At Hoffman Weber Construction, we want what you want. But we also recognize that you want to be aware of trends and new materials. Because we complete as many as 1400 projects a year, we are in a unique position to understand what’s happening in the market. Our residential remodeling consultants share their product knowledge and expertise during each zero-pressure in-home consultation. Contact us to make an appointment. Until then, here’s a preview from one of our best, Jason Iwig.
A. People seem to be more aware of James Hardie when I arrive for the initial consult. Both products are industry leaders, and they have gotten even better over the years. I’ve been to both manufacturing plants and was impressed by their process and quality control. Proper installation is as important as the product itself. Hoffman Weber crews are trained to install both types of siding, and the manufacturer reps are great about coming out when requested to make sure our jobs get off to a good start. The James Hardie product is a little more expensive and harder to install than LP Smartside. We pay our installers the same for labor so the Hardie siding costs clients just a little more.
A. Prefinished is the best choice for a lot of reasons, including price. It costs less to install pre-painted siding that to hire a painter to finish the surfaces on site. Plus you know factory conditions are right when the coating is applied. Hardie finishes its siding itself. LP uses third-party prefinishers. Prefinishing enables us to complete jobs in any season or weather. That’s huge in climates like Minnesota, Denver and Omaha. We can install siding in November and you don’t have to wait until spring to get it painted. The only time we would install siding that’s just primed is if we are patching in a small section of siding before the whole house is painted. Prefinished siding typically does not need to be repainted as soon, but you still need to keep an eye on the caulking because that usually goes first.
A. Earth tones are back on the coasts, but grays and blues still seem to be the most in vogue here in the Midwest. I bet half the siding project I sold in Minnesota over the past year have been some sort of gray. Not as many earth tones unless it makes sense to complement brick. People also are choosing contrasting trim, usually white, for corner boards, fascia, soffits and window and door trim.
A. We typically match the material used in the siding and trim, however we prefer aluminum soffits. Fiber cement soffits are fine in new construction, but they’re awkward and heavy for remodeling applications. Plus the aluminum soffits vent better. We like cellular vinyl for the skirt board nearest the ground because it cannot absorb water from splashing.
A. People ask about metal roofing but they usually talk themselves out of it when they hear the cost difference. Most clients choose laminated architectural asphalt shingles. We install so many of these architectural shingles that we can offer them at a great price. Hardly anyone goes with the basic 3-tab asphalt shingle anymore. Besides, the GAF and IKO architectural shingle products we install look better and have longer warranties.
A. Not here. The Minnesota climate is not the best for solar. And introduction of the Tesla Solar Roof has been delayed until the company is satisfied the product will last 30 years.
A. Mostly gray or brown. Occasionally black if they are modernizing. Most people stay with a neutral color. They’re not going to take a chance on something that lasts as long as a roof. I sell a lot of castle gray and estate gray.
A. In general, dark roofs do absorb more heat. However, some dark GAF shingles are engineered with angular granules that reflect the sun’s rays. The angular granules also make the roof look a little shinier.
A. Both open and closed valleys are code approved. There is no difference in cost. There’s a slight preference for metal valleys, particularly if there are a lot of trees, because they are more slippery. We install ice and water membrane under both systems per code. So it’s not just about what you see.
A. If your roof has hail damage there’s a good chance the gutters are damaged too. A well-designed gutter system is important for directing water away from your home and keeping your basement drier. It also can extend the life of a lower roof by eliminating the waterfall from an upper roof. Quality leaf guards will keep gutters flowing in the fall, but they can double the cost. Our best leaf guard product is Gutter Dome. It pairs a perforated metal cover with a fine mesh screen.
A. The truth is most people don’t know much about how windows are made and many contractors are partial to one brand or another. Full disclosure, my wife works for Marvin. Windows are a big investment so I try to understand each client’s look, performance and budget goals. Hoffman Weber handles a lot of hail damage claims, so we see a real difference in clad wood windows impact resistance. On a Marvin window the cladding gauge is as thick as a quarter. With Pella it’s more like a soda can. And Anderson is vinyl. Lindsay and Marvin Integrity use Fiberglass frames.
A. About 95 percent of the windows I sell are full frame. We only recommend inserts in historic homes where the interior woodwork would be compromised with a full frame installation. When we replace the entire window, we address rotted jambs, foam insulate the rough opening and seal the perimeter with flex wrap and Quad caulk. And the glass panes stay the same size.
A. We buy Beechworth fiberglass and Lindsay vinyl windows direct so we can offer the best prices on them. But we also install Anderson, Pella and Marvin windows.
A. Fiberglass window frames are rigid and they expand and contract during seasonal temperature shifts at much the same rate as the glass. That’s good for seals. And unlike wood, fiberglass cannot rot from moisture exposure.
A. Black is different and bold because we’re not used to it, but it actually is fairly neutral. Black goes with almost any inside or out. It complements natural wood and a variety of colors. The contrast also can be effective framing natural light and the outdoor view. It often is used to achieve a contemporary or updated look. But you may have to dust a bit more often.