Outside Is What’sIn Creating Outdoor Living Spaces (NAPSA)—Baby boomers are downsizing to smaller homes. Somefamilies are faced with challenging economic times. Eco-conscious living is growing in popularity, generating increased awareness of the carbon footprint of a home. Asa result, the average size of an American home has decreased for the first time in more than 30 years. As the square footage of homes gets smaller, homeownersare discovering that the comforts of home are no longer defined by four walls. They are literally thinking outside the box, expanding their living spaces into the natural environment and creating year-round activity centers in the great outdoors. In fact, a recent survey by Better Homes and Gardens magazine revealed that 68 percent of homeowners say that an outdoorgrilling and living area is a top priority. Creating an outdoor sanctuary for reading, dining, relaxing or playing is well within reach of the average homeowner.First ofall, outdoor space is generally less expensive for build out than interior space, so it is an economically savvy solution to expanding living space across a wide range of budgets. Also, with the help of a local contractor, a master plan can be developed that is implemented in phases overtime. When selecting products, homeowners should look for those that are low maintenance, good looking and longlasting. Certain- Homeownersare thinking out- side the box, expanding their living spaces with decks and porches. Teed Corporation, North America’s largest brand of building products, offers a comprehensive suite of high-quality roofing, siding, soffit, trim, railing, decking and fence products that are designed to coordinate beautifully and are backed by the best warranties in the industry. The colors, styles and textures for all these products can be accessed using CertainTeed’s ColorView online visualization tool, allowing homeowners to design their porches, decks and yards and then see the results firsthand. To learn more about products that can make your dream outdoor living space a reality and locate a local contractor, visit www.certainteed.com.
