When choosing building materials, products with proven third-party testing can give you confidence that the product can save you time and money.
Considering materials backed by third-party testing can help you make purchasing decisions that could equate to increased jobsite efficiency, leading to less time spent on product installation. These choices ultimately impact your build schedules and bottom line.
Let’s take a deeper look at third-party testing, how it looks in practice, and how it impacts professionals like you.
The Rise of Third-Party Testing
Manufacturing processes have involved third-party testing and inspection protocols since the Industrial Revolution. At first, testing was used primarily to improve quality, which shows early manufacturers’ commitment to providing quality products to consumers and businesses. As building codes and other methods of regulation developed, entities like the International Code Council required testing to verify compliance with the standards referenced in the code.
Now, as they seek out the best products for their projects, building professionals are increasingly aware that product claims must go farther than marketing tag lines—they must translate to actual jobsite efficiencies, performance results, and bottom-line benefits. That’s why third-party testing and the data it offers can help you make the best decisions possible.
Third-Party Testing and Professionals
Third-party testing helps the companies who use it, but its impact is truly felt by the building professionals who experience a company’s products every day. Kyle Stumpenhorst, contractor and owner of Rural Renovators, reports that testing gives him the assurance he needs to choose a product.
“As a building professional, knowing solid testing has been performed on siding materials before I buy them gives me reassurance they are going to stand up to the elements and be easy to work with on the jobsite,” he says. “Being a hands-on guy, I always recommend testing materials out for yourself, but having those third-party results prior can help you select the best new materials for the job. ... Siding companies all claim to be the most durable, but third-party testing can really sell you on one product over the other. In my opinion, looking for proof of claims should be a priority for any builder.”
Giving Customers Confidence
Proof of product claims can also help you sell products you love to your clients. When you can show a client testing results, the proof is in the pudding—and there’s an objective truth to decide on. This makes selling to clients easier. Jordan Smith, owner and builder at Smith House Co., says he was already sold on engineered wood siding materials after using them on a recent build. “Now, knowing they’ve invested in third-party testing only gives me more trust in the confidence they have in their products,” he says.
Smith’s background in building science also impacts his view of data. “Data is extremely valuable to me when selecting building materials,” he says. “Any company can claim they manufacture durable products, but without data to back it up, those claims are meaningless. As a builder, I recommend taking the time to do your research and understand how the manufacturing process of the materials you select truly affects their ability to hold up long term.”
Beyond third-party data, Stumpenhorst notes that a product’s warranty can also provide a customer with peace of mind when they are in the purchasing consideration phase. “If a manufacturer offers longer, broader coverage, they are inherently showing the confidence they have in their products’ durability,” he explains.
Boost Your Bottom Line and Sell to Clients with Confidence
As you look for proof of the claims that companies make, third-party testing has become even more important when it comes to saving time and money on the job. Professionals like Stumpenhorst and Smith have realized that if the claims a company makes aren’t true, their bottom lines—and their reputations—will take a hit, since their clients won’t be happy with their results.
However, when choosing products backed by strong third-party testing data, you can keep your bottom line in great shape, sell products you trust to your clients, and ultimately build with confidence.
