While you, as the contractor, will have a perspective on what decisions you think are best for the job, remember that a siding project is a big investment that your customers hope to only experience a handful of times. They are feeling pressure to make the right decisions, so they have probably done a lot of research about design options and popular trends.
Homeowners today want exterior options that match their vision. Of course, the siding should be high-performing (low maintenance with a long lifespan), but it should also be high-design, aesthetically pleasing and something unique that makes their home stand out in their neighbourhood. By providing customers more freedom to customize their home’s exterior, there is greater opportunity to boost curb appeal that reflects their own individual style and taste.
Aside from price point, which always influences purchasing decisions, here are some things your customers may be thinking about or would want to know more about when choosing siding materials.
1. Dark/Bold Colors
Historically, building materials with darker siding easily faded. As a result, many homeowners opted for siding materials with light, neutral colour palettes because they were less likely to fade. Today, manufacturers are successfully producing more siding colour options than ever before, creating darker siding solutions that have reduced risks of fading. As such, homeowners are becoming more comfortable with selecting dark, bold siding materials that give their homes a clean, crisp look.
2. Increased Materials, Profiles and Textures
Another siding trend on the rise is an increase in blueprints that blend siding materials, profiles or textures. Homeowners are becoming more comfortable with colour variations and multiple styles of siding on different sections of a home’s exterior.
Here are a few siding trends to know about:
- Contrasting light and dark tones (e.g. light trim with dark siding)
- Combining materials and profiles (e.g. vinyl or fibre cement siding with two or more lap exposures on an elevation)
- Mixing textures (e.g. incorporating stone, brick or steel)
Combining multiple materials, textures or profiles can also add much needed depth to a building, especially on large residential and multifamily facades.
3. Siding Accents Help Homes Stand Out
For homeowners looking for additional ways to help their home’s exterior stand out, they may be interested in incorporating siding accents. Accent areas like dormers, gables and entryways provide the perfect opportunity for mixing and matching the main exterior cladding with eye-catching touches of design that showcase customers’ individual style and creativity.
4. Durability
It is no surprise that homeowners expect their siding to be low maintenance. Mitten Building Products use modern technology to produce siding materials that are easy to take care of. For example, homeowners who are interested in wood siding may be interested in an engineered wood, fibre cement or a vinyl alternative. Wood siding alternatives are not only easier to maintain, but they will withstand the elements and are less likely to crack, mould, break or fade.
5. Visualizer Tool
The most difficult part of choosing siding is often picturing what it will look like on a home. Tools like the Augmented Reality Visualizer from Mitten Building Products will allow you to virtually show your homeowners what their home could look like with different siding options and colours, giving them more confidence in their purchasing decisions. To see what the visualizer tool looks like, visit the Mitten Building website.
Contact your local Co-op for more information about the products available and advice about the best materials for your job.
