We Americans love our leisure time. According to the August 2010 Trend Report, a survey conducted by Pew Research found that 67 percent of Americans say free time is the most important thing in their lives, ranking it higher than getting married, having children and achieving professional success.
This desire for time off to relax is driving some key decisions, particularly when it comes to our homes. As Baby Boomers move through middle age and into their retirement years, they are not aging the same way their parents did.
Many of us remember weekends as the time when Dad spent the daylight hours fixing up the house, mowing the lawn, tending the garden, and repairing the car. For him, maintaining a home, lawn and car was a full-time pastime. That’s not true for Baby Boomers. We want time off from the stresses of our jobs, and we are not content to be tied to our homes every Saturday and Sunday.
Americans are responding by buying and building homes that require minimal upkeep. In addition to the desire of Baby Boomers to simplify their lives, younger people, seeking a better work-life balance, are also looking for low-maintenance living.
The desire for a more carefree life leads many to choose low-maintenance home exteriors. Three-quarters of the architects who responded to the AIA Home Design Trend Survey in the third quarter of 2009 report a growing interest in homes with exteriors made of materials that require less time and fewer repairs, like fiber cement and stone.
Previously known for its durability, fiber cement siding has recently become even more popular for its low maintenance requirements. Maybe that is why more than 4 million Americans have selected James Hardie fiber cement siding for their home. No scraping and painting, no staining and easy clean up. That all adds up to a better value.
Call Twin Cities Siding & Roofing at (651) 571-9557, or visit our web site at: tcsidingprofessionals.com
