Investment propertyNew Builder Products are Built to Last
How long is a lifetime warranty? How long does "new" stay "new?" New home
products and building materials are fast becoming more durable than ever
before, raising the bar by which newly constructed homes are built. Two of my
favorite "durables" being featured in new homes almost everywhere are
lifetime-lasting concrete tile roofs and the new never tarnish surfaces used
in door hardware and plumbing fixtures.
The Crowning Glory in Roofing . . .
Concrete tile roofs are indeed becoming the industry standard in the western
United States, with the rest of the country not too far behind in usage. The
original concrete tile roofs were fashioned (and many styles are still
patterned after) the clay tile type roofing found in many Monterey-style
haciendas. Predecessors of today"s lighter shake-style and "S" tile concrete
roofs carried much more weight, requiring heavier trusses and
support than today"s lines. Newer technologies have transformed the tile
roofs you see on todays" new homes to compete favorably in both price and
durability to any other type of residential roofing used. Dominating the new
home construction arena, MonierLifetile is the largest maker of tile roofing
in the country, crediting its size from a merger between two huge rooftile
manufacturers several years ago. Building on a 35-year history,
MonierLifetile produces concrete tile light enough to replace wood shake
varieties, but touting a 40-50 year warranty for durability. With proper
care and installation, however, it may truly last a lifetime, according to
the manufacturer. Other state-of-the-art varieties they feature include the
newer Monier 2000, introduced in 1997, that guarantees color integration with
every shade of stucco, brick, or stone that can be used in home construction.
One of the reasons concrete tile roof tile has grown so much in popularity in
the West is due to stringent fire safety regulations that have demanded
change in exterior building products. In the aftermath of the Oakland
firestorm of 1991, pressure increased for the introduction of legislation
requiring residential roofing materials to meet Class A or Class B fire
ratings. This is essential in California, where coastal canyons are popular
building sites and highly flammable wood shake roofs are indigenous to the
architectural styles of the state. All concrete tile roofs carry a Class A
fire rating, which is the highest possible.
No More Browning Brass . . .
Door locks, plumbing fixtures, and elegant door handles can now have a finish guaranteed not to tarnish, discolor, corrode, or flake off from UV light exposure. These new surfaces are so scratch resistant that they
can even stand up to steel wool, not to mention normal wear and tear from
standard household cleaners. Even if a faucet is dented, the finish will not
come off. And, with its resistance to salt spray and humidity, the new
no-tarnish finishes make them ideal for homeowners on either coast.
Most hardware manufacturers offer either a part or all of their lines of
products in these durable surfaces. And some (Moen) have even added titanium,
making this popular finish stronger than conventional polished brass and
PVD-type finishes. The precision surface engineering technology behind these
surfaces is based on the advanced technology used to protect the space
shuttle. The result of this process binds some of the toughest molecules in
nature to create one of the hardest and most durable finishes in faucets.
WeiserLock was one of the first to use no-tarnish surfaces in door handle
handsets. Now many door hardware manufacturers are using these surfaces,
making the use of them more commonplace than not within the building
industry. As one of the first impressions one gets when ringing your
doorbell, imagine a beautiful and shiny brass door handle on your front door
that will stay perenially bright, no matter how harsh the elements.
It"s always a pleasure to report on durability in new home construction and
products. American ingenuity and know-how contribute to a highly competitive
marketplace within the industry to create better and better building products
for the consumer of new homes, which makes everyone, including new home
builders, buyers, and product manufacturers come out winners.
Also See:
New Home Buyers are Getting Wired!
The Latest In Innovative Products For New Homes
New Home Construction Nightmares
Bite The Bullet And Pay The Price