Sizes Are Expanding
Lap styles also vary regionally, although every area is moving toward wider profiles to some extent. “Narrower profiles sell in New England, at a 4- or 6″ width, because they like a tighter look,” says Boral’s Zimmerman. “In the Midwest, they prefer an 8″ size, which is more of a midrange. In the South and West, they prefer patterns in redwood or with a rustic look and a wider profile.”
Royal’s Booz agrees, but notes, “Even in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, the preferences are moving toward wider profiles.” ProVia’s Mickle sees the same trend. “There is a continuation of the trend from last year to wider faces for siding,” he says. “There’s definitely an uptick in 6s and 7s in a variety of colors.”
There’s also some movement toward longer lengths. “Some customers want to differentiate their look with longer products, which minimize seams,” says Ply Gem’s Blais. “The challenges with that approach are the abilities to transport them to the site and handle them. Fiber-cement products especially are heavy, so longer lengths create challenges for one person to install them.”
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Boral offers a variety of lengths to suite different needs. “We can replicate any sizing to meet any need,” Zimmerman says. “The 12′ length is accepted, and we offer a 16′ length because more people have asked about it. We expect to be doing more 12- and 20′ lengths in the next year to provide more flexibility.”
Some customers prefer shorter lengths, says Foundry’s Franklin. “A major installation benefit is our single-course 5′ panel lengths. Those generate less waste when being cut. Customers appreciate the cost savings.” Concerns over seams are resolved with Foundry’s hidden laps, which prevent seams from being seen, he says.
Shorter lengths offer more options for one-man installations, which are becoming more common with skilled labor harder to find as demand picks up. “Our goal is to make our products easier and faster to install,” says Royal’s Booz. “Our new finish trim is super-easy to install, because we know that finding experienced labor is difficult.”