Consider Vinyl For Color, Character and Curb Appeal

2/8/2006

Not so long ago, if you wanted the easy care and durability of vinyl siding for your home, you could have any color you wanted as long as it was white, off-white or beige.

When deciding to add fashionable color, architectural character and curb appeal to a home, there's a whole spectrum from which to choose from colors that will retain their just-painted good looks for years to come.

One palette highly regarded by a leading consumer magazine evokes a timeless style and a tradition of home, family and neighborhoods. Leading color experts have developed these historical shades as well as updated tones and classic neutrals.

Homeowners today approach the exterior design of their homes much like their interiors. They want their cladding choices to express their own personal styles, and there's no better way to do that than with color.

The growing popularity of these exterior colors is due in large measure to advanced technology that helps the colors resist fading through years of heat, sun and harsh weather. New technology allows the colored acrylic layers resist the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays that cause fading and weathering and provides strength and durability for long-term performance. In addition, the colors are consistent through the acrylic and vinyl, so scratches don't show.

A low-gloss cedar texture, reproduced from actual wood panels, gives an authentic wood look. A full three-quarter-inch profile provides dramatic shadow lines and lends added rigidity for a straighter appearance on the wall.

These sidings are engineered for high performance and durability. With a premium thickness and a double-thick nail hem to resist impact and add strength, it's rated to resist winds up to 201 miles per hour.

If you want great color, but prefer the square look of split cedar shakes, there's a product for you. Some lines are patterned from real split cedar shingles for a natural, handcrafted appearance. For design versatility, they're available in both a square style and a scalloped round shingle for accent.

These two products offer two other key benefits -- easy-care and low-cost maintenance. Instead of scraping, priming and painting your house every few years, a rinse with the garden hose, as needed, will maintain the surface.