar shake siding is priced at $3-$5 on average, and insulated siding is even pricier. Thicker panels and non-standard colors tend to cost more. That’s slightly more expensive than Factory Direct Siding shakes.
Warranty
CertainTeed provides a limited lifetime vinyl siding warranty that can be transferred to a different homeowner.
Subsequent homeowners get a prorated 50-year warranty – the coverage percentage depends on the years passed since installation.
The warranty terms and conditions and the customer’s obligations are clearly defined. Additionally, the company provides vinyl siding maintenance recommendations.
Verdict: It’s easy to understand why CertainTeed is one of the top U.S. vinyl siding companies. The brand has an excellent product selection, top-tier quality, and beneficial warranty conditions.
However, the pricing is higher on average than that of Factory Direct Siding. We recommend that homeowners looking for uninsulated cedar shake siding choose Factory Direct Siding due to its better price and customization.
However, CertainTeed is excellent for homeowners looking for insulated, vertical, or horizontal siding.
FDS Siding vs Top Competitors Summary
| Feature | Factory Direct Siding | Georgia Pacific | Alside | CertainTeed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average cost per square foot | $3 | $1-$3 | $0.90-$1.60 | $3-$5 |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime |
| Siding types | Only vinyl cedar shake | Horizontal, vertical, cedar shake, insulated | Horizontal and vertical | Horizontal, vertical, cedar shake, insulated |
Is Factory Direct Siding a Good Fit for Your Home?
Although Factory Direct Siding’s product range is limited to one siding style, the great color selection, and custom order option are a significant advantage.
Furthermore, the product quality is top-tier, and the warranty terms and pricing are fully transparent.
Factory Direct Siding is an excellent choice for homeowners looking for realistic vinyl cedar shake siding with a lifetime warranty and a fair price.
However, homeowners looking for insulated siding or different siding styles will be disappointed.
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