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.
Re-siding your home can completely transform its look and increase curb appeal exponentially, but completing a re-side is a big job and a significant investment. If you've never done it, it's hard to know what to expect and how to prepare for a siding replacement.
Continue ReadingBoard and batten style siding is enjoying a resurgence as a way to create visual interest in an otherwise blank wall. Many believe board and batten style is a timeless look that can leave your home's exterior with major curb appeal for years to come.
Office, at-home gym, man cave, garden center-your shed can be whatever you want it to be and LP products can help you get there. As one of the most durable siding options on the market, LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding is the home siding that is a great option for houses and sheds alike.
While many homeowners focus their attention on interior holiday decor, giving your home's exterior a festive upgrade will help ensure it's a showstopper the moment friends and family pull into the driveway. We talked with lifestyle blogger Liz Marie Galvan to get her top outdoor holiday decorating tips.