Photo: certainteed.com

While it’s been around for years, fiber cement siding currently enjoys popularity with homeowners for a number of reasons. Some appreciate the sustainable aspects of its manufacture. Others favor the material for its architectural appeal. Although professional installation is recommended, ongoing maintenance costs are low. Once installed, fiber cement siding lasts a lifetime, and that more than anything may explain the high demand for it.

Maintenance and Longevity
Each of the major manufacturers offers a line of fiber cement siding that meets or exceeds standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The siding stands up, not only to the elements, but also to hazards like insects and noise pollution. After 15 years, refinishing becomes necessary, but maintenance duties are light otherwise. Indeed, manufacturers’ warranties attest to the product’s durability. 30- to 50-year warranties are the norm.

Sustainability
CertainTeed, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber cement siding, says it only sources wood fiber harvested from managed forests. Another maker of fiber cement siding, Nichiha, joins CertainTeed in using fly ash—a waste residue of coal combustion—rather than silica. Nichiha also boasts of observing a host of best practices in their production process, sourcing material locally, recapturing 95% of the water used in its facilities, and recycling 100% of the scrap material it creates.

James Hardie, the founder of fiber cement in the 1970s and world leader in the category, is equally committed to sustainability—sourcing 90% of their materials from regional suppliers, and employing waste minimization and solid waste recycling technologies to support Zero to Landfill initiatives.  While cement, water, sand and cellulose fibers are used for Hardie siding products, fly ash is not: the company believes that it adversely impacts the durability of fiber cement.

Related: Composite Shakes and Slates: The Great Pretenders

HardiePlank Lap Siding from James Hardie

Architectural Appeal
Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of designs: Lap, plank, vertical, shake, curved-shake and geometric patterns are all available. A host of textures can be found as well, and the siding may be colored to virtually any hue the homeowner desires. Some fiber cement siding products are made to resemble wood, while others imitate the look of natural fieldstone, stacked flagstone, or brick.

Affordability
The upfront expenses associated with fiber cement siding are not inconsiderable, being that professional installation is a must. However, the ongoing maintenance costs are minimal. You can expect to pay out for refinishing work about every 15 years or so, but the lion’s share of the overall cost will come at the beginning of the product’s 50-plus-year lifespan.

Versus Wood or Vinyl Siding
Wood siding boasts a timeless beauty, and many homeowners value the way its appearance gradually changes in subtle ways. You can save on installation by doing the work yourself, but wood siding products are often expensive to buy, and over time, the material demands a high level of maintenance.

Though colorfast and resistant to insects and rot, vinyl siding is not maintenance free: It’s vulnerability to weather damage makes occasional repairs necessary. The price tag is low enough to have enticed many, and another big selling point is its relative ease of installation.

If your priority is good looks, then you can’t go wrong with wood. If budget is your main concern, look no further than vinyl. Consider fiber cement siding if you are looking for a long-lasting, low-maintenance material that performs well and doesn’t look half bad, either.

Fiber Cement Siding 101 Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: Flickr / Jennifer Juniper mom

Thinking of re-roofing your home? So-called green roofs proffer many benefits for the environment and your community—even your wallet.

While they have been used for years in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, green roofs have only recently begun to gain popularity in the U.S. In fact, the number of living roofs nationally grew a whopping 115 percent in 2011, according to a study by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, an advocacy organization.

What exactly is a green roof, anyway? According to the American Association of Landscape Architects, a green roof is a lightweight, living system of soil, compost, and plants.

Slideshow: 12 Unconventional Homes Inspired by Nature

Illustration: greenerheights.wordpress.com

A green roof system is typically comprised of as many as nine layers. These include structural support, a vapor control barrier, thermal insulation, waterproofing, drainage, a filter membrane, growing medium and finally the vegetation itself.

Environmental Benefits. In addition to filtering pollutants, a green roof absorbs storm water instead of allowing it to run off to the pavement or ground below. As the water evaporates, roof surface temperatures are lowered, particularly in urban areas with dense populations and areas with hot and dry climates.

Photo: Flickr / kretyen

Improved Insulation. The layers of a green roof help insulate the interior, thereby reducing homeowners’ dependence on costly home heating and air conditioning. And because these roofs are varying shades of green, they remain cooler than black roofs in hot warm weather. Wondering just how much energy you would save with a green roof? Try this handy Green Roof Energy Calculator.

Green Oases. In some cases, green roofs support vegetable gardens. They also attract wildlife, such as insects, squirrels, and birds. If your roof is accessible, consider following the example of some condominium and office buildings that have turned their rooftops into relaxing garden patios.

Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, MA

Tax Advantages. Depending on where you live, government grants or other initiatives may be available to help you offset the cost of installation. Some cities even offer a tax break to property owners, who have opted for a green roof. Three such programs are:

• Ecoroof Incentive Program of Portland, OR
• Stormwater Utility Fee Credit of Minneapolis, MN
• Green Roof Rebate Program of Washington, D.C.

Before you start your green home project, check your local building codes to be sure that a green roof would comply with relevant rules and regulations.

For more on roofing, consider:

The Basics: Wood Shingle and Shakes
Should You Replace or Repair Your Roof?
Bob Vila Radio: Roofing Options

The Benefits of Growing a Green Roof Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Reclaimed Clay Tile Roofing. Photo: performanceroofingcompany.com

Tile roofs come in many styles, and each has its own preferred applications and intrinsic beauty. An exotic sense of romance is associated in particular with clay roof tiles, which commonly appear on Southwest-style and Mediterranean-inspired homes.

In addition to their beauty, tile roofs are extremely durable, lasting for centuries in some cases. Whether made of fired clay or concrete, individual tiles are often molded in a barrel shape, and reinforcing their strength is tile roofing’s interlocking mode of installation.

Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths

Although most tile roofs are found in warm climates, they can be used in cold regions, too. When installing a clay or concrete tile roof in a cold climate, however, ask for products designed to handle freeze-thaw cycles.

Be sure also to ask a structural engineer if your roof framing will support the weight of a tile roof. While a typical asphalt installation weighs about 230 pounds per square (a 10′ x 10′ area), a tile roof can range anywhere from 580 to nearly 1,100 pounds per square.

Spanish "S" Clay Roof Tiles. Photo: dighomedesign.com

Clay vs. Concrete
Compared to concrete, clay tiles are more colorfast. They are also more durable. An installation of clay roof tiles can be expected to last 100 years. (The average lifespan of concrete roof tiles is about 50 years.) Because they wear so well over time, clay roof tiles add significantly to a home’s resale value.

At $700 to $1,000 per square, clay costs twice as much as concrete. While both score top fire and impact ratings, they are more difficult to install and repair than more common roofing products like asphalt shingles (which usually run $150 to $300 per square).

MonierLifetile from Boral Roofing. Photo: Remodeling Magazine

De-polluting roof tiles
Boral, a clay and concrete roof tile maker, offers a smog-eating tile coating that neutralizes harmful nitrogen oxide, converting it to calcium nitrate, which washes off in the rain. The manufacturer claims that in one year, the average roof can remove a quantity of nitrogen oxide equivalent to that produced by driving a car 10,800 miles!

For more on roofing materials, consider:

Asphalt Shingles 101
Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof?
The Basics: Wood Shingles and Shakes

The Basics: Clay and Concrete Roofing Tiles Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: peakperformanceroofing.com

There are two types of wood roofing—shingles and shakes. Neither boasts the practicality of a modern roofing material like asphalt shingles, but it’s difficult to deny traditional wood’s aesthetic appeal. In fact, many other roofing products try to simulate look of wood shingles and shakes. Made from cedar, spruce, or treated pine, wood roofing is especially appropriate for older homes and those based upon historical styles.

Related: Debunking 5 Metal Roof Myths

Western Red Cedar Roof Shingles. Photo: calfinder.com

Wood shingles are machine-cut and tapered for a trim, crisp appearance. By contrast, wood shakes look more rustic, as they are hand-split on one side. Each has its own specific installation requirements, but generally speaking, wood roofing is more difficult to install than some other common roof types. Though susceptible to discoloration, wood products last about as long as asphalt (up to 30 years), plus they’re biodegradable and derived from a renewable resource.

Detail of Cedar Shakes. Photo: capstonebros.com

Wood shingles costs between $400 and $700 per square installed, while a shake roof runs between $600 and $900—that’s three or six times the cost of an asphalt roof!

Maintenance is another consideration: Wood shingles and shakes require periodic treatments with preservatives and fungicides in order to keep from drying out, warping, cracking and being attacked by mildew and fungus.

For more on roofing, consider:

Asphalt Shingles 101
The Basics: Composite Roof Shingles
Hurricane-Resistant Roof Tiles (VIDEO)

The Basics: Wood Shingles and Shakes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: thehouseofcolor.net

Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and cleaning.

The growing popularity of vinyl siding is indisputable. Indeed, U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that vinyl siding has been the leading exterior cladding in the U.S. since 1995. Its popularity shows no sign of waning; in 2011, 33% of new single-family homes sold in the U.S. were sided in the material.

Because it is an exterior product, vinyl siding can accumulate a host of dirt, grime, and stains on account of things like pollen, bird and insect droppings, spider webs and rust. In shady, moist areas, mold and mildew can grow, and vinyl is also vulnerable to discoloring effects from insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In addition, vinyl siding’s finish may be marred by a number of commonly used household maintenance products, including caulking, driveway sealant, tar, motor oil and paint.

Slideshow: How To: Clean EVERYTHING

Photo: variform.plygem.com

Luckily, vinyl siding is fairly easy to clean, and there are a wide variety of products to help remove typical stains. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, the best way is to use a soft cloth or an ordinary long-handled, soft-bristle brush. To prevent streaking, start at the bottom and work up towards the top of the house. Thoroughly rinse any cleaning solution as you go.

Some good cleaning solutions include:

• 70% water, 30% white vinegar makes a great all-purpose cleanser that removes light mold and mildew stains.

• For a stronger solution, mix together one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one quart liquid laundry bleach and one gallon of water.

• If you are concerned about landscaping, use a solution comprised of one gallon of water mixed with one cup oxygen bleach in a bucket. The oxygen bleach will clean the vinyl without damaging your landscaping.

• Simple Green offers an environmentally friendly cleaner that is specially formulated for use on vinyl and aluminum siding, stucco, terra cotta roof tiles and painted wood. The non-toxic biodegradable concentrate can be used manually or with pressure washers.

• General household cleansers (e.g., Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Windex and Lysol) can be used on tough dirt and stains, including those created by top soil, grass, grease, oil, rust, crayon, ink and bubble gum. Rust stains may be removed using products designed for this purpose (e.g., Super Iron Out and Instant Rust Out).

Photo: enhancescape.com

Another effective way to clean vinyl siding is by using a pressure washer, although some manufacturers advise against it, and other manufacturers recommend a limited amount of pressure.

If using a pressure washer, be sure to keep the stream at eye level and pointed straight at the siding, not at an angle. That way, you won’t drive water in behind the siding. Use caution when using a pressure washer around openings like windows, doors, and plumbing connections.

Avoid using any cleaning products that contain organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. Any of these products might damage the vinyl siding’s surface. Also, avoid using highly-abrasive scrubbers or steel wool; these, too, can cause damage.

With just a little bit of time and effort, vinyl siding can be kept looking “like new” and will provide many years of trouble-free protection for your home.

For more on siding, consider:

Wood Siding Options
Brick Basics: Maintenance, Care, and Cleaning
Everything You Need to Know About Engineered Wood Siding

How To: Clean Vinyl Siding Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

EcoStar's Midnight Majestic Composition Slate Roofing

Coming up with alternatives for traditional shingle materials has proved a steep and slippery slope for a surprising number of manufacturers. Class-action lawsuits have showered down as so-called “lifetime” roofing products with names like Hardishake, Maxishake, and Permatek have prematurely failed.

Related: Composite Roof Shingles: The Great Pretenders

“The impetus for the development of many of these products was the ban on the use of asbestos fibers,” says Rick Damato, a 38-year industry veteran and editorial director of Roofing Contractor magazine. “Manufacturers substituted other fibers and they just didn’t perform as well.”

EcoStar's Cedar Brown Seneca Composition Shake Roofing

Several companies have successfully developed composite formulations, most notably EcoStar. Unlike its competitors’ products, EcoStar’s slates and shakes boast a 20-year track record. They’re green, too—in fact, if you build with EcoStar roofing materials, it’s possible to score four extra LEED points.

Virtually indistinguishable from real slate and wood, EcoStar’s composites have earned approval for use in historic preservation projects. And their “Class A” fire rating and “Class 4″ impact-resistance position the company at the top of its class for both measures.

CertainTeed's Symphony Composite Slate Roofing

Another manufacturer, CertainTeed, offers a luxury line of composites under the brand name Symphony. Made of polypropylene and calcium carbonate, CertainTeed’s well-regarded product is a ‘dead ringer’ for slate. Arguably, the lightweight and fade-resistant Symphony shingles improve upon the genuine article. Aside from being cheaper to buy and less costly to install, they are backed by a 50-year warranty and boast Energy Star certification.

DaVinci Roofscapes' Bellaforte Tuscana Polymer Composite Shake Roof Tiles

A third company, DaVinci Roofscapes, LLC, offers perhaps the most comprehensive line of composite shake and slate-type products. Polymer-based, with top impact and fire ratings and a strong warranty, Davinci shingles come in multiple widths and colors, enabling homeowners to create blends with realistic textures and shade variations.

Related: Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof?

So what’s the downside to composite shingles? Cost. Any shake or slate-like roofs will run about $400 per square, at least four times as much as asphalt shingles. Moreover, in some regions you may find it difficult to locate a certified installer. “Although composite roofs are not as difficult to install as slate and cedar, the contractor will have to know what he’s doing for them to come out right,” says Damato.

For more on roofing, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Roofing Options
Installing Manmade Slate Shingles (VIDEO)
How To: Choose a New Roof for Your House

The Basics: Composite Roof Shingles Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: McNear Brick

Brick has a timeless appearance and requires little maintenance, making it a popular material for a variety of applications. Once a structural component, brick nowadays is more commonly used as a veneer, with concrete blocks, poured concrete, or wood laying under it.

In this discussion, the bricks are full size (4 x 8 x 2-1/4 in.) and should not be confused with thin brick systems, such as EZ-Wall.

Vene veneer walls rest atop masonry sills; behind the veneer is an air space that allows moisture to vent. To keep this air space open during mortar application, drainage netting is installed behind the brick to ensure that mortar squeeze-out does not block the cavity.

Plastic, honeycomb-like ‘weep hole’ inserts, which are established at regular intervals between bricks in the first course, permit water to drain out. Galvanized steel wall ties are used to secure the veneer brick to the concrete or framing element that it’s covering.

Photo: daytonrealestate.com

Laying brick efficiently takes a bit of practice. Here are a few tips:

• Run the point of a mason’s trowel along your mortar beds to create a V-shaped trough. This will help keep the next course of brick from sliding.

• Use mason’s twine as a guide for setting brick height. Set each brick in mortar so that it almost touches the twine, or string line.

• As you lay each brick, use the trowel to slice off any excess mortar that squeezes out of the joint. Use the excess to “butter” the end of the brick you’ve just set.

• Use the end of the trowel’s wood handle to tap bricks into position.

• When you reach a wall tie, spread mortar under it and above it to ensure a secure attachment.

• Do not allow vertical joints to align. Cut bricks as necessary to maintain a pleasing pattern.

• Point, or shape, mortar joints after the mortar has set slightly. Add mortar with the pointing tool if necessary.

• If mortar begins to dry as you work, especially when the weather is warm, add water to loosen it. Dry mortar is difficult to work with.

There are many valuable sources to consult when working with brick. A good one is Masonry Complete by Cody Macfie (Taunton Press, 2012), which has great photos, recipes for mixing mortar, and good tips on cutting brick. On its website, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) has free technical notes that show various brick construction details.

For more on masonry, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Brick Repairs
Restoring Antique Brickwork (VIDEO)
Repurposing Bricks to Make a Walkway

Top Tips for Weaving a Veneer Brick Wall Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: lynnhavenrivernow.org

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Listen to BOB VILA ON RAIN BARRELS or read the text below:

Rain barrels are smart and efficient—they capture water that would normally go to waste and save it for you to deliver to your garden later, when you need it. They’re easy to install and maintain and they don’t use any energy.

A rain barrel consists of not much more than a large container with an intake screen at the top and a valve at the bottom where you can attach a hose. Position the barrel under a downspout that you’ve cut to the right height. Put the bottom elbow at the cut point, and watch the rainwater flow through the screen into the barrel.

When you need to water your garden, simply attach a hose to the bottom spigot and let gravity do its job. Save the part of the downspout that you cut off, as you’ll want to put it back on during colder months. Rain barrels should be stored in a basement or garage during freezing temperatures.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on gardening:

How To: Plant a Vegetable Garden
Ways to Save Water in Your Garden
Garden Hose Management: 10 Stylish Solutions

Bob Vila Radio: Rain Barrels Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: davisw.wordpress.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON UNCLOGGING GUTTERS, or read the text below:

There are lots of ways to clean gutters. You can find inventions like tongs on an extension pole, shop vacuums with gutter nozzles, or even a remote-controlled gutter-running robot. But most methods involve getting on a ladder, so if you’re not comfortable on one, you’re better off hiring a pro.

If you’re doing it yourself, wear gloves, a dust mask, and safety goggles. Scoop the debris into a garbage bag with a garden trowel, then rinse toward the downspout with a high-pressure nozzle on your hose and scrub it clean. Next, clear clogged downspouts with a hose or auger.

When it rains, mark any leaks with a china marker so you can make repairs when it’s dry.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on outdoor maintenance, consider:

3 Essential Fall Lawn Maintenance Tasks
The Right Rake for the Job
10 Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Bob Vila Radio: Unclogging Gutters Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: wikimedia.org

Each morning after I get up, I pour myself a cup of tea and turn on The Weather Channel to get prepared for the day. Long before televised weather forecasts were routine, people did their own short-range forecasting of the weather. One of the simplest tools they used was the weather vane.

Weather vanes date back to the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. In modern times, they are mostly used as architectural ornament, but they have always provided a means for showing the direction of the wind. With careful and consistent observation, a weather vane can help indicate a storm is coming, or that a cold snap is on the way.

Slideshow: 11 Weather Vanes to Point You in the Right Direction

Weather vanes have several parts: a rod, a rotating ornament with an arrow to point toward the wind direction, and a fixed directional piece that indicates north, south, east and west. A small and large globe are included to separate the ornament and directional from the rest of the features.

Weather vanes are generally designed so that the tail is larger than the head. When the wind blows, the force will be greater on the tail than the head, and thus the tail will swing away from the direction of the wind. So if the head of your weather vane is pointing east, the wind is coming from that direction.

If a weather vane is swinging erratically, it means the air is unstable and the weather is changing. You may be able to predict the nature of that change based on which way the wind ends up blowing. For example, if a weather vane indicates the wind has shifted to come from the south, warmer air may be on the way. And if it changes from west to east, that could indicate a mass of lower pressure overhead and storms on the way.

Great White Shark Copper Weather Vane. Photo: westcoastweathervanes.com

If you’d like to install your own weather vane, here are a few tips to help make it more effective:

• You can install your weather vane either on the roof or an exterior wall. Just make sure it is located away from buildings or trees that could interfere with the true wind direction.

• Use a compass to find true north, or orient your north toward the North Star, which is found at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle.

• To make sure you have good movement, liberally apply grease or other lubricant to the topmost part of the spire, covered by the vane ornament.

If you consistently monitor your weather vane, you’ll get familiar with the weather patterns in your area. Take notes and document changes in the weather, along with which direction the wind was blowing in the hours prior to a storm. In time, you might even become an expert in your local weather, able to predict storms for yourself and your neighbors, without any help at all from the Weather Channel!

Browse our gallery 11 Weather Vanes to Point You in the Right Direction for our favorites on the market right now.

For more on outdoor accessories, consider:

10 Fire Pits We Love
How To: Make a Rain Barrel
Installing a Lightning Rod (VIDEO)

The Word on Weather Vanes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com