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Q: I’ve read that it’s important to review building material options when deciding on a custom home plan. What are the most reliable and cost-effective building material options in this area?

A: Reviewing your building material options will be a very important task that should be completed with your builder before even signing a contract. He or she will guide you to the decisions that best fit your needs and budget.

Framing systems for your custom home can be conventional (using solid wood joists) or an engineered system, but most builders will use a combination of the two. An engineered wood joist, or “I-joist,” is a product designed to eliminate problems that occur with conventional wood like bowing or twisting. These products have incredible strength for their size and weight. Although I-joists may seem like a perfect choice as a building material, they must be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications to work properly and, of course, are more costly.

According to your personal tastes, there are many exterior veneer materials to choose from. The most popular choices are brick, vinyl siding and cement board siding. Although initially more expensive, consider the long-term advantages of brick. Brick never needs painting or cleaning. It doesn’t rot, fade, peel or dent and is a proven insulator. Also, homes made from brick command higher resale prices than comparable homes built with other siding materials. Vinyl siding is manufactured primarily from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC resin. It comes in many sizes, shapes and colors to choose from and is very durable, boasting a long life expectancy. Vinyl never has to be painted and is virtually maintenance free. One precaution — it can release toxic fumes when burning.

Fiber cement siding has the lasting features and appearance of wood without all the upkeep. Like vinyl, there are several choices for size and style and some come with a 50-year warranty. They must be painted, but your color choices are endless. They are resistant to rot, wood-boring insects and UV rays. 

House Helper answers are provided by area industry professionals and are the opinions of our experts. Triad Homes does not make any representations as to opinions and facts.

If you have a question that can be answered by a Realtor, remodeler, builder or mortgage loan adviser, please send it to Heather L. Modlin at hmodlin@news-record.com or by fax to 373-5956.

About our contributor: Jennifer Strimple is owner of Home Team Builders in Oak Ridge. A multi-award-winning custom homebuilder and remodeler, Strimple can be reached at 215-6688, or you can visit her company’s Web site at www.hometeambuilders.net.