Build Stunning Custom Homes With ASCEND® Composite Cladding

This Painter-Turned-Contractor Knows a Great Product When She Sees It

With professional carpenters for parents and three sisters who know a thing or two about home design trends, it might be destiny that Amelia Daves is now one of Virginia’s most in-demand residential builders. Operating across the state’s central region, Amelia’s Home Construction has become popular with families seeking everything from a custom contemporary farmhouse to a 1929 original craftsman remodel. Bringing clients’ dreams to life is a passion that has inspired Daves since she started in the business as a painter.

Now with a business of her own, Daves appreciates how better building materials add to the excitement that comes with turning the keys over to delighted homeowners. Products that look great—and save time, money and hassle on the jobsite—help Amelia’s reputation and bottom line grow, and for this builder, ASCEND® Composite Cladding from Alside is a big part of creating spectacular homes.

A BEVY OF BENEFITS

Amelia’s Home Construction builds several custom homes a year ranging from 1,400 to over 4,000 square feet. Often, owners are in search of their forever home and look to Daves to deliver it affordably and on schedule, which is no small feat for many builders still sorting through logistical challenges that linger post-pandemic. That’s why Daves prioritizes products that meet her strict criteria for delivering value.

“Buyers can still be hesitant, so I’m trying to give them a compelling look while staying at a certain price point,” she says. “Around here, it’s not uncommon to build on a piece of the family farm. Many of these properties have been passed down for generations—often we’re bringing a vision to life that someone has spent decades thinking about. It has to be superb, and it has to be durable, and that’s why I use ASCEND.”

While Alside’s composite cladding is now her go-to for most home exteriors, Daves remembers selecting a competitive fiber cement siding for the first home she built. She liked its authentic wood appearance; however, painting was required and as Daves knows, most buyers prefer to avoid the eventual cost of repainting that can total $4,000 or more for a typical-size home¹.

“I’m all about maintenance-free, so I looked for something better,” she says. “I drove by a home that had ASCEND installed. It looked so clean with no lap marks. In fact, it looked a lot like fiber cement lap siding but better. I did some price comparisons and ended up installing it for another house I was working on; I’ve been a fan ever since. The simplicity of the installation is a real thing that keeps my crews working efficiently.”

YEAR-ROUND ENERGY SAVINGS

Many siding solutions promise great looks and low maintenance, but for Daves, making the right investment also means saving money for her clients. Having a combination glass-reinforced, graphite-infused polystyrene, ASCEND planks provide better thermal insulation to prevent heat loss/gain through the building envelope compared to ordinary siding options. In fact, the product’s R2 insulation value is significantly more than what is typical for fiber cement and engineered wood.

“We renovated one 1,900-square-foot home, and the owner told us her electric bill went from about $65 to $13 a month after the cladding was installed,” said Daves. “Homes today are much more energy efficient because of products like ASCEND. Color choices I can find anywhere, but a special layer that insulates so well that homeowners take notice … that’s how I determine what to use and what materials don’t make the cut.”

INSTALLATION IS A CINCH

Daves also likes that ASCEND is simpler to install and requires fewer laborers than most siding she has used previously. Not only does ASCEND’s light weight make it easy to handle, but it also features a self-positioning stack lock that takes much of the guesswork out of plank alignment. Plus, no sealing, touching up, joint flashing or caulking is required—meaning less mess and less waste.

“Color-matched caulk that’s required with fiber cement looks great at first, but within a few years, it’s dingy and shows every seam,” says Daves. “With ASCEND there’s no such concern, and the forgiving hang also helps to conceal minor wall imperfections.”

At just 25% the weight of a standard fiber cement panel, ASCEND replicates the look, feel and bold statement of real wood without the usual maintenance exposure. In Daves’ estimation, these advantages, combined with ease of installation, make ASCEND one of the best overall values on the market.

“ASCEND installs fast even with just one person. I had a crew of five knock out a smaller home in a single day—the fascia board, the soffits, the porch, the works. Savings like that are huge for my business anytime I’m not sending crews back to a jobsite.”

A HELPING HAND

Daves appreciates Alside for an innovative product and the support her company needs to perform its best. With no shortage of suppliers to choose from, developing the right relationship is part of the challenge, in her opinion.

“That’s why I continue to do business with them. I try to keep things running smoothly, or I find somebody else. There’s just too much stress involved to stick with what’s not working. I’ve stayed with Alside because my rep Dale and his team keep things on the simple side, from ordering to deliveries to support for my crews. I love it, and I don’t think it’s something you find just anywhere.”

Daves adds that Alside stands behind its product with a lifetime warranty that goes a long way with homeowners.

“I've seen people get really frustrated with builders not following through on warranty issues, so I try to take excellent care of my clients, and Alside helps me do that. Just the thought of knowing you won’t be battling any long-term problems—you want that every time, because it makes your decisions easier.”

ELEVATE YOUR DESIGN

Most sidings mimic the look of wood but ASCEND can easily fool people with planks that look and feel like cedar. Beyond great curb appeal, ASCEND brings together the best features of engineered wood, fiber cement and vinyl in a single package. This proprietary combination of glass fibers, polymers, graphite and polystyrene creates a cladding that is easy to install and maintain.

For Daves, it all adds up to something worth building on.

“The on-trend colors that won’t fade, the fact there’s no specialized equipment needed, the way it resists wind and moisture—ASCEND checks every box for us. Often, value comes in the form of products you really don’t have to think about.”