When you think of the labor shortage, you think of remodelers not having enough skilled hands on a jobsite to get the job done in the amount of time they’d like it to take. You think very little—if at all—about manufacturers that have to curb production, because even though demand for their products is strong, there isn’t enough labor. Still, it’s a problem that manufacturers were ready to talk about at this year’s International Builders’ Show. In fact, it’s a problem that helped influence TruExterior’s newest innovation to its existing poly-ash siding line: reversible shiplap-nickel gap profiles.
There are two reversible options: one variety has the smooth Nickel Gap on one side and wood-grain Shiplap on the other; the other reverses which side is smooth and which has the wood-grain. “One reason we created this new siding profile was so that dealers could carry less SKUs,” says Ben Drury, TruExterior brand manager for Boral Building Products. “But we also wanted to make a single panel that is more versatile for contractors.”
TruExterior used a rabbeted edge to create the reversible Shiplap-to-Nickel Gap style (and vice versa). It keeps the reversible siding from looking “reversible” without sacrificing functionality.
“You can drill close to the edge with no mushrooming, no cracking. It cuts like butter. It’s easy to mill,” Drury says. “And with the rabbeted edge, the spacing on each side of the board is authentic.”
As a part of the existing fly ash line—which uses a reclamation process involving coal that results in boards made from 70% recycled material—the new profiles have the same install process, can be painted in any color (including dark hues), and will be sold at the same price point as TruExterior’s existing boards.
Add new comment
Related Stories
Lowe’s to Open Next-Day Delivery Fulfillment Center for Pros
Lowe's makes its next move into the pro market.
How to Solve the Deck Ledger Problem in Fat Walls
Brick veneer and rigid exterior foam raise questions about deck ledger connections. We provide some answers.
Un-Linked-In: Remodelers' Supply Chain Strategies
Remodelers share coping strategies for the ongoing supply chain problems
Pro's Picks: Mezzo with Trimworks
This Pro's Pick saves on labor, time, and cost—for both pros and homeowners.
· sponsored
Owens Corning® Unveils PINK Next Gen™ Fiberglas™ Insulation
3 Materials That May Forever Change the Home’s Makeup
With price spikes and shortages of traditional building materials, it may be time to start considering non-traditional ones
A Series of Fortunate Accidents
How a salesman became an inventor who became a business owner that ended up on Shark Tank (and not by application but by request)
Innovative Products: Two New Products from Owens Corning
The shingle color of the year is ... blue? Yep! And homeowners can check out multiple options with the new Build Your Roof tool.
Innovative Products: Sunflare PowerFit 20
No glass, no wracking, and one-quarter the weight of silicon panels