Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 10/12/2007

Question
Richard,
I am interested in building a new home in a high altitude location in colorado
(8-10,000 ft.) with harsh climate change. I noticed that the majority of homes
in this area are wood or
log type.

Do homes at that altitude need specific features, i.e. wood/log siding, special
windows/doors, roofing, or can vinyl siding and such work just as well?

Rustin

Answer
Rustin - thanks for your question!

I've just returned from Colorado and had the opportunity to tour some wonderfully inventive homes there (big fan of the golf courses, too!).

The rustic features you've seen are about vernacular style as well as appropriateness for the climate; most choices are made for fashion first, then function.

But wood's almost always a good solution for the exterior if it's properly prepared and installed; it expands and contracts well with temperature changes; it absorbs humidity without deforming significantly, and it can have a very long life.  High humidity is the #1 factor in the deterioration of wood siding.

In the higher altitudes you'll experience big yearly temperature swings (+- 100 degs) and generally, very low humidity.  You'll also get more UV radiation and greater radiant heat from the sun.

All of those factors point towards building materials that can "move", and that won't get brittle in very low temperatures.  That's good for wood, bad for most vinyl components.  Long term, vinyl doesn't do well through repeated large temperature swings, and gets brittle in very cold temps (as you have at 9,000 ft in Colorado).

High winds are also a factor - vinyl siding doesn't usually fare well in them.  Same for asphalt shingles.  And although cost factors direct that most mountain homes have asphalt roofs, the better homes have concrete tiles or metal roofs.  Snow, wind, and bright sunshine are all asphalt roof killers.

Rustin, you probably have a fixed amount of money to spend on your home construction - think about keeping the footprint smaller and more efficient (most homes are loaded with wasted space) and spending the savings on making the home much more weather-resistant, attractive, and sustainable than it would be with any vinyl products.

The Colorado mountains are a very special place - they deserve special homes!

Hope this helps,

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com