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by Jordan Koonts, Contributing Writer for The House Designers®
It’s no secret that home maintenance can be a pain. What can seem like a never-ending to-do list of projects both inside and out can overwhelm the average homeowner. But maintaining the beauty of your home doesn’t have to be a struggle. By choosing the right exterior products for it, your home can retain its style and functionality while reducing the need for maintenance. With a few simple product decisions, an upgrade to a current home or added protection to a new build is easier than ever. There is already so much to get done around the house, so consider some of these options that can help reduce the maintenance workload, as well as the stress.
Durable Roofing
A home’s roof makes a statement and goes a long way towards curb appeal. Even more importantly, the roof is a home’s first line of defense against the elements and can help ensure the safety of you and your family. Opt for a material and manufacturer you can trust—you’ll find plenty of the beautiful styles and features without the higher maintenance of some traditional roofing products. Pair superior durability and unmatched style to make a great selection for your home!
Many brands offer diverse options and roofing solutions for any style of home. For a traditional style house, consider the timeless look of concrete tile. With a Mediterranean or Spanish-style house, a steel roof with clay or stone-coated tiles may be more appropriate—it delivers the classic aesthetic with less chance of breakage. And for Craftsman homes, a fire-resistant composite, shingle-look roofing tile can complete the look while protecting your home. Today’s roofing products have awesome design and appeal while requiring much less upkeep than those of the past, so take a look around and see what you find.
Straightforward Siding
Much like choosing the right type of roofing, picking your home’s siding is another crucial step towards creating a beautiful yet low-maintenance dwelling. Siding should complement the design of a home and provide it with a much-needed barrier against the elements. Choose a company that has a proven history and that recreates the traditional look and feel that you want in a more durable medium.
Vinyl, wood, fiber cement—they’re all prone to damage and require differing amounts of maintenance. Selecting a straightforward, composite siding allows a home to incorporate the beautiful aesthetics of traditional materials, without the maintenance they typically entail. And the appeal of composite sidings is made greater by the fact that they come in plenty of colors and design options—no need for pricey stain or paint jobs to achieve your desired finish! Composite siding provides the perfect combination of beauty and functionality, so find the gorgeous look you want in a durable composite form.
Composite Decking
Outdoor living can be amazing. Whether you are hosting family and friends during a barbecue or sitting outside and admiring the scenery, a good deck creates a welcoming feel. However, between cracking and rotting, the high maintenance, and even the possibility of splinters, wooden decks can end up putting a damper on your fun.
When building or upgrading your home’s deck, consider composite decking. Trusted manufacturers offer composite decking made of recycled plastics that have superior qualities over wood. Between staining and cleaning, wooden decks can take upwards of 32 hours of maintenance per year. In contrast, a composite deck takes around 2 hours of light maintenance annually to keep it looking its best. And choosing a composite deck doesn’t mean sacrificing the beauty and finish of wood—you’ll still find natural colors and textures. Plus, over the long lifespan, you can get back to enjoying your deck and stop worrying over its upkeep!
No matter what part of your home you’re shopping for, invest in durability to ensure you can spend more time enjoying the final product, not maintaining it!