Trends + What Works In The Fox Cities
We’ve all heard about curb appeal, and we undoubtedly all want it when it comes to our home and property. It includes landscaping and the surrounding area of your home, but majorly depends on the condition of your home’s exterior.
“Don’t underestimate the power of the details and trim options. Exterior style is more than picking a new color,” Ryan Schuessler, Owner of Wisconsin Exteriors, says. “By including trim around the windows, a wood bracket in the gable or new exterior lights you drastically change the look and feel of your home. These can take an exterior refresh to a whole new level!”
“Sure, aesthetics play a big role, after all it’s the face of your home and people take pride in that. But it’s not the whole story,” Schuessler explains. “We advise homeowners to really take their time and think about durability, maintenance and budgets. It’s really about finding the sweet spot between look, performance and lifestyle.”
“It’s not just about the look—though curb appeal is important!” Jake Krygier, Brand Manager for Fox Valley, Infinity Roofing agrees. “Homeowners also consider: budget, desired maintenance level. longevity, how well the siding will handle Wisconsin’s weather and warranty and resale value.”
Popular Siding Options in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the big players are vinyl, engineered wood, fiber cement and natural wood. In many cases, homeowners also include stone or brick as accents.
There are a few types of home siding to choose from. Before selecting the best option for your home, consider the different types of siding and its characteristics. If you live in a rain-prone area, for example, you’ll want to consider a type of siding with high moisture resistance.
Being known for our four seasons—read: cold weather!—poses a challenge when it comes to certain exterior build materials, like stucco or low grade vinyl, neither of which hold up well in our area.
“Extreme cold, snow and rapid temperature changes mean that real wood and low-grade thin vinyl can struggle here—they may warp, crack, or have moisture issues,” Jake Krygier
Brand Manager for Fox Valley, Infinity Roofing says. “Fiber cement, LP SmartSide, and insulated vinyl are popular because they handle the freeze/thaw cycles and moisture very well.”
Vinyl: this option is affordable, low maintenance and they have great color options. The downside is that it can crack in extreme cold temperatures or warp in high heat. We occasionally see “Melting” vinyl siding on a house where the sun will reflect off the neighbors house and cause damage.
Pros: Affordable, low maintenance, wide variety of colors/styles, resists rot and pests.
Cons: Can crack , may fade over time, less impact resistant than some materials.
Engineered Wood/LP SmartSide: It gives the home the warmth and look of real wood but performs incredibly better than traditional wood. We use an option that is pre-finished from the manufacturer in any color you could think of with 30 year paint warranties. The downside here is that this option does require a little maintenance but its FAR less than Ceder lap siding.
Pros: Engineered for strength, holds up well in freeze-thaw cycles, attractive wood-like look. 16ft lengths, Custom color options.
Cons: Higher cost than vinyl, may require repainting after many years.
Fiber Cement: Has the look and feel of real wood siding but it stands up beautifully to the freeze and thaw cycles in Wisconsin. The only downside here is price.
Pros: Extremely durable in all weather, resists fire and insects, excellent for color retention.
Cons: Higher initial cost, heavier to install, Can crack with high impact, may require repainting after many years.
Natural Wood: This option is timeless and beautiful but it requires a lot of maintenance in our climate. Painting and staining wood siding every 3-5 years can be very costly and requires a lot of time. We still install some of this but in most cases it is on a home in an historical district and we are bringing back the character of 100+ year old homes
Trends in Exterior Style in the Fox Cities
Warm neutrals may be a trend in the interior decor of homes, but our experts say the opposite is true for their exterior counterparts.
“We are seeing homeowners be more bold with their color choices,” Schuessler says. “Dark colors are still very popular. We continue to see homeowners also select multiple colors and different profiles.
“For example, when you drive through some of the new neighborhoods and subdivisions you see horizontal, vertical and vinyl siding and a stone on the front of the house.”
According to Krygier, the area is seeing the below in terms of trends:
Colors: We’re seeing a surge in rich, dark hues (deep blues, charcoals, forest greens), as well as earthy tones.
Details: Board-and-batten vertical siding, mixed materials (stone accents with horizontal siding), and bold trim contrasts.
Textures: Matte finishes and wider planks for a modern look.
“Right now as a market for siding we are seeing homeowners who purchased in the ultra-low interest rate days (2-4%) are feeling stuck in their homes. Selling and buying a a new home will double (or more) their mortgage,” Schuessler says. “As a result, they are more receptive to buying longer lasting siding options or premium products like engineered wood. These longer lasting products make up an estimated 25% of the market that’s expected to continue growing.”
“Not every project is about the history of the house, in many cases it’s about bringing new life into the home. Every home has a story and we get to be the lucky ones to help homeowners write the next chapter.”
“We are currently doing an historical renovation down by city park in Appleton. The home was built in 1885 and the homeowners are restoring its exterior to a picture they acquired of the home in 1928. During the demo you can not only see the history but you can feel it. To the old wood that is still in GREAT condition after 140+ years to the old square nails.
“Not every project is about the history of the house, in many cases it’s about bringing new life into the home,” Schuessler says. “Every home has a story and we get to be the lucky ones to help homeowners write the next chapter.”
“We’ve completed everything from Multi Family new Construction, Farm home restoration, craftsman style to ultra-modern facelift projects across the Fox Valley,” Krygier says. “One of our favorite projects was re-siding in a century-old farmhouse using fiber cement to mimic the old wood look—modern performance with classic beauty!”
