While trends change year to year, curb appeal is always critical. The building material palette can easily provide distinctive touches to the façade. And design details provide the “wow factor” homeowners want.
The 2016 Best in American Living Awards, presented at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in January 2017, showcased the top design trends homeowners will want in a new or remodeled home.
#shiplap. Fans of the HGTV show Fixer Upper know how much Joanna Gaines loves shiplap. Perhaps due to the show’s popularity, the “shiplap look” is showing up almost everywhere. True shiplap has rabbet notches for spacing and moisture protection, but the look can be easily replicated with bio-based façade boards. The boards come in varying widths and can be installed in traditional horizontal courses or vertically. For weather protection, the boards must be attached to battens over sheathing with an approved water-resistive barrier.
Ceiling treatments. The wood look isn’t just for floors anymore. Bio-based siding adds richness to soffits and larger ceiling applications. Capped with a fascia board in a contrasting color, the look can easily go from traditional to contemporary. For an even more modern look, solid bio-based boards that extend from the eaves and are evenly spaced provide a practical shade structure and design focal point. Consult individual manufacturer’s installation guides when siding is intended for moisture protection.
Beautiful and practical – the creative use of bio-based façade boards provides effective shading for this tropical home, a screen for outdoor cooking, and a warm balance to the cool aesthetic.
Color. Whether it’s Greenery, Pantone’s® color of the year, another more robust color, or a natural tone, color is the easiest way to personalize a look. White-on-white is the current trend, showing up everywhere, both inside and out. Hybrid building materials offer a range of water-based stains for maximum design flexibility. The material makeup of bio-based façade and siding helps stains adhere more effectively and offer superior UV protection.
Details, details. Even the smallest details can make a big impact. Especially where space is limited, screens can fulfill a variety of purposes to enhance aesthetics. Wide façade boards attached to a decorative post can effectively keep trash bins from plain view. Smaller boards with wider spacing on taller posts can create a contemporary outdoor room and provide more privacy from neighbors. A touch as small as a custom address sign in a coordinating material ups the elegance factor even further.
Trends aside, easy maintenance is always in style for homeowners of any age. Hybrid, bio-based building materials can provide the look of wood without the need for frequent restaining or sanding. In cases of damage, boards can be filled and re-sanded for easy repair. Cleaning requires only rinsing with water and buffing with a soft cloth for heavier buildup. Attributes like resistance to water and pest or fungal decay make bio-based siding and façade materials a good option for even the most humid environments and shady exposures. Material composition varies by manufacturer; TruGrain made with Resysta profiles contain the proprietary Resysta filler, which is composed of rice husks, and then mixed with synthetic plastic polymer, salt, and other additives. With zero wood content, it is a sustainable product choice. See a range of custom TruGrain® applications at tru-grain.com/gallery.