HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-10-20, Page 29THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1999. PAGE 29.
JJome Improvement
Use daylight for siding selection
If you’re selecting new siding
colours, be sure to see them in the
light of day.
Colour is affected by the kind of
light it's viewed under.
Homeowners typically sit down
with a remodeling contractor at
home after work to review colour
samples, says Gary Heitsch, who
dispenses consumer information at
a manufacturer of siding-system
products.
But colours look different under
artificial, interior lighting than they
do outdoors in natural daylight
where the siding will be installed.
“Take siding samples outside to
view their true hues,” Heitsch says.
“Stepping outdoors will shed light
on your colour quandary.”
And size matters when it comes
to colour samples. Ask your
contractor for a foot or two of
siding in the colours you’re
considering. A small “colour chip”
can be deceiving. “A small chip
will generally look lighter than the
same colour applied to a large
area,” writes Will Chamow, author
and exterior remodelling
contractor. “If you can’t decide on
two shades of the same colour, it’s
usually safer to choose the lighter
one.”
Have someone hold up the
samples next to the house at
various times of day, while you
stand several yards back and
observe. Test them at each side of
the house to see how they look in
light from various directions.
COLOUR AND CONTEXT
Moving your decision-making
outdoors also puts colours into a
larger context. Remodellers say
you need to consider siding colours
from these angles:
• Architectural elements - Be
sure the colour looks good with
your roof, as well as with any
brick, stone or other masonry -
unless you’re planning to change
these elements. The siding colour
can either blend or contrast; don’t
let it clash.
• Immediate environment - find
a colour that harmonizes with the
scenery around your house. Decide
if you want the house to stand out
or blend quietly into its setting.
There is also a matter of
perspective: dark colours make a
house look smaller and fatther from
the street. Light colours do the
opposite.
• Neighbourhood norms - You
want your home to stand out
handsomely, without looking out of
place. “Colour acceptability
depends on the colour and style of
adjacent properties,” writes
McElroy. “Neighbourhood
harmony and property values are at
stake.” McElroy says neighbours
asked him to redo his own house
because its light tan colour stuck
out in a development of medium
tan and brown homes.
• Climate control - Light
colours reflect heat, darker colours
absorb it. In hot climates, light
colours predominate.
Major manufacturers offer
maintenance-free vinyl, aluminum
and steel siding with durable
finishes in upwards of 25 colours,
yielding thousands of siding, trim
and accent colour combinations.
According to Heitsch, shades of
white and earth tones, like beige
and tan, remain the most popular
siding colours, but soft shades of
gray, blue and yellow have begun
cropping up on his company’s best
seller list.
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j • Backhoeing • Bulldozing • Loader & Truck Rental
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JOHN McKERCHER
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
• Sand • Gravel • Drainage Stone
• Topsoil • Screened Topsoil
• 1" Terra Stone • White Marble • Bark Mulch
• Licensed Septic Installations
Fall fix-ups
With fail here, most homeowners
know exactly what kind of fix-up
work needs to be done on the house
before the cold weather arrives.
From painting to weatherproofing
to putting in storm windows, there
are plenty of challenging home
improvement projects to tackle
before the winter settles in.
In addition to the “big” projects,
there also are a number of simple
home improvements that do not
have to be a struggle, but that can
make a world of difference when it
comes to the appearance of the
home. Some of the finest home
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