Above: Elm Grove™, the latest vinyl siding offering in the Exterior Portfolio® brand from Royal Building Products, features a new raised woodgrain that, according to the company, captures the look and texture of real wood without the added maintenance. Its partial roll-over nailing hem provides up to 155 mph wind load performance, and a new emboss roll coating technology creates a non-glassy look. Available in three profiles—Double 4″, Double 4″ Dutchlap, and Double 5″ Dutchlap—and 13 colors with a Lifetime Limited warranty.
With a continued expansion of colors and textures to meet the desire by homeowners to personalize their homes, the siding industry remains a diverse and expansive market.
Coeur d’Alene Wood manufactures and offers a unique line of aged wood products. According to the manufacturer, it uses a revolutionary, patent-pending process to accelerate the aging of wood, weathering the lumber to give it an authentic reclaimed look and character without the use of paints, stains or other contaminants.
ProVia’s Timberbay siding is made using injection molded polypropylene and features a cedar wood grain impression for an authentic looking cedar shake-style siding. The collection includes single 6.5″ Rough Sawn Shake Traditional Blend (shown here), along with dual 6.5″ rough-sawn, single 9″ staggered and dual 6.5″ scallop, as well as 30 solid colors and 4 blended colors.
As typical with today’s homeowners’ more sophisticated aesthetic, this house utilizes four different textures and colors to create a signature look. Shown here are CertainTeed’s Board & Batten, clapboard, shingle and stone veneer.
According to Jeld-Wen, its MiraTEC line of composite trim products offers moisture-, rot- and termite-resistance while delivering all the workability of wood. Its products are available in a variety of thicknesses and in widths from 3″ to 16″ and 2″ batten.
Sophistication in style and color choices continues to be a benchmark for the siding industry in 2017. Consumers increasingly look for choices in colors, textures and styles to personalize their homes, more and more blending their options in unique combinations to create signature appearances. As well, low maintenance remains just as important as aesthetics, with homeowners looking for materials that require little to no upkeep.
“Homeowners and builders alike are very tuned in to the importance of curb appeal, and therefore are paying close attention to the quality of their materials and smart design,” says Tom Zimmerman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Boral’s Light Building Products Division. “They also want their homes to stand out from others on the street.”
And as Chris Bartimioli, President of Coeur d’Alene Wood, points out, “There are many choices when it comes to siding. While there are many factors to consider when deciding on what product to use, we find that our customers start with the look. People want siding that excites. They want the wow factor.”
Beyond appearance, consumers search out siding materials that convey environmental responsibility and reflect lifestyles. As Leigh Ann Purvis, Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager for RoyOMartin, explains, “Today’s homebuyers are more educated about the construction process. They are seeking environmentally friendly, energy-efficient products that suit their lifestyle by being locally sourced and cost-effective. Thanks in part to home-improvement shows and social media influencers, many consumers are embracing the ‘outside-in’ trend, incorporating the warm look of wood into interior and exterior walls.”
Products that deliver a high-end finished appearance yet require no maintenance are key. As Brian Daley, Manager of Market Development for LP Building Products says, “Consumers are increasingly becoming used to low-maintenance exteriors and finishes that hold their ‘just installed’ look long after the product is installed. We are seeing a trend toward our higher- end finishes in both single-family and multifamily business.”
Steve Booz, Vice President of New Product Development and Product Management for Royal Building Products, concurs with Daley in regards to the importance of low-maintenance. “Homeowners do not want to have to caulk their siding every year or every other year, and they definitely do not want to have to paint every five years. So, why would a builder or remodeler give their customer a maintenance project? Homeowners want great exterior looks with products that are low maintenance.”
Adds Kevin Mickle, siding brand manager for ProVia, “Homeowners want a siding that reflects current design trends, particularly deeper, warmer colors and wider profiles. Equally important, they expect their siding to remain vibrant and showcase their homes for years. With active lifestyles, homeowners also want to minimize the maintenance required to keep their siding looking fresh. This allows them to spend their limited time on the things that are important—friends and family.”
To meet these consumer demands, contractors need to be agile enough to meet these needs, and suppliers need to have a depth of inventory to provide the materials in demand.
