Top 15 installation FAQs at Southwest Exteriors: Time, warranty, and more

When it comes to any home improvement project, there is a lot of information for you to digest. Contractors, styles, installation processes, and warranties are just a few topics you cover on your way to a new project.

You research what you’re looking for, schedule a few consultations with different contractors, and finally get to the installation of your project. 

Whether you’re getting new windows or a concrete coating, the installation process is exciting. But, it can bring some anxieties as well. 

Being able to trust your contractor to install your project correctly and of high quality is important. You want to have all the information you need and all your questions answered before committing. 

Southwest Exteriors has been a San Antonio-based home remodeling contractor since 1989. Our core values are to serve all with love and excellence. Communication is extremely important to us. We want you to have all the information you need to feel confident in your project. 

Trusting your contractor and feeling confident they will give you a high-quality installation is crucial to the success of your project. 

This article will answer 15 of the most frequently asked questions about installation processes and details at Southwest Exteriors. We will answer questions about timelines, installers, warranties, and more. 

After reading, you will understand more about how we handle our installations so you can be comfortable in trusting us with your project. 

1. How soon do projects begin?

The start date of your project is dependent on many factors. Once you sign the contract for your project, we must order the products from the manufacturer. 

Depending on the manufacturer of your product, there will be different timelines. The time for your products to be made and delivered by the manufacturer depends on how many projects they have ahead of yours and how much of the materials they currently have in stock, like glass and frame material. 

The size of your project will also affect the start date. Larger projects that require more material will take longer to manufacture.

For Penntek concrete coatings, the average start date for a project is 3-4 weeks after the day you sign your contract. If custom colors are chosen, that can set the start date back by almost a week. This is because of the time it takes to receive a sample, have it client-approved and signed, then place the order for the full project.

For Hardie siding projects, the average start date is 8-10 weeks after the day you sign your contract. 

For window and door replacements, the average start date is about 14-24 weeks. 

As mentioned earlier, all of these timelines are dependent on the manufacturer, project size, and how many projects are ahead of yours. 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, project start times have seen a significant increase. The combination of manufacturers dealing with a lack of materials and a lack of labor has pushed start times out. 

2. How long do projects usually take?

Similar to the project start date, the time to complete a project is flexible. The time it takes to complete a project is dependent on the size and area of the project and the degree of difficulty of the project.

Penntek concrete coatings are typically done in one day for areas 800-1,000 square feet. Areas larger than 1,000 square feet, or projects that consist of multiple areas, will take at least two days. This is because we must always leave a point of entry around your house. 

For example, if you were coating your garage, front porch and sidewalk, and back patio, it would block those entrances if all done in one day. The best practice is to complete two of the areas in one day and complete the other the next day. 

The average daily installment for windows is 12 per day and 3-5 doors per day. These are both dependent on the size of the windows and doors, the location on your home, and size of the crew. 

An additional few days must be added to the total amount of a window and door replacement project for the punch list crew to come after the project is complete to do finishing touches like sanding, caulking, and painting. 

For Hardie siding jobs, it is typical to take 3-4 weeks for larger projects. On average, an installation crew can lay two squares of siding per day. A square is a 10 ft. x 10 ft. area or 100 square feet. 

This includes removing the existing siding, laying substrate, weather barrier, siding, trim, and other additional areas. For a project where new siding is being laid on top of existing siding, a crew can lay 5-6 squares. 

It is important to remember the variables that affect the installation timeline of your project, and you must have realistic expectations. 

Southwest Exteriors is not a contractor that will install your project as fast as possible. We take our time and pay attention to the little details to provide you with the highest quality outcome possible. 

3. Is my house wide open when installing? 

For concrete coatings and siding projects, your home will not be open. If you have an interior area coated, which is rare, you may need to keep some windows and doors open during and after the installation process to allow fumes to air out. 

For window and door projects, there will always be at least one opening in your home. However, your home will never be wide open. 

Windows and doors are installed by room or section. As soon as a window is taken out, the replacement is ready to be installed. At the end of each day of your project, there will be no openings in your home. 

4. How does weather affect the installation?

Rain is the biggest weather factor that affects installation. For covered areas, like garages or wraparound porches, concrete coating installations will typically not be affected. 

However, rain will delay the project for windows, siding, and doors because we are working on your exterior. We will work with you to reschedule within at least two weeks if there are any delays in your project.

5. What type of inconvenience will the installation be?

We do our best to provide you with the highest quality, least stressful project installation. But, there are a few minor inconveniences you may experience. 

We ask that you completely clear the project area before your installation day, which can be the biggest inconvenience with concrete coatings. Whatever the surface is, whether your garage floor or pool deck, it must be completely cleared of all objects before installation day. 

When the concrete is ground, there is dust and debris that results from the grinding. The grinder is attached to a large vacuum to take in most of the dust, but there may be some dust stuck to the nearby walls at the end of your project. 

For siding, window, and door replacement projects, the biggest inconvenience may be knocking, hammering, and overall construction noise. 

We ask that all interior and exterior wall decorations are removed before window and siding installations to avoid possible damage to items. Southwest Exteriors is not responsible for possible damages. This is outlined in the checklist from your technical measurement or pre-construction conference. 

Another inconvenience of door replacements is you will be unable to use the door opening for the duration of your installation. 

6. How will my property be taken care of during the installation?

Cleanliness is another important value to us and everything we do. During your installation, the crew is constantly cleaning trash and vacuuming debris to keep the workspace as clean as possible. The crew will clean up all trash and debris at the end of each day. 

For supplies like dumpsters and construction equipment will be placed on pallets if they can so they will not sit or scratch the concrete of your driveway. 

If you have pets, we will take extra precautions to always keep necessary gates and doors closed and keep tools out of the way. 

7. Do I have to be present for the technical measurement or pre-construction conference (PCC)?

For technical measurements and pre-construction conferences, at least one homeowner must be present. During this meeting, we walk you through the scope of your project and contract and finalize all details of the products. 

This meeting is important to ensure that all details of your project are correct and provide you with the information you need to prepare before your installation day. 

8. Will installers wear masks and booties?

All installers will wear booties anytime they will need to enter your home to ensure no material from the project is carried. 

Installers will wear face masks at the discretion of you, the homeowner. If you prefer the installers to wear masks anytime inside your home, they will. 

Safety and cleanliness is an important core value to us, and we want you to be completely comfortable as we are guests at your home. 

9. Are installers employees of Southwest Exteriors or subcontractors?

All of our installers for major projects are hired by outside subcontractors. We understand that trusting Southwest Exteriors with your project means trusting who will be working on your project. 

Most of the subcontractors and crews we work with have been working with us for many years. We work with them because of the high-quality service and installation they provide, and it is important to us that you feel the same way. 

Each crew is an expert in what they install, which is why we have built such a trusted relationship with our subcontractors. 

The punch list crews that service sanding, caulking, painting, and any touch-ups once window, door, and siding projects are complete are employees of Southwest Exteriors. Concrete coating crews are also employees.

10. Have your installers passed background checks?

All Southwest Exteriors employees have to go through a background check for hire, including the punch list crews. 

The subcontractors we work with go through background checks before agreeing to work with them. Individual installers from the subcontractors do not go through background checks with Southwest Exteriors because they are technically working under the subcontractor, not with us. 

11. Do you do fences, roofing, new concrete, or patio covers?

Southwest Exteriors currently specializes in window, siding, door replacements, concrete coatings, and exterior painting. We currently do not offer any other services.

12. What does your warranty include?

Southwest Exteriors offers a lifetime warranty for all projects for your entire life in your home. This covers the workmanship of the project as will as the manufacturer’s warranty. 

This means that we will fix it if any problem occurs from your product, such as a broken part or installation defect. This does not cover glass breakage for windows. 

Each manufacturer has its own warranty for its  product that has a different lifetime. Once the product’s lifetime has expired, Southwest Exteriors will still cover the installation of the replacement product; however, the cost will not be covered unless the defect was due to improper installation.

However, if there is a problem with the installation, it will most likely be noticed before the manufacturer warranty is up. 

13. Who services the warranty?

Southwest Exteriors will handle all warranty claims for all projects. If you have a problem with your project that requires a repair or replacement, all you have to do is contact us, and we will contact the manufacturer. 

When you make a claim to us, a project manager will assess the project area to determine the cause of the issue and file the claim. 

14. Is your warranty transferable?

Southwest Exteriors’ warranty is transferable one time. This means that if you have a project done by Southwest Exteriors and sell your house, the new owner will inherit the warranty. 

It is important to remember that each manufacturer’s warranty is different, and the transferring properties will not be the same. 

We know we are there to serve you and your home and are honored to work with you. We want you to be completely satisfied with all aspects of your project installation and want to do everything we can to provide an exceptional experience.

15. When is my final payment due for my project?

The final payment for your project is due on the day of the completion of the project. For windows, siding, and door replacements, this is when the punch list crew finishes all caulking and painting. 

If your window or door replacement requires stucco work from a separate contractor, this does not mean that your payment is not due until the stucco work is complete. This will be outlined in your project contract. 

We offer four different monthly payment plans to make it as easy and comfortable for you as possible. We know we are not the least expensive contractor in the industry, but we want to be affordable and accessible to everyone. 

Are you prepared for your project installation? 

Now that you have the answers to the most common questions about installation with Southwest Exteriors, you can feel more comfortable and confident in your project. 

Researching and learning about your project is key to trusting your contractor and knowing what to expect. This can save you time during consultations and put any nerves at ease regarding installation processes, installers, or warranties. 

With Southwest Exteriors, our number one priority is to serve you. We want you to have all the necessary information for your project and answer any questions you may have.