Exterior Product Ideas!

Siding
Nothing will impact the appearance of your home more dramatically than the type of siding you choose, so it's no surprise that homeowners are looking to dress to impress. As you look for exterior siding, look for a material that suits the style of your house, fits your lifestyle and works geographically, because you will be living with your choice of siding for a long, long time.
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Exterior Doors
Your exterior door will need to provide your home with security, keep weather out and assist in giving your home the style you are looking for. The different types of exterior doors on the market today include front entry doors, back doors, French doors, sliding glass doors and patio doors.
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Siding

The siding you choose for your home will have the most impact on the appearance. Homeowners are usually trying to impress most with the siding. Look for material that fits your house's style, your lifestyle, and geography. The siding will be on the home for a long time, so make a choice that will be pleasing to you for a long time. When you have your home sided, the labor is the biggest cost, so remember that the larger your home the more the labor.

Here is a look at some of the most popular and affordable materials for exterior siding:

Solid Wood
Wood has beauty and durability, so it tends to be a home owner's first choice. Wood can be purchased in boards, shingles, or shakes and usually in red or white cedar. You can also get it in pine, spruce, redwood, cypress, and Douglas fir. Wood provides some insulation, is easy to both repair and install, and is available in many styles of stained, primed, and unfinished. You can also get it with fire-retarding treatments. Solid wood must be painted or stained. This adds additional cost and future maintenance. Wood shingles typically cost $3 to $4 per square foot before the staining or painting cost.

Cedar Shingles Cedar shingles, often referred to as 'shakes', are made from natural cedar stained in shades of brown, gray, or other earthen tones. Shakes are most often used on traditional, ranch, historical, and vacation homes to blend with the natural rustic look around them.

Engineered or Composite Wood
If solid wood is too costly for you, there are alternative, engineered or composite wood products available. Products like plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and hardboard are lower cost ($1.50 to $2.70 per square foot), but will not be equivalent to real wood. Plywood is normally the cheapest. It is most often sold in a reverse board-and-batten design. It is also easy to install and lasts the longest of the three alternatives mentioned. Plywood works best when installed on contemporary-style homes. OSB and hardboard are sold in 4 x 8 sheets molded to resemble clapboard. There are a variety of colors available in pre-primed or pre-finished.

Fiber Cement
For the appearance of wood, stucco, or masonry at lower cost than the real thing, fiber cement is strong and attractive as an equivalent alternative. The brand names of this material most known are HardiPlank(r) and HardiPanel(r). It is fireproof, resistant to rot, fungus, and termites, and can carry a warranty of up to 50 years. These are big perks if you live in an area that is very hot and humid.

The costs of this installed are reported to be less than the traditional masonry or synthetic stucco, equal to or less than hardboard siding, and more than vinyl siding. As always, size matters when it comes to your exterior.

Stucco Stucco is the most sturdy. It is basically covering your home with a layer of rock. Cement stucco is constructed of a small quantity of lime, Portland cement, and water. It is fine grained and attached to the house with a waterproof barrier paper, galvanized wire mesh, and metal flashings, which are devices that channel water to the exterior wall. Although stucco is strong, it does have a rigid makeup. If the wood frame beneath or the foundation were to move, the cement stucco could crack. To help avoid this, make sure the contractor frames the house with wood sheathing and allows it to dry for 60 days before the stucco is to be installed. The texture possibilities are limitless if you have a talented plasterer. If you plan to paint the stucco, use penetrating masonry stain because other paints may peel and end up being more costly. Traditional stucco has a low material cost, but is expensive to install ($12 to $16 per square foot).

Aluminum and Metal Siding
Aluminum and steel is more durable than vinyl. Like vinyl, aluminum and steel comes in a variety of colors. It is not as good of an insulator though and easily dents. It is also very difficult to repair. If you live in an area prone to hail or near acorn trees, metal may not be the best choice for you.

Vinyl
Thanks to new technology in the vinyl industry, the common stereotype of a "plastic" home has all but faded. Vinyl now offers more options: wood-like textures, shingles and shakes, deeper colors, and more trim designs. This makes vinyl quite a popular lower cost choice. Vinyl will not rot or flake because it is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Know that even the best vinyl will crack, split, and look dingy over time. Maintenance is low and easy; simply wash it with the garden hose. The cost is low at $1.50 to $2 per square foot. The problem with vinyl is practically no insulation, uneasy to repair, limited color choices, fading over time, and doesn't handle the weather well.

EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Stucco)
Synthetic stucco, also called EIFS (exterior insulated finish system) consist of a polymer-and-cement mixture, which is applied in two coats over rigid foam insulation and a fiberglass mesh. You might want to double think using this product, because since it came on the scene two decades or so ago it has been unable to successfully keep the water out. Water gets behind many EIFS systems and can't get out. What that means for you, is that your home will likely suffer some serious structural wood rot. Synthetic manufacturers are working on rectifying this problem by using special water management systems, which collect the water and divert it back to the exterior of the home before it suffers water damage. Being a new homeowner, this may be one worry you'll want skip. Synthetic stucco materials cost more than the real thing, but because it's easier to apply it costs less.

Vibrant exterior colors and wood interior looks have always been the 'in' style. People have begun looking at alternatives to this 'in' style. The exterior is what creates the first big impression, so people are now designing their exteriors for uniqueness, but also low maintenance. Vinyl tends to be the best choice. Most of the color palettes used for vinyl are similar and pale, but manufacturers are trying to continue expanding the options including brighter and deeper rich colors like forest green and barn red.

Cedar shingle looks have become available in vinyl. They look very close to real cedar. The nice thing about the look being vinyl is that they will not split, rot, flake, peel, or chip like real cedar. Almost all vinyl manufacturers now have this cedar replica.

Georgia-Pacific not only has vinyl and fiber cement to simulate real wood products, but they also market a real wood siding product. They use Catawba hardboard siding, which is 100% hard wood from pulp-grade wood chips pressed and bonded at high temperatures. The process also makes the wood weather resistant. With two coats of paint after installation, you won't have to paint it again for ten years, which is twice the amount of time traditional wood products will hold the paint.

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Roofing

Choosing the roofing for your new home will depend on what style the home will be, your budget amount, the location of the home, and the makeup of the roofing material. There are many different types of roofing materials available now. They are designed in different appearances and qualities. In most cases, it is recommended that you choose a basic style and color, and then search for the quality and installation that will fit your budget.

Choosing a Roofing System

When you begin to choose your roofing system you'll need to consider several factors like the style, color, material, weight and cost. Here's some helpful information to get you started.

Style
The roofing style of homes used to be chosen according the area in which the home was. The Northeastern areas normally used slate, the south used wood or metal shingles, we used wood shingles and shakes, and southwestern homes used tile. When asphalt shingles were introduced, most homes began using them. This material can look like the traditional styles yet cost less. An estimated 70% of new homes use some type of asphalt shingles. It is most commonly recommended that when you choose your roofing material, not only should it match the style of your home, but also that of the other homes in your neighborhood. Over time it has become popular to follow specific home styles - slate roofing on brick homes, wood, slate, or shake on wood exterior homes, and clay or concrete tile on stucco homes.

Color
Color of the roofing is best determined by the style of your home and the color of the exterior you have chosen. Asphalt shingles can be found in most any color you choose, where slate and wood tend to only be found in their natural form and color. Another consideration when you choose the color that you should be aware of is the energy efficiency it may provide for you. For instance, if you were building in a warm climate, a lighter color would be beneficial to reflect sunlight and help keep the home cooler. In cooler climates, choosing a darker color will help absorb the heat from the sun.

Material
Be sure to check with your local building codes before choosing your material. Some areas do have requirements on roofing material meeting a standard fire rating. Wood shingles and shakes are the most flammable material and are now required to be pressure treated with a fire retardant. There are restrictions in some areas that require specific material to be used. As an example, neighborhoods classified as historic areas may require wood shingles or shakes to preserve the historic look of the area.

Weight
Weight can easily be over-looked by many new builders. The weight should be considered before the roofing purchase. The roofing frame being built for your home will naturally only be able to hold so much weight. Asphalt shingles are approximately 250 pounds per 100 square feet, where as slate is about 2,000 pounds. Any weight over 600 pounds per 100 square feet will require strengthening of the standard roof frame.

Cost
Cost will be your number one variation on roofing materials. Asphalt shingles have the lowest cost range. They can be purchased from approximately $25 to $30 per 100 square feet. Slate on the other hand will increase considerable to around $500 per 100 square feet. The cost difference is huge, but you may want to consider the life span of the material before opting for the asphalt. They average 20 years, but slate may easily outlive one hundred years. Once the material has been chosen, be sure to choose an installer that will do the job properly. Even if you have to choose the more expensive roofer for his guarantee, remember that the material will do no good if it is not installed properly.

Types of Roofing Material

Asphalt Shingles: $50 to $150 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) Life span: 12 to 25 years.

Asphalt shingles can be purchased in a variety of styles, colors, and versatility. You can even get them in laminated grades with textured appearances. These are the most popular shingle material for steep-slope roofs and can be reinforced with organic or fiberglass materials. They have been reinforced with organic felts for a long time, but the fiberglass-reinforced products, otherwise known as composition shingles, are dominant in the market. The fire resistance of the asphalt shingles are categorized by Class A (most fire resistant), B, and C. Most fiberglass shingles have Class A rating, where organic are at Class C. If you have concern with algae, consider having zinc or copper-coated ceramic granules applied to the shingles to resist algae attack.

Wood shingles and shakes $100 to $165 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) Life span: 25 to 75 years.

Wood shingles and shakes can be purchased in cedar, redwood, southern pine and other woods, cedar being the most costly. Wood shingles cut are by machine, while wood shakes are handmade and have a rougher look. Since most wood shingles and shakes only have Class C fire ratings or no ratings at all, be sure to check your local building codes before deciding on this type of roofing. You can purchase Class A wood shingles with fire-resistant treatment for an additional cost.

Clay tile $300 to $600 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) Life span: 50 years.

Clay tile is very durable and comes in a variety of colors and finishes, but are a heavy material.

Slate $550 to $1000 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) Life span: 50 to 100 years.

Slate is by far the most durable material, but also most expensive. The installation requires special skills and experience. The choice of color and grade will vary greatly on where you purchase it.

Metal starts around $100 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) but can run up to $600 for coated steels and copper. Life span: 20 to 50 years.

There are two types of metal roofing products: panels and shingles, which come in numerous shapes and configurations. Metal shingles typically simulate traditional roof coverings, such as wood shakes, shingles and tile. Aside from its longevity, metal shingles are much lighter than most materials and very resistance to adverse weather.

Fiber cement $500 per square (10 x 10 area = 100 square feet = 1 square) Life span: 20 to 30 years.

Fiber cement is a good choice for homes that are built in very hot, humid climates. They withstand the salty air and wind of being near an ocean. Fiber cement is available in a variety of textures and colors and is very durable. Keep in mind; they are very heavy and difficult to repair though.

Although concrete shingles are costly, they generally have a long life span, high fire resistance, require low maintenance, and are rot and insect resistant. Concrete shingles simulate wood shakes. They are lightweight tiles and panels manufactured from a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. Some are coated with plastics, enamels, or thin metals, and some contain recycled material.

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Red Cedar

Choosing a favorite quality of Western Red Cedar is like trying to decide a favorite flavor of ice cream. Start with the basics like vanilla and chocolate, and the choices multiply from there. So it is with Western Red Cedar.

As one of North America's most durable woods, it lasts for decades and even centuries. Light in weight, uniformly textured, straight-grained and containing no resin, Western Red Cedar is easy to work with, and can be applied to a variety of uses.

It is a favorite material of architects and builders, but they may not agree on why. With Western Red Cedar, it's difficult to decide which of its many qualities is best.

Western Red Cedar is beautiful, in both sight and scent. No man-made material can duplicate the depth of Western Red Cedar's natural luster. Its subtle, natural aroma is another hallmark of its universal appeal.

It's one of North America's most durable woods. Natural resistance to deterioration has long made Western Red Cedar the premier choice for either interior or exterior home use. Cedar fibers contain natural compounds called thujaplicins that act as natural preservatives, making the wood extremely long-lasting. These compounds also give the wood its distinct aroma. Properly finished, Western Red Cedar will last for decades, even in harsh environments.

SIDING & PANELING:
Beauty, durability, choice of finish, insulation value and dimensional stability make Western Red Cedar a premier material for exterior siding and interior paneling. Its ability to accept different stains, dampen vibrations and reduce or confine noise makes it particularly effective for use as paneling. The wood is versatile enough to be used in residential, commercial or industrial structures and is widely used in saunas for its low thermal conductivity.

DECKING:
Pleasing to the senses, naturally durable and stable, Western Red Cedar is a very popular choice for decking material. It stays flat and stable and lasts for decades with easy maintenance. Western Red Cedar decks are firm but resilient, not hard and unyielding. While the wood is ideal for almost all types of finishes, in addition homeowners who prefer a distinctive silver gray color may allow their decks to age naturally.

SPECIALTY USES:
Produced in a range of patterns and sizes, Western Red Cedar often appears in fencing, lattice, balustrades, gazebos, pergolas and in decorative accessories. Because it needs minimal treatment, unlike the toxic chemical preservatives used on pressure-treated woods, Western Red Cedar is ideal for use in playground equipment. Wood carvers and other artisans choose it for its beauty and workability.

Western Red Western Red Cedar - Timeless Quality
Builders and homeowners around the world continue to appreciate the natural beauty of Western Red Cedar, a wood with roots of use that date back centuries to the Native Americans who first named it the "Tree of Life." Today, Western Red Cedar also provides unmatched durability and versatility - qualities that make it perhaps the most beloved and valued of the building woods.

"Western Red Cedar siding is often favored for its natural warmth and beauty, especially when finished with a clear or transparent tinted stain. A highly versatile material, cedar siding can convey rustic charm with exposed knots and raised grain, or traditional formality with smooth clear grain. Even the smell of fresh cedar is memorable for folks who tend to have a positive emotional reaction to the material on many levels. Cedar appeals to homeowners because of its practicality. A naturally robust material affording protection from the elements, cedar is decay and pest resistant without the addition of chemical treatments. And, of great importance to many homeowners, it is a renewable resource. We use Western Red Cedar throughout our own home."

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Love At First Site

By Christine Sears

When it came time for Architect Jerry Axelrod to build a new home, he set out to find a lot that would inspire his creativity and satisfy the practical needs of his family. "I have always enjoyed the challenge of designing for a difficult site," Axelrod said, whose firm is located in Long Island. "Some of our most interesting homes resulted from a desire to create a home that blended perfectly into its natural setting. So when I began searching for a lot to build a new home for my wife and I, I rejected most sites because they were too dull." One look at his current residence in Nissequogue, NY and you'll see the influences of Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architecture, where he focuses on the relationship between site and structure.

"It was a topographical challenge, but it had all the elements I sought to create a home with year-round recreational appeal - a place that exuded leisure and informality while providing comfort and appeal for visiting family as well as guests and most importantly my wife and I." he said.

What a View
Although the property dropped away precipitously from the road some 35 feet vertically, it then rose some 50 feet to the South to provide a beautiful view of the river and wooded hillsides. "It looked more like a site in Vermont than Long Island and Vermont had always been our favorite place to visit," Axelrod said. When he sat down to draw out the house plan, he was able to design a linear floor plan with all major rooms facing south and on one level. "The topography would allow for a beautifully day lit and walk-out basement, which would provide a great recreation place for the grand-children."

In order to get the right light and right view, Axelrod choose Andersen® casement, awning and custom windows. When it came to indoor/outdoor access, Axelrod went with function and beauty and chose Frenchwood gliding patio doors.

Contemporary meets Arts & Crafts
"A design credo of our firm has always been to never dictate style; as such we have created some very stunning Victorians as well as some striking flat-roofed moderns for clients with different inclinations," said Axelrod, who personally prefers a contemporary approach. However, over the years Axelrod and his wife have started to drift away from the stark contemporary of the '70s to a love for Arts & Crafts. "We appreciate the deep-toned woods and the craftsmanship of Arts & Crafts styling, but not the dark interiors, low ceilings, and uncomfortable furnishings." Thus the challenge in this design was to create a happy marriage between contemporary and Arts & Crafts that would suit our preferences and lifestyle."

A Marriage Inside and Out
The exterior reflects this marriage. There are large expanses of glass, but they are set into heavy forest green frames, and capped by a heavy forest green fascia. A key element in achieving this look both inside and out, came from using Owens Corning Cultured Stone® products. "There is an abundance of earth- toned ledgestone by Cultured Stone® that helps marry the house to the site," Axelrod said. "The sky lit entry porch, with its' ledgestone piers, reminiscent of a mountain lodge, reinforces the recreational theme."

There's plenty of room for barbeques and family gatherings on their expansive rear deck by Trex, which floats on two huge stone piers and extends into the hillside. He choose Trex decking and railing not only for its beauty, but because it will never rot or crack and it's splinter free. The marriage of home and site is just as easy to spot inside, especially in the great room. "The South facing window wall of the great room brings the hillside inside and the ledgestone interior piers and fireplace wall mirror the entry porch detailing."

Open Living Area:
"The living area is essentially one rambling space that combines the entry, great room, kitchen, breakfast area and a sunroom that doubles as a dining room," said Axelrod, who had Four Seasons customize a sunroom roof. "For decades I have preached against formal dining rooms. Only in the grandest of homes are they ever large enough to function for most of the important occasions when they are most needed."

"My solution for us was a fully functional indoor sunspace/greenhouse. The huge plants are on casters and slide aside to allow tables and chairs from the nearby storage closet to be set to seat 30 or more." The Axelrods spend the majority of their time enjoying the beautiful greenery of their sunroom.

Keeping with the open space, the great room flows into the kitchen to create a marvelous entertaining area. Even the fireplace and large screen TV, which is housed in a maple cabinet adjacent to the fireplace to create a single focal point, are both viewable from the kitchen.

Exquisite Kitchen Components:
The kitchen was designed to flow into the open and dramatic Arts & Crafts influenced great room. "The furniture look overlay panels on the Sub-Zero 600 series built-in refrigerator and separate under-counter freezer were essential in integrating the kitchen into this space." Since Axelrod and his wife spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, they wanted it not only to be functional but exquisite in style.

Source thehousedesigners.com

Exterior Style Choices

The fun part of designing your new home is the exterior style. You will not need to do more calculating. It is just time to have fun choosing a style that you like.
The style chosen should usually blend in with the other homes in the community and region. Even though the style fits in with the other homes within the community, you can still customize it to reflect your taste.
As a safety factor, consider the resale value of the home with the exterior style that you choose. This may be an important value consideration if the time comes that you decide to sell the home. The five most prevalent styles on the market today include country, traditional, Victorian, Mediterranean, and contemporary.

Country style is the most popular nationwide. Characteristics of the style include a large front or wraparound porch, which is usually covered. The roofline runs lengthwise with a steep pitch and often times dormer windows and gabled wings. The appearance is casual and informal. A farmhouse style is normally a two-story rectangle or L-shape. The siding on this style of homes is typically horizontal siding, but sometimes is masonry or stucco.

Traditional style includes the Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Cape Cod, Saltbox, and Ranch designs. Each of these is specific to regions. Traditional styles are considered as simple. They usually have small paned or mullioned windows spaced symmetrically.

Victorian style homes are traditional, but have strong historical origins with intricate rooflines using turrets, formers, towers, bays and eyebrow windows. The porches on these homes are ornate with shingles or narrow-lap wood siding. This style is most appropriate in a two story.

Mediterranean styles are most popular in Sunbelt states such as California and Florida. Some people feel this style leans towards traditional, others contemporary. Stucco, tile roofs, broad overhangs, low-pitched rooflines, open-air verandas, courtyards, and covered porches or lanais are the common features of these homes.

Contemporary is a broad category because it entails many varieties of styles and shapes. They are typically found with bold geometric shapes, large amounts of glass, shuttered windows, decorative trims, and rooflines that range from flat to very steep. Siding is vertical or horizontal wood, stucco, or masonry. Contemporary does not really have any style rules.

Although the preceding five styles are the most common, there are many other styles to choose from. Some of these styles are Craftsman, European, Italianette, French or French Country, Tudor, and etc. Some regional locations can produce particular styles. Examples of these would be narrow lots, beaches, mountain ranges, and vacation homes.
You can view examples of each style on The House Designers website by clicking the appropriate search function in the Detailed Home Plan Search.

Source thehousedesigners.com

Curb Appeal

By Frank Snodgrass

Curb appeal, the most important feature you can include in any house design and construction. Today's home buyer is far more educated and informed than the buyer of five or ten years ago. The average buyer today is looking not so much for a Castle but for a home they can retreat to. A higher level of design and a use of materials to add texture are becoming extremely important in houses of all sizes and style. People are more willing to spend money where they can touch feel and see it. It is impossible to sell any home if you can not get the customer out of the car and into the house. Needless to say, curb appeal is important and in the eye of the beholder. Even Ug the "We buy ugly houses" cave man can find curb appeal in most any home but most people like to think that they have better taste than Ug.

What attracts someone to a particular house design? I think, for a majority of people it has to do with architecture that is pleasing to the eye. Well, you may ask, what do you consider pleasing to the eye? A house that has all the right materials and details for its style of architecture. As an Architect I try to design houses that can stand the test of time. What do I mean about standing the test to time? If you drive by a house ten years after it was built, can you date the construction of the house based on a particular fad that was popular at the time? If you can not tell if it a house was built ten years ago or one hundred years ago, it is likely that it will stand the test of time. Houses that are designed to a specific architectural style seem to continue to be popular all the time and never go out of style.

Styles like Country French, Craftsman / Bungalow, Mediterranean, Tuscany, Country Cottage, Southern Colonial, Shingle Style, Low Country and Mountain Lodge just to name a few, have historic roots and continue to remain poplar all the time.

You might wonder what makes a house either Country French, Mediterranean, or maybe even Craftsman in design. Most of the details that determine an architectural style have to do with the geographical area that the design originated from. In some cases like in a Country French design you will find steep roof pitches with very short eave overhangs to help shed snow. Some designs like a Craftsman or Mediterranean house for example have a very low sloped roof but may have a large eave overhang. These homes are usually found in areas where there is little or no snow and sun control is a bigger problem. These are just a few design features that are specific to these styles, as you can see, I would have to write an entire book to explain all the various architectural styles and what details define each one. You will find that most of the detail found in any Architectural style came about as a practical and or functional necessity.

Even though providing good historic use of architectural details and materials is important. We do not need to tie ourselves to the way people lived one hundred years ago. Open floor plans with attention to where family and friends gather are very important. Covered porches and outdoor living areas with fireplaces and barbeque areas are becoming the norm for today's homes. In short, good design is a blend of the current trends of how we live today and the strong design elements and details of yesterday.

Good Architects and Designers do a tremendous amount of research on your behalf to incorporate details that not only help define the architecture but are the little details that you find pleasing to the eye. Design features like, shutter style, plant boxes, carriage garage doors, cupolas, window style, trellises or even proportionally correct colonial columns to name a few can be that special character detail that makes the difference whether someone comes inside or stays in the car. When a builder leaves off the details to save some money he is not only removing the curb appeal that attracted him to the house plan in the first place but usually pays the price in additional interest when the house does not sell.

Another important feature that is as important as the Architectural details is the use of materials. Again, like the details, materials more often than not, were indigenous to the area of a specific style of architecture. Materials like stone, brick with weeping mortar, Cedar shake, stucco and heavy rough sawn timbers when used architecturally correct can give a house that special texture today's home buyer is attracted to.

Last but in no way the least important element to an attractive house design is the use of good massing relationships. Too often, I see designs ruined because the builder changed something as little as the overhang on a dormer window. By not following the smaller eave detail and applying the same detail as on the rest of the house, suddenly, what was supposed to be a gracious design element with a delicate eave detail becomes a top heavy overwhelming monstrosity. Massing details are difficult to explain but when they are right they are beautiful and when they are wrong they are horrible. In conclusion, Architects and Designers have a reason for every design feature that is included in their plans. More than likely you chose that plan because of some if not all of those details. Is curb appeal important? You betcha.

Source thehousedesigners.com