Coeur d’Alene’s products use a process that ages the surface of new wood while leaving the structural integrity of the wood beneath intact. “The industry has been trying to achieve the weathered look by painting or staining,” Seymour says. “But homeowners have found that the colors that still look monotonous and contrived.”
Multiple materials also are commonly used on multifamily projects, notes Mike Pidlisecky, vice president of sales and marketing at Woodtone. “Architects are intermixing finished profiles, such as smooth, woodgrain and stucco,” he says. “There’s a continued desire by architects to intermix woodgrain looks with contemporary styles to get a new look.” Adds Boral’s Zimmerman, “More and more architects are incorporating profiles from yesterday that can provide today’s performance requirements, and they’re getting more attention.”
They also use more materials, even beyond their larger size. “In some cases, single-family homes are using multiple textures only on the fronts. They dress them up for curb appeal, and the other three sides may be vinyl with no accents,” says Novik’s Bruno. “Multifamily homes often use decorative treatments on all sides.”
The search for new looks and materials is impacting market share. Vinyl siding remains the dominant choice, making up about 25% of total sales, according to The Freedonia Group. But that has been dropping. “Vinyl siding’s market share has consistently fallen since 2004,” it reports. “Vinyl siding has faced continued competition from other materials perceived to be more aesthetically pleasing.” Even so, vinyl siding is forecast to remain the leading material due to its benefits of “low cost, long lifespan and minimal maintenance needs,” the report says.
More Color Choices
In addition to different materials, homeowners also are considering new color options and combinations. “The use of color continues to change, favoring darker colors,” says Ply Gem’s Blais.
“We see blues, grays, reds and browns becoming more popular. Most homeowners stay pretty conservative in their choice for a body color. They stick to neutrals and earthtones, but those choices are deeper shades than they used to be. That provides more options in trim to contrast with the house, going either darker or lighter. There are more variations that can create a personalized style.”
Variegated styles also are being used more often, adds Foundry’s Franklin. “Generally speaking, weathered or natural colors are rapidly increasing in market share, at the expense of solid, monochromatic vinyl colors. Overall, darker, richer colors are increasing in popularity.” Deep Granite and Smokey Gray have emerged as solid favorites with homeowner and builder customers, he says.
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