A Minnesota Siding Field Guide
Straight answers about siding for Minnesota homeowners.
No sales pitch. No scare tactics. Just what 25 years of Twin Cities jobsites taught us about hail damage, repairs, replacements, and hiring well — written down so you can make good decisions, whether or not you ever call us.
Minnesota Siding Field Guide Siding Guru Notes Storm & Hail Education ITEL / Discontinued Siding
Improve Your Siding is an educational siding resource published by Northern Exteriors Minnesota Inc., a licensed Minnesota exterior remodeling contractor (MN License #BC297099).
Where Are You Right Now?
Have storm damage? — Start with the hail guide → Wondering repair vs replacement? — The three questions → Dealing with discontinued siding? — ITEL, explained → Comparing LP SmartSide vs vinyl? — The honest matchup →
Start Here
Decide
Repair or Replace?
The three questions that decide it — including when the honest answer is “keep your money.”
Storm & Hail
Hail Damage Guide
What hail actually looks like on every siding type, and what not to sign afterward.
Insurance Process
Discontinued Siding & ITEL
Your siding doesn’t exist anymore? The claim process nobody explains, explained.
From the Field
The Siding Guru
Real walls, real damage, straight answers — about a minute at a time. Filmed on actual Twin Cities jobsites by the crew that does the work.
▶ Video placeholder — Episode 1: “The Siding Problem Everyone Misses.” Embeds go live as episodes are filmed.
Minnesota Siding Problems, Solved in Plain English
Materials
LP SmartSide vs Vinyl
An installer’s honest comparison — bias disclosed in the first sentence.
Materials
Wood Shake: Save or Say Goodbye?
The flex test, the three real options, and the insurance wrinkle nobody mentions.
Decide
What an Inspection Covers
The 45-minute walkthrough, what you should receive, and the red flags of an ambush.
Siding Color & Curb Appeal Inspiration
See all color ideas for Minnesota homes →
Real Exterior Transformation Example
Want eyes on your actual house?
This site is written by the team at Northern Exteriors Minnesota Inc. — family-owned, licensed, and on Twin Cities exteriors since 2001. If you’d like a professional opinion instead of a general guide, that’s what we do all day. Learn about Northern Exteriors siding services or call 651-230-5103.
All Guides
Decide: Repair vs Replacement · What Happens During an Inspection · 12 Questions Before You Hire
Damage & insurance: Hail Damage · Discontinued Siding & ITEL
Materials & style: LP SmartSide vs Vinyl · Best Colors for Minnesota · Wood Shake Options
The site: Videos · About & Disclosure