“Maintenance free?” Can it be?
Is there such a thing as a maintenance free home improvement product? At Home Evolutions VA, we regularly wrestle with this concept. We strive to be up-front in all of our advertising, (brochures, commercials, billboards, etc.) because we NEVER want to mislead our clientele. These intentions have led us to the conclusion that the term “maintenance free” is rather subjective. Home Evolutions VA employs a philosophy of avoiding vagueness. We observe that far too many companies (of all sorts) capitalize on making deceptive general statements with disclaimers only given after a customer has made the purchase. In previous blogs, as well as advertising and product demonstrations, we have made clear what degree of “maintenance free” our product lines offer. Let’s take a moment to define our use of the phrase:
A Brief History of Exterior Home Maintenance
If you’re old enough to remember when aluminum siding became popular on the market, many manufacturers and contractors labeled it as “maintenance free”. This was accurate in the sense of encapsulating existing wall surfaces, protecting them from the elements, and that the need to paint was (at least the first several years after installation) eliminated. As it turned out, aluminum siding could be easily dented, requiring repair and/or replacement in order to keep that “new” look. Homeowners soon realized that mold and algae could build up on the product (especially on north sides or extremely shaded areas) as well as oxidation requiring that it be cleaned. It was ultimately discovered that colored finishes faded. Painting aluminum siding became common, despite the “maintenance free” selling point. Let us not overlook the fact that aluminum is a strong conductor of electricity. Not exactly a comforting thought.
Aluminum siding gave way to vinyl siding. This new and improved product was equally efficient at encapsulating wooden walls and protecting the home from the elements. Vinyl also proved to be more impact resistant than aluminum, greatly reducing the need to replace pieces or sections due to impact. With its color application penetrating completely, UV fading happens at a much slower and more consistent rate. The temptation to paint or replace vinyl siding has been pushed decades down the road from its initial installation. That pesky algae, mold, and/or oxidation still mandates that even vinyl siding needs to be cleaned every few years. The good news is, there are many easy-to-use cleaners that can effectively eliminate the exterior filth with minimal effort. Clearly, vinyl siding is a far superior product compared to aluminum. Home Evolutions VA proudly offers CertainTeed Mainstreet and Monogram vinyl siding products. CertainTeed siding product durability and color retention is proven by its 50 year Manufacturer’s Warranty. There’s no better warranty in the industry. Does it attain our “maintenance free” aspirations? Hang on, the picture is being painted…
Gutters have a similar historical evolution. Originally gutters were a “trough” mounted at eave locations with piping (downspouts) designed to channel roof water away from the structure. Leaves and roof debris began to accumulate inside the gutter trough and clogged the downspout outlets. This requires scooping out the mucky debris by hand. Enter “filtered” gutter guards. These filters are attached, still, on top of the gutter trough and have countless designs intending to allow water into the gutter while filtering out leaves and debris, reducing maintenance time. However, as leaves and other debris accumulate on the cover, the filter can clog up and require cleaning. Maintenance time is reduced, but the process is certainly not “maintenance free”.
The K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System changed the gutter world completely! It is by far the lowest maintenance, best looking gutter system on the market and is offered in Central Virginia exclusively by Home Evolutions VA. It is the only hooded (non-filtered) gutter system with dual inlets into the gutter trough and designed to most efficiently allow leaves and debris to naturally wash over the hood and fall harmlessly to the ground still allowing the water to flow away from the house. K-Guard is so head and shoulders above the rest that it comes with a “no questions asked” lifetime clog-free warranty. Since The K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System has no competition, the only competitive marketing tactic other gutter companies have is to try and degrade the product. One look at K-Guard is all it takes to prove this tactic as a desperate ploy to sell a far inferior product. So, is this “legendary” K-Guard miracle “maintenance free?” We’re almost there…
Roofing products are typically “maintenance free” by nature. Even three-tab shingles are considered very low maintenance with proper installation techniques, but their life expectancy historically has been 20-25 years at best. Modern architectural shingles are made more durable and engineered to last 50+ years. Maybe you don’t consider longevity as a “maintenance” issue now, but you will when you have to purchase a new roof. As far as “maintenance” goes, keeping leaves and other debris from building up and rotting on the shingle surface is a common consideration. Depending on the design of the roof, the wind usually does all the work. With roofing, probably the most annoying maintenance is roof streaks, which are typically blue-green algae and mold. GAF Shingles are infused with copper microsites that release copper steadily over time for long-lasting algae-fighting power, which is backed by a 25 year Stain Prevention Warranty. If you consider shingles blowing off in extreme windy conditions as maintenance, GAF offers the industry’s first wind warranty with NO maximum wind speed. You guessed it, Home Evolutions VA installs GAF Shingle Products to our discerning clientele.
Replacement Windows are unique with regards to the degree it takes to maintain them. By attrition, both vinyl replacement and new construction windows are designed for easy cleaning. Again the question, is cleaning actually maintenance? Home Evolutions VA installs windows made by Vinyl Design. They’re easy-tilt design makes cleaning a breeze, and the vinyl sash frames and jambs require no painting. Even the exterior wrap is made of aluminum with a baked on finish (20 year Manufacturer’s Warranty) for even less upkeep. Vinyl Design offers the best Lifetime Glass Breakage Warranty, so even an accidental break is no trouble to maintain; just a phone call.
Did we make the cut?
Home Evolutions VA has worked diligently to offer the lowest maintenance, highest quality, most efficient, best looking product line with the most comprehensive warranties in Central Virginia. It took a couple of minutes to define our terms, but “maintenance free” means that we truly offer products (with the exception of standard gutters without guards) that only need to be kept clean and beautiful. Considering the fact that all of our products are exterior and therefore subject to wind, dust, leaves, rain, snow, and dirt, our product lines are extremely “maintenance free”. We are honored to carry these bragging rights, and pass them down to our community. We understand that our customers who are willing to invest in higher quality products are also willing to protect their investment by proudly keeping them beautiful. When you buy a new car, do you wash it? When you buy a new carpet, do you vacuum it? When you buy a new countertop, do you wipe it down? We at Home Evolutions VA can honestly say that we would be willing to do those things personally. In our opinion, we don’t consider keeping a new product clean as “maintenance” but rather an acceptable expectation.
Still not convinced? Understanding that not everyone is able to keep their K-Guard Gutter System, siding, windows, or roofing products clean and looking/functioning their best, Home Evolutions VA offers house washing services for the convenience of our clientele. How easy is that? Here’s hoping you enjoy your “maintenance free” weekends doing other things.
