Weathering the Storm

Under the best of circumstances, the weather in St. Peter, Minnesota is not for the faint-of-heart. Temperatures in the south-central part of the state can range from searing highs over 90 degrees to bone-chilling lows of thirty below zero. Throw in high winds, punishing hail, torrential rains and you've got the idea.

But on March 29, 1998, this community of 10,000 was put to the ultimate test. Powerful tornadoes cut a path that damaged more than 60 percent of the town's buildings.

'There's really no
comparison with any
other siding on the
market - that's why I've
been using Sagebrush
since day one.'

Dean Williams

Owner
Quality Home Improvement

'Sagebrush has
what I call its own
'built-in integrity'.'

A Product As Tough As The Challenge In St. Peter

Hundreds of contractors arrived in the area to begin the restoration work. Dean Williams, owner of Quality Home Improvement, and his crews were among them. He knew there was a lot of work to be done and he knew just what to use-Norandex Sagebrush premium vinyl siding.

Dean recalls, 'With Minnesota's severe weather, I knew the houses needed a vinyl siding that was strong enough to tough it out and not blow off.'

Sagebrush was Williams' first choice 'because of its weight,' he said. 'Sagebrush is the ultimate performer. You can tell it's thicker and heavier than other brands just by the weight of the boxes. When it's locked into place, I don't worry about it coming apart.'

But getting the houses back together wasn't Williams' only challenge. 'Siding has to perform well,' he said, 'but it also has to look good. I wanted to offer a low gloss finish that would make the panel look like freshly painted clapboard. Plus, I needed to offer a spectrum of colors to meet everyone's needs. Sagebrush met all my requirements.' 

Williams, a Certified Norandex Professional, has used Sagebrush since its introduction. He sold three jobs before he even had a sample in his hands. 'Sagebrush has what I call its own 'built-in integrity' because of the 3/4' panel projection,' says Williams. 'The extra-stiff nailing slot lets it lay flatter against the house, and the hammer-stop makes for 'goof-proof' installation. There's really no comparison with any other siding on the market. That's way I've been using Sagebrush 
since day one.'

Williams used Sagebrush to repair more than 125,000 square feet of damaged siding in St. Peter, including a 35-unit townhouse development.

Less than four months later, another storm hit St. Peter. Winds gusted up to 110 miles per hour, damaging many of the newly restored homes. Once again, the city was devastated. Williams and his crew returned to assess the damage and make the necessary repairs.

No siding was damaged on the homes they had restored. 'It was more of a relief than a surprise. I knew Sagebrush was stronger than any other brand of vinyl siding, and the storm proved that,' Williams says. 

Sagebrush delivered the results Williams had anticipated. 'Many grades and levels of vinyl siding are in the industry. There's what I call the 'supermarket panel,' the cheap stuff that will blow right off a house. Then there's Sagebrush, the top vinyl siding choice, in my eyes. Sagebrush is what vinyl siding was meant to be,' he says.

'Because of its weight and design, Sagebrush is the ultimate performer.'

Williams' customer satisfaction rate with Sagebrush is impeccable, which means few callbacks. 'My installers are even happier when Sagebrush is specified. They say it's easier to hang and lays up well.' The easy installation means Williams' crew can move 20% faster than with other brands of vinyl siding.

House after storm, during restoration by Quality Home Improvement.

 
Finished home using Sagebrush Vinyl Siding.

Sagebrush Delivers Promise 
for Wind Resistance

Selecting a vinyl siding is never an easy decision. However, when storms do hit, it's nice to know that at least one vinyl siding can actually deliver on its promise of wind resistance. Just ask the home owners in St. Peter, Minnesota.