Siding on the Wasatch Front
Provo sits at the foot of the Wasatch Range, at about 4,500 feet. Summers are hot and dry, winters are cold, and the swing between them is what wears siding out. Water that gets into a crack, freezes and thaws again and again does more damage here than humidity ever will.
Freeze and thaw
NOAA's engineering weather data for Provo, at an elevation of 4,492 feet, counts about 54 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year and gives a 99% winter design temperature of 10°F. Every cycle works water deeper into failed caulk, split trim and gaps behind loose siding. Ask how the contractor will flash windows, doors, corners and the junctions with roofs and decks, and what sealant they will use at each joint.
Dry heat and sun
The same NOAA sheet gives a 1% summer design temperature of 92°F with a mean coincident wet-bulb of only 63°F, and counts only about one hour a year with the wet-bulb above 73°F. High-altitude sun fades colors and dries out wood. Ask about the finish and fade warranty for the color you want, and how often painted products need recoating at this elevation.
Snow and the bottom courses
Snow plowed or shoveled against the house melts slowly against the bottom courses of siding. Ask how much clearance the contractor will leave between the siding and the ground, decks and roofs, and whether the bottom edge will have a starter strip and flashing that lets water drain out.
Wind and rain
NOAA lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph and a 100-year rainfall rate of 1.3 inches per hour for Provo. Summer storms are short, but canyon winds can be strong. Ask about the fastening pattern and how soffits will be secured.
Materials
Fiber cement, engineered wood, vinyl, metal and stucco are all common along the Wasatch Front. Ask how each option handles freezing, impact from hail and the dry air, and what maintenance it needs. If you are matching existing brick or stone, ask how transitions will be finished and flashed.
Utah licensing
Utah law exempts alteration, repair and remodeling work with a contracted value under $7,000, labor and materials included, from contractor licensing. Even on those jobs, any plumbing or electrical work must be done by a contractor holding the right Utah license. A full siding replacement usually exceeds that amount. Look the contractor up with Utah's Division of Professional Licensing, and check that the license classification fits the job.
Comparing quotes
Ask each bidder for the product, color and finish, wall area, tear-off and disposal, house wrap and flashing details, trim material, how damaged sheathing will be priced, the permit and the warranty from both the installer and the manufacturer.