Are you still wearing your designer cap? Some of the products I'll introduce
in this chapter should give you good ideas for designing projects that
are sure to please your customers. Remember, roofing and siding products
have to work together, to complement each other and the surrounding environment.
These new products are great ways to get creative. You can mix products
for a new and unique look, or consider dressing up those exterior walls
in the style of yesterday.
The exterior of any building is its most visible and vulnerable part.
Your goal is to make it attractive, while also considering maintenance
requirements. There's a section on siding maintenance at the end of this
chapter.
Wood has been the traditional siding for years, but there's a new breed
of products on the market that may be better suited to your geographical
area. Climate is a big consideration in choosing the types of materials
you install. Moisture, heat, and cold can take their toll on most siding
materials. Using solid-sawn wood with natural weather-resistance (like
cedar or redwood) puts some strain on harvested forests. Personally, I
like the look of machine-grooved shingles, fancy butt red cedar shingles,
and redwood lap siding. These natural wood products can make an attractive
finishing touch to any home, and I've installed my fair share over the
years. But there are ways you can conserve on the use of these products.
One way is to use the natural materials only on the face of the home,
and side the rest with a man-made product that closely resembles the natural
material, such as one that contains wood fibers, virgin or recycled materials.
Some of the products we'll discuss are made up of these materials, and
I'll point those products out. To assist you, I've divided this chapter
into five categories that will help you zero in on a particular product.
Those categories include:
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