Page 14 - The Homeowner's Handbook 2017

THE HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK EIGHTH EDITION

Exteriors01

Think beyond initial cost. Maintenance matters.

When it comes to your home’s
exterior, durability, maintenance Why Pay More for Brick?
and fire resistance are just as

important as aesthetics. Because they last
almost forever.
IDING CHOICES ABOUND for today’s homes. Aesthetics Bricks come in
are important when choosing one option over another, many colors,
and when you take the environment into account, textures and
some choices just look a whole lot better than others. other variations.
According to research from the Freedonia Group Approximately 3”
S (www.freedoniagroup.com), fiber cement, stucco and thick, brick veneer
brick siding will see rapid advances through 2017. Demand for fiber (Boral Bricks are
cement is predicted to grow 8.5 percent annually. Vinyl siding will shown) creates an
remain dominant, but will continue to lose its market share. Although armored shell for
long lasting, it’s a controversial material made with polyvinyl chloride your home. The
(PVC), a plastic that until recently has had a poor recycling record. At durability of
least one company (CertainTeed) has now begun to recycle vinyl, and the brick is one of its
industry is beginning to look more closely at vinyl’s life-cycle impacts. greatest assets.
We haven’t included it here as a “green” option, but we will continue to Boral, for example,
monitor the industry’s efforts to move in that direction. offers a “two
lifetimes” warranty.
BRICK More info: www.boralamerica.com/Bricks
A Durability Leader
Made of clay and shale, brick is very durable. It is a solid barrier between the brick and the interior housewrap. This provides
against weather, and the installation of brick creates a 1” air space insulation against temperature transfer and the transfer of sound,
and it also prevents moisture from seeping into the home. Because
of its thickness, brick provides thermal mass, making it slow to heat
Virtues Caveats
■ Recyclable ■ Resources must be mined in the summer and slow to cool in the winter, which helps regulate
■ ■
a home’s temperature.
■ Durable ■ Not all brick manufacturers have
■ ■
■ Resists termites, fire, taken steps to reduce emissions Manufacturers such as Boral Bricks are making brick manufacturing
■
mold and rot from their manufacturing plants less environmentally caustic. The company recycles waste and uses
■ Made from abundant ■ ■ Expensive
■ air scrubbers to make sure emissions from plants are clean and
natural materials ■ ■ Heavy weight particulate-free. Manufacturer CalStar utilizes fly ash as a binder,
■ Low maintenance
■
which eliminates the need for energy-intensive kiln firing.
Dupont Tyvek HomeWrap James Hardie HardiePanels with ColorPlus Technology
HomeWrap is a breathable material that James Hardie’s ColorPlus technology protects
allows moisture to pass through, promoting cladding products against peeling, cracking and
drying and preventing mold and water chipping. Multiple coats of a proprietary finish
damage. It also can reduce home energy bills are applied in the factory to every surface and
by controlling airflow and water intrusion, edge, and the finish is cured between coats.
which helps insulation work better and A 15-year limited warranty covers both paint
allows the HVAC system to work more and labor.
efficiently. www.bit.ly/1o20Uqs www.jameshardie.com/Why-Hardie/
ColorPlus-Technology

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