INDUSTRY Trends By Aaron Sims, Boral Building Products
Outside opportunities What’s hot in siding and trim s outdoor building season ramps into high gear, expect to hear some familiar requests from builders and their homeowner customers—as well as some new demands. Homeowners are increasingly discerning when it comes to their exterior facades as they seek to ramp up curb appeal while still making their home reflect their personality and lifestyle. Here’s a look at what’s trending this year: • Design with Intention: Architects are looking at the whole picture rather than the individual home, designing structures to fit the environment around them. The results are more timeless looks that don’t feel dated in a few years, and homes that feel well-suited to their towns and cities. Everything seems more intentional. It’s not something you can create, but you can nurture it. • Past Is Present: Historical favor-
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ites never go out of style for a reason. Buyers are turning toward familiar, timeless profiles such as nickel gap and shiplap siding, as well as authentic shutters. Some of their popularity stems from TV shows such as Fixer Upper, but also a desire for creating a sense of place. At the same time, buyers aren’t afraid to update those looks, as seen in the subtle modernization of older restored buildings or farmhouse designs that blend industrial metallics. • Mixed Textures—with a Twist: Like last year, designers are still mixing up materials, such as siding, stone, and metal. But they’re doing so in a cleaner way. Color combinations are more monochrome, lines are straighter, texture planes are seamlessly blending together. • Clean & Crisp: From seamless transitions to the sleek forms of shiplap, the transitional and modern trend is creeping into exterior home styles,
INTEREST IN profiles such as TruExterior’s Nickel Gap (above) and Shiplap Siding is climbing as homeowners seek out authentic, classic looks. (Photo by Boral)
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with more rectilinear lines and forms. • Natural Versions of Popular Colors: Grays, blues, and neutrals are still common, but they’re moving to the more organic versions of themselves rather than feeling manufactured. Grays are veering toward a more beige-like warmth, blues are earthier and darker. • Outdoor Living: Homeowner demand for decked-out exterior spaces is not going away. Many buyers are clamoring for decks and patios with the same amenities they enjoy indoors, including dedicated sitting and eating areas, seamless transitions and views, and even technology. They also need to look the part, so don’t forget accessories such as lighting, modern railings, and pergolas, and be sure to finish off the underside with trim and post wraps. • Low Maintenance: No surprise here: Homeowners still don’t want to spend time painting and staining their facades and decks. Innovative introductions are ensuring buyers can find long-lasting, low-maintenance alternatives that still feature the wood look buyers crave. • Labor Crunch: The challenge of finding qualified labor continues, so products that offer easier, straightforward installation can make a difference in time and cost. Mortarless stone veneer is one such product, providing the look of stone in an easy-to-use panel profile that siding contractors can install. – Aaron Sims is a product manager for Boral’s Building Products Division, which includes TruExterior Siding & Trim, Versetta Stone, Kleer Lumber, Grayne Engineered Composite Siding, Foundry Specialty Siding, Atlantic Premium Shutters, and Mid-America Components. Building-Products.com