The quiet, suburban qualities of Kettering, Ohio, belie its active history of invention and industry. Named for Charles A. Kettering, inventor of the electric starter for cars, the area has fostered a great number of industrial innovations – from the cash register to the flip-top can.

Nestled on land that once was the Kettering farm, a charming custom-built, two-story home is the latest site of innovation and invention. As one of the first homes to receive the new look and exterior protection of Mastic’s newest vinyl siding product – QUEST3 Series Premium Vinyl Siding – the house proves a fitting showcase for the innovative product and the quality workmanship of a local installer.

The rambling home, built in 1953, featured wide, painted cedar lap siding just right for the character of the home, but weather and moisture conditions would prove to be its downfall. The home is nestled in a small valley with natural springs, and so much moisture and deep shade that the wood siding suffered from severe mildew that ruined every paint job.

When owners Dean and Lynda Pingrey bought the home in 1985 the house needed extensive remodeling, including new electrical and plumbing. “Every year we invested in a major exterior improvement-windows, roof, roof vent, gutters, down spouts,” says Dean. “But the wood siding was a constant battle, not a ‘fix-it-and-forget-it’ situation.”

“It was always nasty looking,” Lynda says. “The paint would crack and peel, and there was no way to wash it or remove the stains. Even after a thorough paint job, the mildew stains would leach through again. So we began to see that vinyl siding was the logical answer,” Lynda continues. “Besides its nice, clean look, it promises to eliminate the problem.”

Before: (at left) Severe mildew ruined every paint application on this 1953 home. After Detail: (at right) Careful attention to detail, like Mastic fluted corner moldings and window trim, and the cedar texture, provide the rich dimensions that help this QUEST3 Series premium siding application stand out from the competition.

SELECTING A CONTRACTOR

The Pingreys entertained presentations from four recommended installers and inspected other homes completed by prospective contractors. Based on his presentation and the excellent quality they found in his work, the Pin greys selected Mike Sikora’s Dayton Home Improvement Center, Inc. to install Mastic’s newest premium vinyl siding.

With 25 years experience remodeling and renovating older homes, Mike Sikora says exterior siding is his favorite type of job. “I do kitchens, baths, and vinyl decks and patio enclosures, but siding produces the most dramatic effect for the homeowners,” Sikora explains. “I love seeing the before and after shots.”

Did he have any doubts about trying the new Mastic QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding? “Siding generally represents 30 to 35 percent of my business,” Sikora explains. “So I can’t waste time selling a product that gives negative results or is not completely backed by the manufacturer. Mastic stands behind its products and puts a lot of effort into new products. I didn’t hesitate to try the new QUEST3 Series product on the Pingrey home.”

Sikora says more than 70 percent of his business comes from referrals and prior customers, so his reputation is key to maintaining an active business. “The new QUEST3 Series siding impresses me and it is already selling for me.”

THE CUSTOM HOME CHALLENGE

The Pingrey’s 3200 square-foot home held many challenges for Sikora, though. “This was not an average job,” he says. “There were lots of ins and outs, a steep roof with many angle cuts, dormers and multiple levels to deal with.”

There were also 31 windows to trim out. “We tried as much as possible to match the existing look of the windows and the brick mold trim,” Sikora says. “It was labor intensive, but the results are worth it.” Sikora used Alcoa Alumalure 200Q painted trim sheet for the extensive custom trim work.

The Pingreys selected the Mastic QUEST3 Series double 4-inch vinyl siding panel in Victorian Grey to complement their newer roof. “It is a bit different from white, but the grey is not too extreme, and it is a good background for the landscaping,” Lynda says. They especially liked the cedar texture that complements the New England style of the home.

The new QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding comes in a palette of 12 colors plus Mastic’s four exclusive cedar graining treatments. The new product line also includes a double 5- inch profile and a double 4 1/2-inch Dutch Lap profile to suit different architectural styles.

“I don’t know of a better looking panel,” Sikora says about Mastic’s new QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding. Sikora also used QUEST3 Series panels on his own garage and is including a new QUEST Series product display in his showroom. “My installers are asking me to sell more of the new product because it is so easy to hang.”

To complete their home’s renewal, the Pingreys picked Mastic Dark Spruce shutters, beaded soffit, gable vents and fluted corner trim. Lynda and Dean were very pleased with the result. “We had at least 20 people, complete strangers, stop and ask about the house while the siding was being installed,” Dean says. “They were all impressed with the new look of the house and asked about the color, the manufacturer and the installers.”

A NEW PRODUCT UNVEILED

NEW EXCLUSIVE CEDAR COLORS FOR QUEST3 SERIES™ PREMIUM VINYL SIDING - Quest3 Series premium vinyl siding features four new exclusive graining treatments. Mastic's exclusive process for achieving a rich natural stained cedar look results in an attractive, long-lasting design alternative to real cedar. The new grained cedar colors, as well as the other 12 colors of Quest3 Series siding, carry the Mastic VIP Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Several features give Mastic QUEST3 Series siding the “clean, crisp” look homeowners like, and the easy handling contractors want. ‘The panel is rigid and easy to handle for _the installers, and the locking system snaps in nicely for a good, straight look on the house,” Sikora says.

The new QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding features Mastic’s exclusive T3 System” that results in a panel that is 200 percent more rigid than standard vinyl siding. The T3 System includes a full 3/4-inch return and a 3/4-inch lap, along with a tough double nail hem that holds the panel so securely it is rated to withstand winds up to 190 miles per hour.

Added performance is achieved with Mastic’s exclusive T3Lok™. The lock is a heftier version of the original T-lok® design made famous by Mastic T-Iok®Barkwoods’ premium vinyl siding, an industry favorite for 30 years. When this locking feature is combined with the 3/ 4-inch return and 3/ 4-inch lap, and topped with the reinforced nail hem, the result is easy handling and extra rigidity. Mastic calls it “Tri-Linear Rigidity.” The effect on the house is straighter lines and superior, longer lasting on-the-wall performance.

QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding has many other features that have marked Mastic’s quality and innovation over the years. It is made of Duranyls; a color-clear-through compound that hides scratches and nicks, and gives superior weathering and fade resistance. QUEST3 Series panels also feature GELOY®resin, manufactured by GE Plastics. The resin provides UV protection to maximize fade resistance and minimize the effects of weather. Other impact modifiers added to the compound give Mastic QUEST3 Series premium vinyl siding extra strength and crack resistance.

COME HOME TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

While the product is an important part of the job, the installation is critical to the homeowner’s overall satisfaction. “They were wonderful,” Lynda says about the installers who hung the siding. “It was a delight. They were knowledgeable and very courteous. I’m especially impressed by how meticulous they were about cleaning up each day,” Lynda says. “The quality of the people and the workmanship was above and beyond my expectations. The whole experience was great.”

The results are “absolutely beautiful,” according to Lynda. She’s even a little embarrassed as she notes her home has details that are far superior to other siding installations. “Our neighbors couldn’t believe how good the job looks,” Lynda says. “Our neighbor from New England told us she feels like she’s back home again, the house looks so good.” ~ EA