Hire a General Contractor, or...?

Off hand I would think a general contractor may hire sub contractors and cost more but you may find a contractor that does both.

The GC is going to do that and charge you. For windows, check out the local lumber yard or home center that sells them. That is where I got mine and got a good job for the install and decent price. Look around for the window type you like.

Get a couple of quotes from siding contractors and go with the best reputation.

My last 2 siding contractors had a windows operations too. The 2 things are related, do them at the same time.

One way that a good honest general contractor can help - - if he sub-contracts - he will know the good bad & ugly installers and use the good ones. We had our window replacements done by a trusted general contractor - he was trained by the window manufacturer - who only sells through it's trained installers. No regrets. We did some homework on windows, prior to having 4 or 5 quotes - but remained somewhat flexible to the ideas of the contactors - the final quote made a very valuable suggestion for awning-style lower windows - below the picture window - which we hadn't thought of - and we were very glad with the results. John T.

A general contractor might cost you a little more but you'll only have one point of failure.

Here in Waterloo Ontario I'd hire Beingessner Home Exteriors to reoplace the winfows and siding. They are EXCELLENT at both parts of the job.

Lots of other companies like them across North America. No "general" rerquired

If you do the siding first, be sure to tell the contractor where the windows will be.