Building Products Manufacturer Expands Support for Veterans’ Homes

As a leading building products manufacturer in North America, CertainTeed knows well what products are necessary to build quality homes — and they’re using that knowledge for the greater good by partnering with a nonprofit or
ganization that builds homes for severely-injured U.S. veterans.

The mission of the Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) organization is to help rebuild the lives of these men and women by providing mortgage-free homes that accommodate the needs of veterans, many of whom have made significant sacrifices as part of serving their country.

Multi-Year Partnership
CertainTeed has been a dedicated partner of the HFOT organization since 2009, and the company recently added vinyl siding, polymer siding, housewrap, and exterior trim to the extensive portfolio of products it donates to HFOT projects across the United States.

The CertainTeed involvement with this top-rated charity, based on the rating of Charity Navigator, also extends to many CertainTeed employees actively participating in numerous HFOT community build events.

Over the years of its involvement with HFOT, CertainTeed says it has been proud to be the exclusive provider of roofing, insulation, and gypsum products to the organization. With the addition of siding, housewrap, and exterior trim products, veterans will have more options to seamlessly coordinate a home tailored to their personal taste.

“We’re pleased to join our colleagues in the roofing, insulation, and gypsum businesses as one of Homes for Our Troops’ primary partners,” said Pam Schechter, president of CertainTeed Siding. “We’re extremely proud that our products will help veterans and their families enjoy new homes that are not only practical, in terms of meeting their accessibility requirements, but beautiful as well.”

Numerous Options Available
Veterans will be able to choose from four vinyl siding color palettes, developed by the color experts at CertainTeed: warm and inviting, cool and fresh, strong and bold, and natural and serene. Within each palette are five home front facades featuring siding and accessories with classic, subtle, distinct, or complementary color variations.

Products include Restoration Classic™ Select Cedar Clapboard siding with accent options of either Cedar Impressions® Straight-Edge Perfection Shingles to highlight areas like gables, or using Board & Batten vertical siding for a traditional look of alternating wide and narrow cedar boards instead. Vented soffit, skirtboard, Restoration Millwork® cellular PVC exterior trim, and Vinyl Carpentry® decorative exterior trim round out the full package of available accessories.

Before any siding, exterior trim, and coordinating accessories are applied, a high-performance exterior weather deterrence wall system is installed for long-term performance, enhanced energy efficiency and protection from the elements.

CertainTeed’s CertaWrap™ weather resistant barrier, CertaFlash™ and CertaTape™ products work together to provide a water- and wind-tight, properly ventilated building envelope for each home — a combination highly effective in helping to prevent mold, mildew, and water damage both during and after construction.

HFOT homes also feature a CertainTeed interior wall system, including Sustainable Insulation® fiberglass batts or OPTIMA® blown-in, made from recycled and renewable content and the MemBrain™ continuous air barrier and smart vapor retarder that allows walls to ‘breathe’ for intelligent protection from moisture and air leaks; as well as high-performance gypsum products tailored to the specific needs of each room.

Benefits of the Home Program
Since its founding in 2004, Homes for Our Troops has built more than 210 mortgage-free, specially adapted energy-efficient homes for veterans severely injured in combat after September 11, 2001. Each four-bedroom, two-bath home is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, complete with roll-in showers, roll-under cooktops and sinks, and other standard accessibility items. Construction of a home takes five-to-seven months, with the cost of each build averaging $430,000.

“With the addition of siding, CertainTeed has stepped up once again to support our organization with an additional array of quality products,” said Tim McHale, president and CEO of Homes for Our Troops. “And while we obviously appreciate the donation of top-of-the-line building materials in our veterans’ homes, the biggest asset for us in this partnership with CertainTeed is that everyone takes this relationship so personally. These compassionate professionals help in any way they can, from connecting HFOT to their business partners to participating in our volunteer events and assisting our builders.”

For more information, contact: CertainTeed, www.certainteed.com