Give your Home a Facelift with PVC Cladding

If the outside of your house is in need of a lick of paint, or the brickwork is looking patchy then perhaps it's time you invested some time and money into keeping up appearances. Embarking on a home renovation project is both exciting and a little bit scary as you don't really know what problems you are going to encounter along the way.

Weatherboards are made from timber or composite materials and known for their weather proof properties; whilst some may require painting there are other options that need no preparation. Concrete masonry blocks don't rot and provide good heat storage, other materials include vinyl, aluminium, steel, stucco, wood effect and veneers that reproduce the look of brick and stone.“The lab report’s findings on brick’s superior moisture resistance are extremely significant,” notes J. Gregg Borchelt, President & CEO of the Brick Industry Association (BIA) at www.gobrick.com. BIA funded the study along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Builders will want to choose brick if they wish to provide their customers the protection of a superior wall system—instead of one that is just ‘good enough.’”Another metal not often considered for kitchen counter tops is pure copper. This softer metal, when in its pure state has a "lining finish" and is extremely hygienic. Tests have shown that pure copper will kill many bacteria that live in kitchen environments. The soft brown finish that copper achieves over time will give a mellow appearance to your kitchen d�cor. The softness of the metal will scratch more readily than other materials, but the "living finish" will repair the appearance of your kitchen counter tops very quickly. Just buff or sand the metal smooth again and in a few weeks, the warm brown color will reappear.There are lots of options available to you when it comes to improving the look of your home. For starters you could landscape the garden, get new doors and windows, fit cladding over broken and worn brickwork, give the exterior a fresh coat of paint, and smarten it up with new guttering and fascia boards.Thee are lots of other benefits to fitting cladding apart from it being cost effective, for a start it can reduce outside noise, will protect the exterior of your property from further damage, and as it is lightweight it's relatively simple and quick to install.Founded in 1934, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) is the nationally recognized authority on clay brick construction representing the nation’s distributors and manufacturers of clay brick and suppliers of related products. Web site: www.gobrick.com or www.greenbrick.com / 703-620-0010.Stainless steel kitchen counter tops will bring the appearance of modern technology to your kitchen. Easy to clean surfaces of bright shining metal make for a space age appearance that will suit almost any kitchen d�cor. This tough material will take the abuse that an active kitchen can endure from the use of harsh cleaning chemicals and everyday food preparation. Stainless steel will resist scratching and dents from normal use and does not chip. If a sleek modern look is what you want to achieve in your kitchen d�cor, this material should be on the top of your list for consideration.Ceramic tiles can make a beautiful surface for your kitchen counter tops. The variety available is only limited by your imagination and pocketbook. There are artists available that will design your tiles to suit your d�cor needs. This may be the easiest way to design a d�cor suitable to your hopes for your new or remodeled kitchen. The biggest drawback is the extra effort required to keep a tile counter surface hygienic for your food preparation. A sealant coat should be applied to the grout used to hold the tiles in place and extra attention will be needed to keep that area of your kitchen counter tops clean and bacteria free.Man-made materials will offer you the most choices for your kitchen d�cor. From the older Formica kitchen counter tops to the solid surface choices available today, the variety of patterns and colors available from man-made materials gives you more leeway in designing your kitchen d�cor than other materials. Solid surface is a solid one-piece kitchen counter top that has the basins for your kitchen sink included in the counter top. This makes for easier cleaning of the surface and has a space age appearance as well. The color of this style of surface extends all the way through the material and is easy to take care for. It is available in a veneer like Formica to save on expenses and maintain the beauty of these materials. Man-made materials should be given consideration for your kitchen counter tops in your new or remodeled kitchen.

PVC shiplap cladding can really enhance the look of your property, giving it a fresh new look. If you are updating with the intention of selling, then it makes for a striking feature to potential buyers and will make it stand out from other properties in the area. Match your cladding with double-glazed windows and doors, as well as guttering and roofline products for a smart appearance. UPVC fascia boards, cladding and other guttering products can be purchased online for ease and convenience.

Author: Chris Coxon