Don’t sell SKUs—sell the look. This NARI-ready guide shows how to match Gentek vinyl siding profiles (D4/D5 clapboard, Dutch lap, board & batten, beaded) and panel options (thickness, extended lengths) to home styles. Get color tips, Visualizer help and pro tricks for seams, shadow lines and long-term curb appeal.
If you’ve spent any time in a kitchen with a homeowner and a stack of color chips, you know the siding conversation is all about identity.
“We want it to look just like wood.”
“We love modern farmhouse.”
“Our HOA leans traditional.”
Gentek vinyl siding is built for exactly those moments, with profiles and performance tiers that map cleanly to architectural styles, budgets and maintenance expectations. The following is a practical guide you can use in meetings or walkarounds to lock up the right look for your client.
It starts by getting to know the Gentek U.S. vinyl siding portfolio that steps up in panel thickness, features and profile options as you move through the lineup:
Aurora II is the go-to when you want solid curb appeal at the starter end of the budget. It’s a .040″ thick panel with a natural cedar grain look, available in classic D4 clapboard or a D4.5 Dutch profile if homeowners prefer a little extra shadow. Thanks to the full-roll nailing hem, it hangs tight and performs well day to day, so it still reads “refined” even at a value price.
Concord is the trusted mid-tier option you reach for when you want a touch more presence without going ultra-premium. It’s built at .042″ thickness with a full-roll nailing hem, has a light rough sawn texture that evokes the feel of real wood, and comes in four profiles (D4, D4 Dutch, D5, D5 Dutch). If you’re after traditional lines with extra substance and richer color choices than entry-level panels, this is the sweet spot.
Centennial Beaded brings a classic 6-1/2“ beaded look in a sturdy .044″ panel with a softly brushed finish that feels perfectly at home on a front porch. If your homeowner’s vibe is “low country” or simply “make it more charming,” this is the timeless pick that adds real character without trying too hard.
Signature Supreme is a head-turning home exterior upgrade. It’s a .044″ thick panel with a rolled nail hem, a deeper 5/8″ butt height that throws crisp shadow lines, and an Anchor Tite lock that keeps everything tight when the wind kicks up. You can get it in D4, D4.5 Dutch, D5 or D5 Dutch, so all the classics are covered. Look here when you want a richer clapboard look without having to step up to the highest tier.
Sequoia Select Ultra‑Premium is Gentek’s top-shelf vinyl siding: extra-heavy .046″ panels with a full-roll nailing hem and the Advantage Lock connection, so courses sit tight, and walls stay straight. The 3/4″ lap height throws deep shadow lines, and the low-gloss cedar grain finish keeps it reading like freshly painted wood.
- Sequoia Select Extended Length offers all those great features, just in longer runs. The 12′ and 16′ panels can cut overlaps by up to 50%, which is perfect for long elevations where you want a smooth, uninterrupted line. It’s also been independently tested for wind loads up to 253 mph (profile-dependent).
- Sequoia Select Board & Batten shares the same DNA but with a vertical vibe. The 7“ Board & Batten brings a modern farmhouse feel while keeping color/finish continuity with the horizontal Sequoia profiles. It’s an easy way to mix textures, highlight architecture and transform entire façades into something intentional and upscale.
Color is a big story across these siding families, too: A wide Classic/Designer palette, with darker tones fortified by ChromaTrue® and Gentek’s Color Clear Through® system, makes it simple to match siding, soffit, fascia, trim and rainware across the exterior. For homeowners who want to “see it” first, the Gentek Visualizer lets you try profiles and colors on stock homes or an uploaded photo.
Matching the profile to the house
Below are “what to use where” ideas you can keep in your back pocket. Use them as conversation starters, then help homeowners make their decision with the performance and color details.
1. Colonial, Federal and Neo‑Traditional
Go horizontal and clean here. D4 or D5 Clapboard keeps the exterior proportional and historically respectful. If the homeowner wants a slightly punchier reveal, a deeper butt height will throw stronger shadow lines without feeling trendy. Save Dutch lap for elevations that need more depth under strong sun.
Good fits: Concord for classic, budget-savvy clapboard; Signature Supreme when you want richer shadow lines and a more tailored read; Sequoia Select for max rigidity on sun-soaked or wind-exposed façades (mix in D4.5 Dutch only where you want a touch more depth).
2. Modern Farmhouse/New Traditional
Board & Batten can be used all over for true farmhouse language or as gable/entry accents paired with horizontal clapboard on the main massing. If the lot is windy or exposed, consider extended length panels on the horizontal runs for fewer seams and a more tailored finish.
Good fits: Sequoia Select Board & Batten for the hallmark farmhouse look; Sequoia Select (D4/D5) on main fields to balance the verticals; Sequoia Select Extended Length on broad elevations to minimize seams and keep the whole composition clean.
3. Craftsman Bungalows/Cottages
Craftsman and other “cozy” builds tend to show best with D5 Clapboard or D4.5 Dutch, as the slightly taller reveal and Dutch bevels add dimension under big overhangs.
Good fits: Concord for budget-friendly authenticity; Signature Supreme when you want richer shadow lines; Sequoia Select for the heft/rigidity that keeps façades looking laser-straight.
4. Cape Cod & Coastal
Keep it simple and resilient here with D4 or D5 Clapboard that makes sense for salt‑air aesthetics. Porches and coastal streetscapes love beaded detail, while longer panels can help minimize seams and sand‑grit dirt lines.
Good fits: Signature Supreme or Sequoia Select for clean coastal clapboard; Centennial Beaded for porch-forward charm; Sequoia Select Extended Length to cut overlaps on long Cape elevations.
5. Mid‑Century Ranch
Long and low calls for extended length panels in D4 for a continuous horizontal read; if the client is value‑conscious but still cares about a tidy install, look for options that provide a traditional look with a lighter hit to the budget.
Good fits: Sequoia Select Extended Length for that long, uninterrupted horizontal read; Concord for a tidy, value-minded install; Signature Supreme when you want deeper shadow lines without going ultra-premium.
6. Southern Colonial/Low Country
A 6‑1/2″ beaded edge says “timeless, and a little dressy,” and looks most comfortable across verandas and colonnaded entries.
Good fits: Centennial Beaded for the period-correct bead; Signature Supreme (D4/D5) across main fields for a refined, traditional look; Sequoia Select when humidity, wind or long exposures call for extra rigidity (Extended Length on broad exteriors).
Color and combinations that win
A useful close with clients is to let them play. Gentek’s Visualizer tool lets homeowners try profiles and palettes on stock houses or their own photo; it’s a quick way to turn “I think” into “that’s it.”
When you’re doing fast concepting, pull a small set of “safe” palettes that also differentiate:
- Traditional classic: Snow White siding with Pebble or Dover Gray trim (Concord or Signature Supreme). The low‑gloss surface keeps it refined.
- Modern farmhouse: Sequoia Board & Batten in Hudson Slate or Windswept Smoke with Iron Ore accents; add horizontal D4 Clapboard on secondary massing for balance.
- Coastal: Centennial Beaded in Chesapeake Gray or Storm; pair with white trim for that porch‑ready look.
- Elevated contemporary: Sequoia Select in deep designer tones (Midnight Surf, Iron Ore) for clean planes and dynamic shadows.
Also be aware that color availability can vary by market and profile, especially in the deeper designer tones. Confirm your local offerings before you finalize the palette, and, when possible, show actual product samples. Low‑gloss textures read best in hand.
Remember, homeowners aren’t buying SKUs—they’re buying a look that feels right on their house and holds up in real light. The Gentek lineup makes that easy: you can mix profiles, manage reveals and plan seam strategy without drifting on color or sheen. That means the palette and texture decisions you made at the kitchen table are still cohesive on install day.
Vinyl siding is still one of the smartest ways to deliver a durable, low-maintenance home exterior. For remodelers, the job is to tune the variables: profile and lap height, where seams land, how the surface texture and sheen play with the windows and trim, and how the whole elevation handles sun and wind. Lead with outcomes (“clean coastal,” “modern farmhouse,” “timeless colonial”), translate that into two or three visible choices, and let the system do the quiet work behind it.