Attempting the impossible? Alcoa tries to make vinyl siding a thrill

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | August 10, 2004 | CHARLES SHEEHAN -- Associated Press Writer

[Willie Green]

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Picking out vinyl siding for the home has for decades had all the excitement of rearranging a sock drawer.

Beginning next year, however, homeowners once forced to paw through shades of white, almond and beige will be able to get siding in guava jam, strawberry fields, and about 700 other shades.

One of the largest suppliers of aluminum and vinyl siding has done a major overhaul of its manufacturing process, freeing it from inventory restrictions that have constrained much of the industry and made some new housing developments a study in monotony.

~~~~SNIP~~~~

The service also includes suggestions by designers, who make recommendations based on the neighborhood and other criteria, such as distance from the street.

A number of suppliers say there is already interest in more siding colors.

"The home is the single biggest investment people make and they want it to represent what they're about," Acinapura said.

[Willie Green]

The National Retail Sales Tax would slap a 30% sales tax on the price of installing vinyl siding.

"A home is NOT an investment, W/G, but merely a place to live."

Posted on 03/26/2001 16:27:50 PST by pigdog

To: pigdog, Willie Green

It's amazing how many people view a home as an "asset," as well. It's a frickin' LIABILITY.

90 Posted on 06/29/2001 09:45:01 PDT by Poohbah

[Willie Green]

ping

[Poohbah]

Unless you're getting rental income from your house, it's a liability.

[zarf]

Willie Green alert!

[Willie Green]

It's an investment that increases in value -- an asset, not a liability.

[Tax-chick]

... guava jam, strawberry fields, and about 700 other shades which will earn you threatening letter from your homeowners' association.

Okay, who wants to live next door to the "Strawberry Fields" house with the "Tomato Sauce" trim?

[Vigilantcitizen]

Beginning next year, however, homeowners once forced to paw through shades of white, almond and beige will be able to get siding in guava jam, strawberry fields, and about 700 other shades.

Oh dear God, no.

[Vigilantcitizen]

It's an investment that increases in value -- an asset, not a liability.

I have to agree with you on that one.

[Rakkasan1]

the guy on acid seeing giant white rabbits

[Rakkasan1]

I used to side houses. The only time it was exciting was when someone fell off the scaffolding

[Poohbah]

It's an investment that increases in value -- an asset, not a liability.

Bzzzt.

Assets put money IN your pocket--i.e., they generate income.

One's house, when the costs of maintenance and property taxes are taken into account, pull money out of your pocket--and are thus liabilities.

Unless the house is generating income while you own it, it only becomes an asset when you sell it.

[Always Right]

Unless you're getting rental income from your house, it's a liability.

A home loan is a libility, a home is an asset by any accounting method. Otherwise books would never balance.

[Lorianne]

Thank God! It's about time we got Guava Jam colored vinyl siding. The monotony was killing me.

[Tax-chick]

Someone on my street in Oklahoma (not too near, fortunately) painted their house bright lavender, with deep purple trim. The neighbors theorized that it was a contested divorce: "I'll fix it so you can NEVER sell this house ..."

[Willie Green]

Okay, who wants to live next door to the "Strawberry Fields" house with the "Tomato Sauce" trim?

Do you think that combo will ever be approved by the nazis at the local homeowners association?

[Poohbah]

A home loan is a libility, a home is an asset by any accounting method. Otherwise books would never balance.

Is the house actually pumping real, spendable money into your pocket when you do the bookkeeping like this?

[July 4th]

I think he meant it's a liability in the sense that "weird" colored siding makes it a pain to sell your house. It reduces the number of people willing to buy.

A pool is often considered a liability because there are a number of buyers who would be perfectly happy with the house, but who don't want to take care of the pool.

[lewislynn]

it only becomes an asset when you sell it.

It's neither an asset or a liability once you've sold it...it's gone.

If by selling it, it can produce income/gain 10 yrs after you bought it, it WAS an asset.

[Tax-chick]

Not mine (and I'm on The Committee :-), and we're a better subdivision for it.

[Willie Green]

Is the house actually pumping real, spendable money into your pocket when you do the bookkeeping like this?

Yes. That is how homeowners build equity and accumulate wealth -- a process the NRST discourages with taxation.