Change Your Siding And Give The Building New Life

Have an old building? A garage, house, cottage a little bit of siding goes a long way!

No matter what the building looks like if you want it to look more appealing then install some new siding.

There are many different types of siding, colours, products, profiles and ways to install it. But the underlying theme is that new siding turns an old building into something newer and inviting.

In today's labour market paying someone to scrap the old paint off your siding and re-paint it is about the same price as removing it and installing new siding, the new siding will come with a warranty on the paint or the colour depending on what product you choose.

Some of the things you need to consider before picking a product;

• Budget. Your budget will be what defines which product you can be pick as there is a wide variety of siding materials to pick from and they all come with different price tags.
• Sub-structure. If your sub-structure is older and rotten then you will need to either add a layer to the outside to help with the siding installation. Siding fasteners require something solid to be attached too.
• Insulation. If you are re-siding a house or a cottage, an easy way to help the inside become more cozy and energy efficient is to add some insulation board to the outside of it. There are varying thicknesses depending on what R-value you want to achieve, but well installed insulation board can stop most drafts and it also helps seal the walls from unwanted creatures finding their way into the walls.
• Ripple affect. When you start changing the outside finishing's of a building you will end up finding things that need repairing or replacing. Once you start fixing siding you could end up  being forced to replace or repair soffit, facia, windows, doors, porches, outside electrical, overhangs, eavetrough, etc depending on the damage.
• Style. You can change the entire look of a building depending on the style and colour that you pick for your siding. You can make the building look classical or you can make the building look modern and sleek. Nothing transforms a house faster then the changing of siding.

 Whatever you decide on for for your siding make sure that you hire a professional contractor to supply and install it. No matter how nice the product you pick is it will only look as good as the company that is installing it. So do your research and find a company that not only can install the product but also someone you feel comfortable with as well.

Its your property you should feel like you've made the proper choice once its installed.

Rob
Village Builders Inc.

2014 Exterior Finishes on Custom Homes

2014- Exteriors Finishes

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.

Exterior Finishing Trends on Custom Homes 2013

2013- Exteriors Finishes

The trends in the exterior finishes in custom homes and renovations in 2013. Some of the trends have started this year (2013), a lot of trends where started in the 2012 construction year and continued into this calendar year. There are trends that have been sustained year over year as well, they are long running trends.

Exterior Finishes for Custom Homes

Here is a list of the trends that have stayed the same over the last several years;

• Pre-finished wood siding. Pre-finished wood siding has been by far the most popular exterior material used on the outside of custom homes.

• Horizontal siding is still the most popular choice for siding.

• Using a different material in the gable ends such as cedar shakes instead of running the siding all the way to the soffit is still the most popular way to finish off high gables.

• Decorative timber framing is still the best way to high light gable ends and make them stand out.

• Natural stone is still the most popular stone to be placed on the outside of custom homes.

• A 4 ft skirt of stone is still the most popular option around the bottom of a custom home when stone is being used.

• Siding with trim to butt the siding up to on the outside corners. 45ed corners are not that common because of the high expense and the degree of maintenance involved.

• Wood facia and wood soffit are still the most common.

• Installing freeze boards in certain heights of a multi story homes are still used to add definition to a large sided area.

Here a list of the new trends happening in Exterior finishes on custom homes;

• Vertical siding is showing up on more and more custom homes. It helps give the home different lines that make the place look more modern.

• Cement siding continues to grow in popularity.

• Using facia that is coloured the same as the eave trough is a newer trend that is gaining in popularity, it helps hide the eave trough.

• New stone from manufactures like Eldorado are making man made stone a more likable option when compared to the high cost of installing real stone.

• Crown molding installed at the point where the soffit and siding meet is a new growing trend, it helps give a more detailed look to the area.

• Layered facia and layered trims where the siding meets the soffit are growing in popularity as people try to “dress up” the exterior of their homes.

• Elaborate layers of siding trims are being used, one trim installed on top of another to give the window and door trims more definition.

• Vertical siding is growing in popularity as people look for a more modern clean lined look.

These are just some the new trends on the Exterior Finishes of today’s new custom homes.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.

Exterior finishes on your custom country home

Series: Tips on designing a country home.

In this multi-part series I will help give you tips on how to go about having a custom home built in the country, where it should sit, what it should look like, how it should function and what type of home performs the best and fits in with the surrounding country side.

The look of your new custom country home

First things first, I am not going to preach to you about what your country home should look like or what I think country homes should look like, because every person has a different idea of what that should be. What I will tell you is what we have built in the country, what looks the best to us, what performs the best in the country, what functions the best in the country and what should help with the resale value of your home.

Exterior

The exterior of country homes can be different and they can also be a lot of the same. But do it right and you can make your home look original without standing out so much that it looks odd. There are a lot of different things that people do to the outside of country homes, here are the hottest items right now;

• Pre-finished wood siding. When you used natural products such as wood your house will blend in nicely in the country. Pre-finished wood siding comes in almost any colour that you can imagine and has a paint warranty that is 20 years. There are many different styles and profiles to wood siding, you can run it horizontal or vertical and you can even use multiple different colours on the same building. It is easy to install and is readily available in most areas.

• Cement siding. Cement siding has come up from California and basically has copied the look of pre-finished wood siding. It comes in a wide range of colours and also shows well. There are a few drawbacks with the product, it is a fragile product until it is installed, the product can be hard to manipulate if you have any inconstancies in the wall such as turned studs or unlevel corners. It is also a more expensive option then wood siding.

• Vinyl and Aluminum siding. These are becoming less popular in the country and most are never put on custom homes anymore. They are extremely affordable but the look can be less then attractive. Vinyl siding doesn’t stand up to high winds or other extreme weather like wood or cement siding.

• Manufactured stone. Manufactured stone has come a long way in the last couple of decades. There are manufactured stone products on the market that look so much like natural stone that you will have a hard time telling the difference. It is easy to install and also has the adding value of being light enough to be installed on any wall inside or outside of the home without any extra re-enforcing.

• Stone. Stone is a beautiful option to put on the outside of your home. If you have a professional stone mason that knows what they are doing then you will be putting an exterior finish on your home that will be there forever. Stone is a forever exterior finish that will survive rain, snow, sun and high winds. Stone is extremely expensive to buy and install, but when done right it will add value to your home.

• Mix. Mixing siding and stone to the outside of your home is a very big trend. It gives you 4 or 5 ft walls of stone and then a wood siding finish on the rest of the building. This is very country looking and will help reduce the cost of having a house that is completely covered in stone with still giving you the look of stone.

Other exterior finishes like steel, stucco, tudor style and ultra modern looks are not that popular. They stand out and products like stucco or tudor style do not stand up to the extreme weather your new home can face in the country.

There is one other option that you can put on the outside of your home it is brick. Brick is not a popular thing to have installed on the outside of your home, but most homes that have been standing in the country for 50 to 100 years are brick homes. Brick homes when installed properly can be maintenance free for decades and will stand up to all the elements and the extreme weather. It is a classic look that when done with the appropriate brick that fits the look and feel of other brick farm houses in the area will look like it belongs.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.

Siding and stone, what has changed on the outside of your new home in the past 20 years

Modern Day Construction for custom homes Part 7

In today’s modern world of construction things are changing year to year faster than they did decade to decade in any other previous time period. In this multi part series I will traverse through an entire house starting with the foundation and working my way up to the roof and then to the finishing’s. I will explain what has changed in the last twenty years in custom home building.

One thing that you should be able to take away from this is how important it is to not just hire the right general contractor to build your custom home but how important it is to hire one that is up on today’s building methods.

Here are some changes that have come along in the last 20 years alone;

Exterior wall coverings

Twenty years ago wood siding, vinyl siding and brick were popular and were usually the standard application. Cedar shiplap was also very popular for cottages and chalets; it was usually installed raw and left to fade silver.
These days there are so many more options for the outside of the walls and there has been a lot of advancement in how it is all installed on the exterior of today’s houses. Here are some of the options that are popular now and also some of the installation methods that have become standard for those new exterior finishing’s and the ones that have been used for years;

• Natural stone. Natural stone is a very popular choice these days. Whether it is the full 4” stone or the newer sliced stone that is only 2” thick and installed like cultured stone, stone when properly installed should last a life time. It is also a timeless look, stone really never goes out of style; it just costs a lot more than other exterior finishes.

• Manufactured stone. Manufactured stone has come a long way in a couple of decades. There are better ways to install it, so that the stone gets a chance to breath, allowing drying of the stone so that there isn’t freezing and thawing, those preventing the breaking of the mortar joints. Also the colours and definition of the stone have come a long way, making it look more like real stone than ever before.  It is also the cheaper alternative to natural stone.

• Cement siding. Cement siding is what it sounds like, siding made out of cement. Cement siding comes in a lot of colours and styles; it also gives you a longer life then wood siding because there is nothing to rot. Some draw backs are that it is difficult to work with because it is made of cement and because it is very fragile until it’s installed. It is also extremely heavy to lift and manipulate. The price is higher than wood siding, but it does give you a maintenance free exterior.

• Pre-finished wood siding. Wood siding has come a long way in twenty years. The paint now applied in the factory has a 15 to 20 year warranty on it. That means that the chances of you having to paint the house while you own it are rather small. Also you have the option to get your siding in pressure treated wood instead of just pine. This is a great thing for houses that are built in places like the beach were you and the siding could be sand blasted. With new products like cedar breather, more ventilation is allowed behind the siding, keeping it dry and rot free. A big trend with wood siding is only doing part of the house, the first 4 feet is done in stone.

• Pre-finished cedar shakes. Today you can have cedar shakes pre-finished in any colour that you want. This gives the paint a longer life and thus giving the cedar shakes a longer life on the side of your new home.

Look for part 8 coming soon...

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.