Since curb appeal is as much about keeping up with the Joneses as it is about having an inviting home exterior, providing homeowners with uniquely detailed siding options is essential. Whether your clients want to flaunt their new siding's color, texture, or style to their neighbors, industry suppliers have an array of products to fulfill their desires. With the right products and installation, the rest of the block could start lining up to be your next siding makeover clients.
Kleer Lumber. Outfit porch ceilings, soffits, and other areas prone to moisture retention with KleerLok. This edge- and center-bead board features a ship-lap locking system to hide fasteners, eliminate face nailing, and reduce post-fastening labor, such as the need to fill in fastener heads. The recommended fastening technique requires a small amount of construction adhesive, as well as 14- or 15-gauge stainless steel nails. The cellular PVC material is available in 16-foot lengths of 5-inch board with a 2½-inch on-center bead. 866.553.3770. www.kleerlumber.com.
Crane. Replicating the look of real cedar board-and-batten without the maintenance hassles is CraneBoard Board & Batten Siding featuring an architecturally correct double 10-inch design. Interlocking panels hide each vertical nailing hem while protecting the home from air and water infiltration. According to its maker, the siding offers up to 300% more impact resistance than traditional vinyl board-and-batten, and reduces sound by up to 45%. The solid-core backing has an R-value of 2.6. Available in 10-foot lengths and 17 colors. 800.366.8472. www.cranesiding.com.
Sikkens. To make choosing wood care finishes and colors easier, the company is debuting sample cans of exterior wood-care products. The 4-ounce cans feature an applicator brush built into the lid for quick testing on an extra piece of wood or the underside of a deck to observe the color, coverage, and finish the coating provides. The maker's Cetol Log and Siding, as well as three other products, will be available in sample cans. 866.745.5367. www.nam.sikkens.com.
James Hardie. Part of the Hardiplank product line, Colonial Roughsawn lap siding is available in 12-foot–long, 8-inch–wide, 5/16-inch–thick planks. Featuring PrimePlus sealer and primer, the fiber-cement material can be painted any color and lasts longer than wood, the maker says. The siding is impact-resistant, non-combustible, and is approved for fire-rated construction. Its 50-year warranty is backed even in extreme climates. 888.542.7343. www.jameshardie.com.
Nichiha. Add classic charm and elegance to your client's home without adding installation or maintenance hassles with Sierra Premium Shake fiber cement panels. Factory-primed and factory-sealed on six sides, the deep-grain shakes are able to withstand 110-mph sustained winds. The ½-inch panels break less during installation than traditional shakes, the maker says, and will not crack, rot, or delaminate. Eight-foot panels mean less cutting and quicker installation. Factory-applied stains or paint finishes are available, including redwood, maple, cedar, mahogany, and weathered gray. 866.424.4421. www.nichiha.com.
Eldorado Stone. Abandoning the uniformity of color, size, and shape associated with traditional brick, the company introduces its brick veneer product line. The highly textured bricks flaunt rough, worn edges and slightly varying thicknesses and sizes, so no two bricks are the same. Four profiles (RomaBrick, TundraBrick, ViaBrick, and ModenaBrick) each offer three or four color blends designed to highlight the textures and complement other design elements, including the maker's stone veneer products. Suitable for exterior or interior applications, the line includes accents such as column and wall caps, crown detail, trim molding, surround, and half rounds. 800.925.1491. www.eldoradostone.com/brick.
KP Building Products. As part of its ongoing strategy to refine the styling of its siding to better meet customer demands, the company offers a redesigned 6½-inch–wide panel with a full bead in its Northern Star line. The design modification offers a sophisticated surface that provides a true beaded look in the vinyl siding product. All Northern Star siding features a low-gloss wood look in a variety of solid or multi-tone colors. 866.850.4447. www.kpproducts.com.
Royal Building Products. At .054 inches thick and able to withstand winds up to 265 mph, DuraPlank features an extruded foam backing for straighter walls and enhanced energy savings. The free-floating ribbed insulating backing is locked, not glued, to allow for expansion, contraction, and escape of moisture. The low-gloss cedar woodgrain finish — available in 12 colors — is maintenance-free and resists dents, peeling, rust, flaking, and corrosion. A single 7-inch profile replicates the width of solid wood panels and eliminates stacked seams for a more natural wood look. 800.387.2789. www.royalbuildingproducts.com.
