Differences Between GP Cedar Spectrum And CT Cedar Impressions

Dcislander

Hey there all,
A few months back I built an extension for a client near the ocean. I do not regularly work in siding, but am helping the homeowner out with re-siding the back of her home where she now has asphalt shingles. We have two options of siding: Georgia Pacific Cedar Spectrum and Certainteed Cedar Impressions. Being as I am not a roof/siding guy I am hoping that someone will have some additional info beyond what my products rep wants to sell me. At first glance, both products follow the same specs (or close to):
.100 thickness
Triple-5" configuration
Molded polymer w color throughout
Seemless corners

GP is a bit cheaper, and the rep is pushing it, but my concerns are fading and realistic woodgrain finish. The CT Impressions were reviewed by CR and given a great grade all the way around. On the other hand, I cannot find out any info about he Spectrum. I know they offer fewer colors and configurations, but that is OK.

Anyone have any insight they can offer on either product?
Thanks much all.

72chevy4x4

can't speak of those products, but I've worked w/ the Alcoa Discovery (double 7")-it's a nice product to work with and touch on the wrist when cutting w/ shears. last time I priced the material it was around $225/sq (comes in half square increments), I'm sure it's more now. Alcoa has a wonderful warranty on fade resistance. I would urge the client to splurge for the mitered corners...expensive but it gives the full wood shingle package.

CookeCarpentry

Your best bet is to sub it out to a professional siding installer (or at the least, someone who deals with it more often than you). They will offer up suggestions on products as they most likely have much more experience with the brands you mentioned.

Patrick

Use the Certainteed cedar impressions or the Mastic Cedar Discovery <---My choice

Stay away from the GP stuff its not even made by GP anymore. Its big box and lumber yard siding. The companies that stamp the boxes will go to other major manufactures and have them make the stuff, and since its price based, you will see the styles and colors will be completely different year to year. If you ever look at the siding at home depot the colors and grains seem to change from year to year and even store to store.

Do a google search on GP siding, its all people posting on forums looking to find pieces of DISCONTINUED gp siding to match whats on their house

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

buddy110

Royal also makes an excellent shake

loneframer

Yes they do. Also look into Crane siding. I installed this on a home a few years ago and it looked great.
I installed Novik on my own home and am very satisfied with it.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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buddy110

Nice looking job. Mind me asking what you got per sq?

Patrick

LOL he couldnt even get tree fiddy on that one!!!!!!!!!!! I dont even think he broke even. Did you even read his posts about that house, the homeowner was a HUGE A HOLE

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

buddy110

I won't touch that stuff for less than a grand

Tom Struble

all the other shake salesman always compare their panel to
cedar impressions and say they are alittle cheaper

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Tom

loneframer

I got screwed, it was a weekend job on my own house.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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loneframer

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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trimchiree

switched from certinteed to the crane single course pannels about a year ago

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Tom Struble

you get the crane at bradco LF?

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Patrick

You couldnt pay me to buy anything from the idiots that work at the bradco you buy from. I dread anytime I have to pick something up there.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

loneframer

Yup, came from Bradco. We took over the job after the HOs threw the OC off the job. Apparently Crane changed the design of their product halfway through the job and he had both types on the house. I guess he was buying several squares at a time to control cashflow problems.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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buddy110

Is the shake from Crane foam backed? If so it doesn't meet the tax credit criteria.

loneframer

The product I installed was not foam backed, although they may have a product line that is.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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buddy110

Ahhh.

Tom Struble

crane was the first vinyl manufacturer that i heard of that had a foam backed vinyl line,even back in the day aluminum and steel sidings had a foam or fiber backing attached.

I personally haven't installed a insulated product yet
i have also seen foam panels that had different siding profiles moulded into them that you installed first so that any manufacturer siding would essentially become foam backed
http://www.fullback.com/products/vin...erlayments.php

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Tom