As plans for new homes and renovations come across my desk for the 2014 construction season there are obvious trends that have emerged, so of the exteriors are trends that started in the previous years and some of them are quiet new.
Exterior Finishes for Custom Homes
Here is a list of the trends that have stayed the same over the last several years;
• Decorative Timber Framing has become the way to dress up the high gables that have become popular in custom homes.
• Wood facia and wood soffits that are painted to match the siding colour are still the most popular.
• Natural stone is by far the most popular option when dressing up the outside of custom homes.
• A 4 foot wall of stone whether it is natural or manmade is seen most often, this helps keep some of the costs down but still gives that stone look.
• Pre-finished wood siding is still the most popular; this has been the case for decades.
• Horizontal pre-finished siding is still the most popular way to install it.
• Changing the material in the upper gable ends is still popular to give the house some contrast.
• Crown molding at the point where the soffit meets the siding has become the norm now, with the crown being painted the same as the siding and soffit.
• Layered facials are common now, adding depth to the exposed edge of the roof.
• Coloured eavethrough is common now to match the colour of the facia so that it helps it disappear.
• Freeze boards through the siding at certain heights to help break up a high wall of siding is common.
• Vertical butt-jointed corners are still the most popular with layering taking over giving them more depth and allowing a colour change to accent the homes corners.
Here a list of the new trends happening in Exterior finishes on custom homes;
• Metal siding or metal sheeting is becoming a popular material on modern houses that are looking for a simplified look.
• Vertical siding is growing in popularity; the cost of the installation is keeping it from becoming the norm over horizontal.
• Thermally modified wood siding is becoming more popular as it requires no maintenance and weathers to look like cedar unless sealed to keep its original colour.
• There are new vinyl siding products that are on the market that have a high definition look that is starting to steal some of the market share away from cement siding. The vinyl being a lot easier to install and cheaper to purchase overall.
• Homes are being designed with more and more windows and doors; this is requiring less and less exterior wall covering. With that comes the need to simplify siding so that it accents the windows and doors instead of accenting the siding itself.
• Eldorado Stones newer HD stone that looks remarkably like natural stone is becoming a more popular option as the cost savings compared to natural stone is immense.
• With the trend in homes going towards a simpler look on the exterior of a lot of homes stucco making a comeback in custom homes. Most of the stucco is a coloured mix and not the white that was popular in the 70s and 80s.
• Natural wood looks like cedar and pine that are stained are starting to become popular as new products to protect them against UV allowing the stain colour to survive longer are slowly starting to appear.
• Brick is starting to reappear on custom homes, especially in the rural areas were homeowners are trying to blend their new custom home with the existing red brick farm houses that populate the country side.
• Simple siding looks with no trims around the windows or corners are becoming popular. It’s a more modern look.
It seems that new exterior siding and stone products are appearing monthly now. Every supplier and manufacturer is attempting to give the customer a new and different look to the outside of the home. Some are intriguing and some look like they won’t be around very long. When planning your new custom home you and your contractor should take some time and look around at all the different options that you now have, the prices vary as much as the products do so your budget will play a large role in what you will end up selecting.
Remember that it’s not just the cost of the material that you need to worry about it’s also the cost of the installation. If your budget is flexible enough that the cost is not an issue than I suggest that you look at the long term view of what will last the longest and give you the minimal amount of maintenance.
Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.
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