Low-maintenance has become something of a mantra among Peter Tamburello’s Northern Virginia clients. That’s why he likes Hardiplank lap siding, a paintable fiber-cement product from James Hardie whose stability is guaranteed for 50 years. “That stuff is fantastic,” he says. “It has a masonry fire rating and comes in lots of colors.” Tamburello has also been specifying Huber Engineered Wood’s AdvanTech flooring panels recently, preferring them to OSB and plywood for subfloors because of their moisture-resistant properties. With the engineered wood panels, he says, “you end up with a smoother floor because there’s less likelihood of a delamination. They won’t soak up the humidity like OSB.”
Though the Mid-Atlantic climate is less extreme than in many parts of the country, winters there can still bring frigid temperatures. Tamburello has noticed that many of his clients are opting to use Icynene, a spray-in soft foam insulation that delivers a high level of energy efficiency. “A lot of our higher-end clients choose Icynene,” he says. “It’s more expensive, so sometimes we’ll just use it in the parts of the house where you really need it.”
James Hardie. 888.542.7343. www.james hardie.com. Circle 190.
Huber Engineered Wood. 800.933.9220. www.huberwood.com. Circle 191.
Icynene. 800.758.7325. www.icynene.com. Circle 192.
