I have heard nothing but good on Katchmark. No word on the other.
I had a general contractor reside my house w/ vinyl siding (from alumn.) and re-roof the cedar shake roof.
Here was somehitng I learned during siding selections - pay CLOSE attention to the THICKNESS of the siding. I had a few quotes from companies who wanted to sell the absolute thinnest siding on the market. I wound up with the same brand (Certainteed brand) at a much thicker guage, for the same, or less than big name contractors wanted to charge.
Here is some addl. info on siding:
http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/siding/side_1.htm
I will also say that after I got my cedar roof redone, (Bob) Banning roofing came by as other homes were getting the similar work done after a storm and he wanted to give me an estimate.
I said, YGBSM, I just had my roof done. Dumbfounded, he said it looked like a poor job and he sped off.
...a roof he did across the way from me at the same time, has already had repairs done.
Another roofer, Cardinal, had their home done again after about 7 yrs. Not very long for a good job, IMO.