Frequently Asked Questions

Often, you can’t tell from the ground. Watch for missing or lifted shingles, excessive granules collecting in your gutters, dents in gutters or metal components, and new water stains inside your home. If you’re unsure, that’s exactly what a free inspection is for. We’ll take a close look, show you what we find, and tell you honestly whether there’s meaningful damage, without pressuring you into unnecessary work.

Yes. We inspect the exterior, photograph and measure the damage we observe, and can meet the insurance adjuster at your home to point out those findings. The claim and coverage decisions remain between you and your insurance company. Our role is to document the property damage thoroughly and explain the repairs we recommend as your contractor.

We’ll show you what we found during our inspection, including photos, measurements and a clear description of the work we believe is necessary. If our findings don’t match the insurance estimate, you’ll have documentation you can provide to your adjuster or insurer for review. Coverage and payment decisions remain with the insurance company; our job is to give you accurate information about the condition of your home and the repairs it needs.

We install Atlas and CertainTeed architectural asphalt shingles. We’ll walk you through the available products and colors and help you choose an option that fits your home and budget. Good materials matter, but even the best shingle will not perform properly if it is poorly installed. The workmanship underneath matters just as much as the name on the package.

Yes. Think Exterior works on lake homes, cabins, log and timber-frame homes, historic properties, and roofs with steep pitches, difficult access or unusual details. These homes often require more planning than a standard roof, and we evaluate the structure and details before recommending the right approach.

We use tarps and ground protection around the work area, and our Equipter debris lift helps keep torn-off materials out of your lawn and landscaping. Before leaving, we clean the work area and run a magnet sweep for stray nails. Protecting your property is part of doing the job properly, not an optional extra.

Every completed project is backed by our five-year workmanship warranty. If an issue is caused by our installation work, we make it right in accordance with the warranty terms provided for the project. Manufacturer warranties cover the materials separately, and we’ll walk you through both before work begins. Minnesota law also provides separate statutory warranty rights for qualifying home-improvement work. For ordinary exterior work, the statutory workmanship period is generally one year, shorter than our five-year workmanship warranty, and has its own coverage requirements, exclusions, and claim procedures.

We install vinyl, steel and fiber-cement siding, including James Hardie, as well as LP SmartSide engineered-wood siding. Each has different strengths, maintenance requirements, appearance and cost. We’ll explain the practical differences and help you choose the option that makes sense for your home, priorities and budget.

Yes. Think Exterior installs seamless aluminum gutters, and gutter work can be included when planning a roofing, siding or exterior project. Coordinating the work together can simplify scheduling and helps ensure the roof drainage and exterior components work together properly.

Think Exterior operates under Minnesota Residential Building Contractor license BC #807702, carries insurance, and is BBB accredited with an A+ rating. We’re happy to provide current license and insurance information, and homeowners can verify contractor licenses through Minnesota DLI. Forming an LLC is not the same as holding a contractor license.

We serve Alexandria and communities across Central Minnesota and the lakes country, including Glenwood, Osakis, Sauk Centre, Carlos, Brandon, Villard and many surrounding communities. If you’re unsure whether your property is within our service area, call (320) 762-8267 or view the complete service-area list on our website.

Every inspection is free, no exceptions. We won’t always leave you with a written estimate, though: if we don’t find meaningful damage or don’t think the work is necessary, we’ll tell you that honestly instead of writing up an estimate for something you don’t need. When repairs or replacement are actually warranted, we’ll walk you through a written estimate at that point. We generally inspect the full exterior, and for roof work we recommend an attic inspection too. A thorough inspection is our standard, although site conditions can affect what can be inspected. We always love making new friends.

Yes. Think Exterior is based in Alexandria and is led by Kenny Kruchten, who has more than 14 years of exterior and roofing experience. Kenny personally oversees the work, so customers deal directly with the owner, not a salesperson who disappears once the contract is signed.