ABC Seamless pioneered the use of steel siding in the 1970s and now also makes roofing with the same qualities as its siding. This barn is an example of the metal roofing available from ABC Seamless. (Photo courtesy of ABC Seamless)
If you have any doubt about how much roofing and siding affect your home’s appearance, ask some kindergartners to draw a house. They always delineate the roof and exterior walls first, then complete the picture with doors, windows, and a big smiling sun. That’s a real lesson in the basics of rejuvenating a house. “Get the right combination of exterior products, and you’ll turn an average-looking house into something stunning,” says CertainTeed Corporation spokesperson Mike Loughery.
Headquartered in Pennsylvania, CertainTeed supplies building materials worldwide, but it began as an asphalt roofing manufacturer more than a century ago. “Roofing is still CertainTeed’s biggest business and core expertise,” says Loughery. The company built a reputation for excellent products and reasonable prices. “CertainTeed’s founder,” says Loughery, “coined its name from the slogan, ‘Quality made certain, satisfaction guaranteed.’”
An American invention, single-layer “three-tab” asphalt shingles with felt bases have done an economical job of keeping out rain and snow since the early 1900s, but the debut in the 1980s of textured architectural shingles with fiberglass bases created demand for upgraded appearance and performance. “Twenty-five years ago,” Loughery notes, “roofing was just about protection. Now it’s about adding character and personality to a home.”
CertainTeed has developed a wide variety of roofing products. “Our Landmark® architectural shingles are the workhorse of the residential roofing industry,” says Loughery. “They mimic wood shakes and slate at a fraction of the cost and maintenance.” Other roofing collections include Patriot™ Shingles, which feature blended colors and natural-looking shadows, and Presidio®, steel roofing that emulates clay tiles as well as shakes and slate.
Likewise, CertainTeed produces vinyl siding such as Monogram®, which comes in some 40 colors and wood tones that afford plentiful curb-appeal possibilities. Launched just this year, Cedar Impressions® Sawmill Shingles feature a spectrum of shades that replicate the various stages of aging wood. Also new is STONEfaçade™, a cultured stone cladding that imitates natural stone. “It’s molded from handpicked stones and installs easily because you don’t need mortar,” says Loughery.
Fiber cement siding presents another option for homeowners who want a realistic wood look without wood’s maintenance issues. “The advantage of fiber cement is that it won’t melt or burn and lasts forever,” says Tom Anderson, sales and marketing coordinator for Allura, a Houston-based fiber cement siding manufacturer. “Insurance companies rate it like brick or stone, which means a better rate on your homeowner’s policy.”
A composite consisting primarily of cement, cellulose fibers, and silica, fiber cement siding is a favorite in neighborhoods where covenants ban vinyl. “It has great strength and flexibility, and because its wood grain is embossed, the siding looks very natural,” says Anderson. In addition to lap and vertical siding, Allura makes fiber cement shakes, shingles, and architectural panels in numerous textures and colors. It also offers primed siding that can be custom painted. “Allura’s website shows all the palettes,” says Anderson, “and we’ll provide colored samples that people can hold up to their houses.”
Allura also makes fiber cement roofing shingles that include historically accurate half-round and octagonal styles, but its latest product is decking that extends fiber cement’s benefits to the front porch or backyard. “Allura’s fiber cement decking won’t rot, chip, or fade,” says Anderson. “If you want a fire pit in your deck, you can have it — because the planks don’t burn.”
Also burn-proof are the products made by North Dakota’s ABC Seamless. The company pioneered seamless steel siding in the 1970s, and many homeowners consider it a permanent solution to the problem of failing siding and shingles. “When you buy ABC Seamless,” says advertising director Dale Gilbraith, “it’s like buying the Rolls-Royce of siding. We haven’t found anything better.”
Made of heavy-gauge steel with a finish that never needs repainting, the metal siding is cut to fit each house precisely and installed without random splicing. “People like the look of seamless siding because it’s clean and straight,” says Gilbraith. “There are no cracks to trap dirt, leak moisture, or admit insects that can damage a home.” Design options include horizontal siding, vertical board and batten, or simulated log siding.
ABC Seamless also makes roofing with the same qualities and advantages as its siding. “It’s screwed on and wind-tested up to 160 mph. That’s equal to an EF-3 tornado,” says Gilbraith. ABC Seamless roofing is available in horizontal as well as shake and slate styles, and the company’s “Color Tool” lets homeowners coordinate their siding and roofing selections.
Although most manufacturers offer Web-based visualization aids or mobile apps to assist homeowners with their exterior designs, Loughery encourages people to visit dealers’ showrooms before finalizing their decisions. “See the products in person to check out the materials and colors,” he says. Another tip: Never rely on how a building material looks online or indoors. Instead, take products outside to see them in natural light or do a drive-by to judge the curb appeal of a particular roofing or siding on an actual house. “Ultimately,” says Loughery, “select colors and styles that you like, that you’re comfortable with, and that give you a sense of pride in your house.”
