Minneapolis/St. Paul Siding Specialists Since 1996
When it comes to siding the AMEK Construction business philosophy is simple: Embrace the special needs of each individual client and deliver a product that reflects the client’s needs and tastes by getting the siding that's right for the house.
Each new siding project gives the AMEK family the opportunity to show that they value relationships over the bottom line. Twin brothers Andrew and Matt Schmidt began the business in 1996 roofing homes themselves, and their brother Andrew joined a year later after siding homes himself. They have built the business based on the four tenets of honesty, integrity, trust and relationships.
Contact AMEK today and learn for yourself how they earned their reputation.
Our AMEK sales force is excited to offer Boral TruExterior siding products to our clients.
“We’re always looking for exceptional siding materials suitable to Minnesota’s climate,” said Paul Schmidt, VP of AMEK Exteriors.
The Boral Siding Products Advantage
Boral Channel Siding
Boral offers home exterior products for siding, fascia, trim, soffits and rake boards. Some siding choices offer products that are historically and architecturally accurate to the original wood counterparts. The advantage of Boral is that the material is highly resistant to deterioration, mold and mildew, and to pests.
AMEK sales team is impressed with how well it looks and how it doesn’t require specialized tools to install, Boral is a good fit for areas that come in contact with the ground or for hard-to-reach peaks and columns because Boral is made to be low in maintenance.
Boral Manufacturing Makes a Difference
Another advantage of Boral products is that a fly-ash and polymer process is used to make the products. This means that they consist of 70 percent of recycled materials. In addition, the poly-ash formula provides stability and durability which minimizes long-term problems..
Choose Boral to protect your home
Boral historical products used for siding, trim and barrel roof. Photo by Kim Smith.
“One of the weaknesses of some products is the range of expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity differences,” noted Paul. “Boral uses more stable materials which reduce the chance of water intrusion and deterioration because pieces can be fit together tighter and because the material is impervious to water.”
Contact us if you would like to hear more about Boral products. Our team of experts can help you determine if Boral products are a good match for your exterior project.
Two AMEK Exteriors’ employees recently received their certified vinyl siding installer certificates from the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). Jim Hansel and Brent Ficocello attended the course on proper installation techniques for vinyl siding, soffits, and framing and passed the examination in January 2017. Based in Washington DC, VSI is a national organization representing manufacturers of vinyl and other polymeric siding and suppliers in the industry.
AMEK CEO Andrew Schmidt congratulates Brent Ficocello and Jim Hansel on earning the Vinyl Siding Institute’s Certified Vinyl Siding Installers certficates.
“This certification adds to their credentials making them more valuable to our company and ultimately to our homeowners we serve,” said Andrew Schmidt, co-owner and CEO of AMEK Inc.
Decades of Experience
Brent and Jim both bring decades of experience in the construction industry to AMEK. In his 25 years in the construction business, Jim has worked in all phases of construction and thoroughly understands how important scheduling, proper installation, and communication are to his clients. Jim is also a Certified Remodeling Project Manager (CRPM) with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and is Lead Certified with the EPA. Brent has been around construction since he was a kid with official jobs starting in 2001. Brent has a solid background in exterior storm restoration as well as new home construction from start to finish. He is extremely knowledgeable about exterior product choices and design options. One of Brent’s strengths is his high client satisfaction ratings.
“A lot of people underestimate how critical it is for siding to be installed and integrated properly with other products like stone, windows and decking,” according to Paul Schmidt, AMEK Co-owner.
“A lot of people underestimate how critical it is for siding to be installed and integrated properly with other products like stone, windows and decking,” according to Paul Schmidt, co-owner and VP of AMEK Exteriors. “That’s why our company regularly provides training and continuing education courses for our employees.”
Preventing Construction Defects
One of the key areas Paul specializes in is fixing construction defects caused by water intrusion due to improper installation techniques used by other construction companies. Water and moisture that enters the wall cavities can cause extensive structural rotting and mold formation.
“AMEK’s goal is protect your investment in your home and your family’s health with very specific installation techniques,” Paul said.
Despite its numerous strengths, fiberglass siding from Apex, a product we had recommended and installed, was discontinued in the spring of 2015. There are two other products AMEK Exteriors continues to rank as in the top tier of long-lasting siding with superior appearance. Depending on your requirements and your budget, either choice will be a solid exterior siding decision. Here are some considerations for fiber cement vs. engineered wood.
Fiber cement siding which is created from a wood pulp and Portland cement combination is known for its resistance to rot, pest damage from termites and woodpeckers,and fire plus its longevity. Another feature is the minimal maintenance. Some fiber cement products are offered in a range of pre-finished colors while others can be painted with your own color of choice. Paint lasts much longer – 15 years vs. 5 years – which give homeowners the choice to change the color of the home without the worries of frequent paint jobs.
James Hardie Fiber Cement Lap Siding by AMEK
AMEK Exteriors regularly uses fiber cement products from James Hardie on their projects. James Hardie offers a long warranty on their products. According to Paul Schmidt, co-owner of AMEK Exteriors, “James Hardie is the best in the industry for their commitment to quality and service. They have a 30-year warranty on their products which is outstanding.”
James Hardie Lap Siding integrated with Marvin windows by AMEK
Fiber cement siding installation does need skilled people who have the proper tools and who know how to correctly integrate the siding with windows, roof lines, and foundations. “I appreciate James Hardie because they provide installation guidelines and on-site training for our crews,” said Schmidt. “It’s critical that any siding is installed correctly to prevent future water intrusion issues, so I appreciate the dedication that James Hardie has to making sure that contractors know the proper installation methods.”
The appearance of fiber cement is realistic with possibilities of wood grain, cedar shakes, stucco, brick and stone. There is also a wide range of widths and lengths of boards. These options allow for a myriad of design possibilities giving homeowners custom looks from historical renovations to modern elements.
Another solid option is engineered wood. It’s like wood but with superhero characteristics. Formed out of real wood and resin, engineered wood has the advantages of being stronger and more durable. This strength helps it fend off moisture and pests like woodpeckers and carpenter ants plus isn’t easily impacted by rocks or balls hitting it.
Most engineered wood is easier to install because of the tools required and because of the longer pieces available which reduces the number of seams needed. However, trained installers are still vital to making sure manufacturer’s instructions are followed for seams, flashing, and end pieces.
LP SmartSide Siding installed on a Mendota Heights home by AMEK
LP SmartSide has been incorporated into many AMEK Exteriors projects because of its lasting beautiful curb appeal backed by 50-year limited warranty LP SmartSide is available in a large array of colors and textures with matching trim pieces.
James Hardie Siding on AMEK’s Award-winning Minneapolis Home
presented the National Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the Remodeler of Merit Award (ROMA) from the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), and the Gold Design Award from the Professional Remodeler Magazine.
Owner Paul Schmidt, Field Manager Jim Hansel, Painter Tony Rodriguez, Owner Matt Schmidt
An exterior design and renovation project in Minneapolis recently earned a 2015 Contractor of the Year (CotY) award from the National Association of Remodeling Industry – Minnesota Chapter. The CotY recognizes excellence in remodeling projects.
Led by AMEK owner Paul Schmidt and field manager Jim Hansel CRPM, the exterior design project began with the challenge of doing extensive remediation construction work before beginning the exterior design makeover. Due to the improper installation of a second story in the 1980s, water was trapped inside the walls which caused large-scale rot and mold. Once the removal and repair work was done, the transformation could begin to create a modern appearance with an accent of warmth.
LP SmartSide is made using treating wood strands with a resin binder and compressing them to give the board superior strength while being light weight. Use of the small, fast-growing trees means strong forestry practices limits the tree acreage needed to make the siding. The process includes adding a textured face that is embossed, providing a rough, cedar-like texture at a percentage of the cost of wood.
A view of APEX Fiberglass siding’s front (at top) shows the clips used in the water management system. The rear view (bottom) provides a perspective on the thinness of the durable siding.
APEX Fiberglass siding is made using a proprietary process that begins with fiberglass filament made from sand and ends with siding material. The process includes adding a acrylic finish with the color bonded into the material during manufacturing, not applied on the finished product. This means no painting decisions and no added cost. Continue reading Compare LP SmartSide vs. Fiberglass Siding→
