Background of the Ranch Home
Ranch-style home designs are known for low and wide single-story profiles, large picture windows, sliding glass doors and attached front garages. These close-to-the-ground homes were first built in the U.S. in the 1920s, but they didn't gain widespread popularity until the post-World War II era into the 1970s. As suburbia spread, the ranch-style house became one of America's favorites.
The popularity of ranch-style homes waned in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but it’s making a comeback as younger homebuyers rediscover the ranch’s charm—much like they did with bungalows.
Why Engineered Wood is Driving the Ranch Renaissance
Award-winning custom homebuilder Mike Schwartz once used fiber cement siding for ranch home renovations, but he wasn't satisfied with the quality or aesthetic. "Fiber cement is much thinner than engineered wood," says Schwartz. "When you look down the wall, fiber cement has a wavy look."
Schwartz recently bought a ranch house in Puyallup, Wash., to remodel and eventually live in. Choosing LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding prefinished with ColorStrand™, Schwartz now recommends the prefinished product to his customers. “They do a great job of prefinishing it in the plant, and the outcome is always beautiful,” he says.
Additionally, many ranch remodelers prefer engineered wood siding to conventional wood because it eliminates the time required to discard warped and split pieces, cutting down on installation time so owners can enjoy their homes sooner.
A New Siding Option for the Ranch-Style Home
LP® SmartSide® Smooth Trim & Siding is a new siding option that is versatile enough to complement both a traditional or modern aesthetic, including the ranch-style home. Here’s why:
Get Inspired
Thinking about sprucing up your ranch-style home? Check out some inspirational ideas here to get the creative thoughts flowing on a variety of exterior home design styles.
While many homeowners focus their attention on interior holiday decor, giving your home's exterior a festive upgrade will ensure it's a showstopper the moment friends and family pull into the driveaway. We talked with lifestyle blogger Liz Marie Galvan to get her top outdoor holiday decorating tips.
Continue ReadingIf you have decided to tackle a re-side project, you will be faced with the choice of your home's exterior color. While durability, workability and efficiency are all critical benefits to you as a homeowner, the most outward facing choice you will make during your building project is the color. Choosing the right color for your home can seem like a big task and with color decisions to make beyond siding, like trim and other exterior accessories, it can be difficult to determine what you want. We've compiled a list of siding color ideas to help you find the color scheme that's right for you.
If you're currently in the midst of a remodel or are considering future renovations for your home's exterior, color is one of the most prominent decisions you will have to make as a homeowner. LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding comes in both primed and prefinished options to suit a variety of needs. Not sure which is the best option for you? Read on to discover the benefits of each so that you can re-side with confidence.
Though rustic style homes are most popular in mountainous regions, the rustic aesthetic can also be incorporated into a variety of home styles, including farm, ranch and coastal homes. Erik Perkins of North Carolina-based building duo The Perkins Brothers weighs in on the latest siding trends for rustic homes and tips to achieve the look you're after.