Look for new ways to add style, substance to tour home

(WMS) — No longer is a home's exterior simply something to maintain. Increasingly, exteriors are being designed and accessorized to express the homeowner's style and personality. As today's average age of a home approaches 30 years, now is the perfect time to remodel for a new overall exterior look.

“The exterior of a home begins at the curb, not at the front door,” says Bob Marks, general manager, MiraVista Specialty Roofing, Owens Corning. “One way to extend a home's presence and add exterior style is through colorful siding, artificial stone products or elegant roofing shingles.”

When selecting colors for exterior accessories, such as siding and stone or roofing shingles, keep in mind:

Light Colors = Larger Looking: On a smaller home, a light color can make it look much larger. Also, the home will seem closer to the front of the lot when done in warm colors, such as yellows, reds and oranges.

Deeper Colors = More Space: Deep, dark colors — especially cool colors, like blues and greens -- can create the impression that the home is set back farther on the lot. If it is close to other homes, a dark color might make the area seem less crowded. Also, with heavily wooded or shady landscaping, a dark color might make the home "disappear" at night. Instead, try using lighter colors to set it apart from its surroundings.

One Color = Balance: On a home with many complex angles, a monochromatic color scheme will help create balance. Complex angles can sometimes disrupt the natural visual flow of a home, using different shades of one color can help tie the home's exterior together.

In addition to exterior accessories, by changing the texture and color of the roof, homeowners can also add their unique style and personality to the home's exterior.

"Typically a roof comprises up to 50 percent of the home's exterior, so what you do with that 50 percent can have a tremendous impact on the overall look of your home," says Marks.

Nowadays, when replacing a roof, homeowners are choosing modern roofing products that allow them to express their personality, but they also want low-maintenance and long-lasting products

• Thickness and dimension without the weight — Nothing makes an impression of quality and elegance quite like a slate roof. With Owens Corning's MiraVista Slate shingles, homeowners can experience the quality and elegance of real slate without the high cost or weight considerations. MiraVista Slate is made with real ground slate and is cast in molds made from actual slate for the authentic look of stone. It comes in four colors — Merlot, Cavern, Sequoia and Sage — so it can be mixed for a multicolor look typical of natural slate installations.

• The natural choice for beauty and endurance -- There is no denying the timeless beauty of wood shakes. The trouble is that their longevity is anything but timeless. MiraVista Shake shingles combine the textured look of natural wood with the durable strength of fiberglass composite technology — something never before seen in a shake look-alike. Available in three colors -- Aspen, Walnut and Cedar -- they are molded from natural wood grains, and the color is consistent throughout the shake to prevent flaking or peeling during shipping or installation.

• A distinctive statement of style and performance -- The distinctive statement of a metal roof is as individual as the homeowner. As one of the hottest trends in roofing, metal roofs provide great looks, a wide-range of colors and long-term performance. The MiraVista Designer line delivers both style and performance and adds architectural detail to any roof application.

• An elegant reflection of style and performance -- The look of copper is an elegant reflection of style and performance. MiraVista Copper delivers this distinctive look with superior performance and at a lower cost than homeowners would expect for copper roofing. Fashioned from 16-ounce solid copper, MiraVista Copper shingles deliver the unique look of copper with a distinctive dimensional look not found with stamped products.

Owens Corning's MiraVista Specialty Roofing line products are supported and sold by the national roofing sales force as part of a complete line of roofing materials, including asphalt shingles, specialty-roofing products, venting systems and underlayment material. Visit www.miravistaroof.com to learn more about the MiraVista Specialty Roofing Line.