Dear Anne,
I am pretty lost when it comes to trends within the construction industry. What are some contemporary movements which are becoming increasingly popular?
- Trendy in Takoma Park

A: Dear Trendy,
The construction industry has lots of trends, and that is because everyone has different tastes. You will notice that certain styles stay around throughout time, while others last a few short months. Ultimately what is considered contemporary is in the eyes of the beholder, but there are a few things that are being requested more frequently. In regards to siding, we are noticing that stucco and vinyl are materials of the past.  More and more homeowners seem to be using Brick, Stone and a material called HardiePlank (which is a maintenance free man-made composite siding). Along this same tangent, Brick and Stone front facades prove to dominate the market. The majority of homes going into construction have Brick, Stone or a combination of both for the front elevation. Moving on to the interior side of things, carpet is also a material of the past. Homeowners still are going with carpet in bedrooms, but many are making the rest of their house hardwood. It is especially popular for the first floor to be completely hardwood; this adds a sense of elegance to a home that carpet can simply not bestow. Lastly, unfinished basements do not suffice the current wave of homeowners. Many choose to finish their basements completely, adding up to 33% more square footage to their humble abode. Contemporary trends flood the industry from week to week. The developments previously mentioned will be practiced for time to come.
- Anne

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