Last Updated on October 16, 2024 by SampleBoard
The US has seen nearly $457 billion of home improvement expenditures in 2020.
This shows how many homeowners try to revitalize their home's exterior appearance. An exterior upgrade lifts curb appeal while boosting property value and pride of ownership.
This guide covers how to refresh worn façades to renew style and function.
Whether you aim to enhance curb appeal or add personal touches, you'll gain practical tips for beautifying your home through modest and grand exterior transformations.
Kicking off your home's exterior transformation starts with detailed planning before you buy your first gallon of paint.
Define your desired outcomes, estimate accurate costs, determine work scale, find inspiration, and confirm local codes. This advanced legwork sets the stage for efficient execution later.
Whether boosting curb appeal or adding personal flair, clearly define what you want to achieve upfront.
Common objectives when renovating exteriors include improving aesthetics and functionality or increasing resale value.
Outline your key ambitions early on so all decisions lead to overarching aspirations.
Writing down your goals will help you determine the scope of work, equipment, and needed service providers.
Start researching reputable companies like Allwestpressurecleaning for exterior pressure cleaning or other work you need early, to ensure their availability for your project.
After defining your project goals:
Keep in mind that home exterior projects tend to be on the pricey side.
Renovations typically cost between USD$1,200 to $75,000, with minor paint jobs being the cheapest to do. Online calculators can provide you with ballpark figures for reference.
Allocate at least 15% extra to cover incidentals. Determine what you can realistically afford before finalizing the project scope. Financial readiness eases stress throughout the process.
Decide your project's breadth upfront for efficiency.
Will you do a repainting job only or replace the siding too? Will you only refresh the entry or overhaul the total landscaping?
Define boundaries based on your budget, personal abilities, and goals. Comprehensive renovations may require professional consultation for optimal planning.
Think about how much work you can handle upfront.
Now's the chance to pin down stylistic direction through online visual galleries, display homes, interior design magazines, and home improvement stores.
Style preferences range from modern to farmhouse, rustic to industrial.
Browse visual options to identify desired aesthetics, like potential color schemes, building materials, layouts, and decorative accents.
Use these helpful references when planning remodeling stages and making future purchases. Create an inspiration board highlighting preferred designs.
Most exterior renovations require permits, and specific rules can dictate allowed materials, structural guidelines, zoning allowances, and code compliance.
Nearly 60% of respondents to the Common Code Noncompliance Survey Report found that even new buildings violated code compliances.
Thoroughly research your area's ordinances through local government sites to avoid issues later. You may consult your homeowner's association on this info if applicable.
If you plan to sell your home in the future, keep regulations in mind when planning to streamline approval.
With strategic planning crossed off, next comes tackling the physical upgrades for amplifying curb appeal, functionality, and homeowner pride through impactful changes.
From painting to siding installations, entryway remodels, and beyond, this section outlines exterior enhancement projects worth considering.
A fresh coat of exterior paint works wonders for affordably enhancing aesthetics while protecting integrity.
Consider your house's primary material when choosing formulations. Latex acrylics suit most wood, concrete, stucco, and vinyl surfaces.
Prep properly by pressure cleaning, scraping peeling spots, patching cracks, sanding down texture, and spot priming bare areas for optimal adhesion.
For applying paint, rollers handle broad spaces efficiently, while angled brushes paint intricate trim, edges, and corners meticulously.
Follow application instructions, allowing proper dry times between coats.
For amplifying aesthetics, functionality, and weather resistance beyond paint alone, try a new siding installation.
Materials like vinyl, wood, fiber cement, and composite offer their own durability, texture, and appearance perks. So decide which suits your goals, climate, and budget.
Wood exudes traditional charm but requires extensive upkeep.
Low-maintenance vinyl siding offers vivid face-lifts mimicking pricier building materials with rich hues and sleek lines, just without the higher price tag.
Fiber cement melds with wood-like appeal and sturdy resilience. Composite blends durability and easy upkeep but comes at a premium.
Installation may be complex in some cases. So recognize the need to hire seasoned professionals unless you're highly experienced in the job.
Well-designed exteriors highlight your home's façade while providing personal escapes outdoors. Sustainability-focused planning also ensures your yard thrives long-term.
Select low-maintenance native plants that suit your climate. Evergreen foliage, flowering perennials, and ornamental grasses provide year-round color and texture.
Meanwhile, stone paths, timber edges, decorative rock beds, and water features add further dynamism. Proper lighting illuminates landscapes for a nighttime wow factor.
Also, consider factors such as soil quality, sun exposure, and drainage. Before planting, analyze sunlight patterns, arrange structural and functional aspects, and amend the soil where needed.
You could look for landscaping ideas to inspire your plans. Once planted, provide attentive early care while plants establish themselves before easing up on extra watering and nutrients.
A home's entryway conveys the first impression for visitors while exemplifying your unique style.
Improve front porches by installing ceiling fans for comfort, upright planters framing the door, and patio furniture welcoming guests.
Paint or replace worn railings and columns while adding exterior lighting for safe, well-lit arrival after dark.
You could replace your front door itself for amplified curb appeal using updated materials like steel, glass inserts, or smart technology if they align with your goals.
Adorn surrounding spaces with potted foliage, decorative house numbers, or monogrammed welcome mats reflecting personality.
Don't forget the driveway. Pressure clean stained concrete or seal, and restripe cracking asphalt for pulled-together appeal.
Other impactful upgrades include:
If your home still has original roofing exceeding 20 years old, contemporary roofing installation may be ideal.
However, most homeowners will require professional expertise for these more complex endeavors.
Focus DIY efforts on more attainable projects before pursuing major structural additions that require intricate engineering know-how.
The detailed work needed for these projects often exceeds the skill level of most DIYers.
Alongside mapping project plans, decision-making around material types and potential contractor assistance ensures successful execution.
When choosing materials, carefully weigh options regarding performance, visual flow, cost efficiency, eco-impact, and installation needs.
Seek balance across those critical factors for optimal returns on investments. Seek professional expertise when warranted.
When selecting materials, research all options to make informed decisions aligned with your project goals.
For siding, study specifications across wood, vinyl, and other alternatives. Compare their durability, texture choices, and upkeep needs as previously discussed.
Consider choosing Energy Star–rated windows and outdoor light fixtures when replacing them to boost efficiency too.
Products, such as LED lightbulbs, with an Energy Star rating consume two-thirds less energy than incandescent bulbs.
The reduced energy can significantly lower your electric bill, which is excellent, especially if you prefer to leave your home exterior's lights on all night.
When it comes to a new paint job, carefully choose exterior paints that resist moisture, mildew, and UV exposure based on your home's surfaces and regional climate.
Also, contrast lighting fixture materials, such as metal versus wood or composites, in aesthetics, longevity, and pricing.
Ensure all elements heighten visual appeal while standing the test of time through weather resistance and easy maintenance that's suitable for your lifestyle.
DIYers can often tackle painting, landscaping, and minor entry upgrades independently.
But extensive projects like siding replacement, window installation, hardscaping additions, and major carpentry likely warrant contractor expertise.
Know your limits based on project scale and complexity. Hire the pros when you're lacking complex skills, for physically demanding work, or if safety issues arise.
When hiring contractors, check for proper licensing, insurance, and bonding first. Then gauge multiple project quotes to ascertain fair pricing based on scope.
Verify ample experience levels and read reviews to confirm a positive reputation. Communicating expected schedules and total costs upfront thwarts possible disputes later.
Refreshing your exterior requires thoughtful planning, like defining target aesthetics and realistic budgets upfront.
Then adequately prepare for face-lifting projects based on your home's needs and your own abilities.
Carefully select weather-resistant materials suiting long-term objectives across beauty and low maintenance.
Feel free to hire help for complex upgrades or tasks exceeding DIY skills and comfort levels.
Ultimately, methodically transforming worn façades results in higher curb appeal and homeowner pride for years beyond the final brush stroke.
Embrace this ongoing process as an enriching chance for personalizing your home to reflect your ever-evolving style best.