Exterior remodeling can give your home a fresh, attractive look, add more livable space, improve your home’s energy efficiency, and add to your home’s overall value. Don’t be daunted by the word “remodeling.” Enhancing your living space doesn’t have to be a huge project. There’s no need for dozens of builders traipsing in and out of your home, either. We’ll show you five ways to change the look and feel of your home and the benefits of each one.
The color of your house sets the tone for everything else. It’s the background motif for lighting, fixtures, doors, windows, and landscaping. Pick a color palette that fits the architectural design. If you have a Victorian home, then use period-specific colors – cream, beige, crimson, maroon, etc.
Some houses need three-color palettes and others need only two. At the very least, use one primary house color and one accent color. Depending on the style of your home, you may find two accent colors beneficial. When choosing colors, keep these exterior elements in mind:
Choosing the actual colors depends on your plans. If you’re planning on selling the house soon, put the preferences of buyers before your own. Appealing colors can add thousands to your home’s market value. Here are some tips:
♦ Use a neutral set of colors to help buyers imagine themselves in the home.
♦ Use sharp contrasting colors for doors and shutters to make your home stand out.
♦ Yellow is a happy color, but too bright or bold can be unappealing. A pale buttery yellow color contrasts well with darker accent colors like gray or brown.
♦ Use greens and grays for a trendy yet neutral look.
♦ Dark-blue hues with white trim make a calming combination.
♦ Taupe with accents in shades of gray blends well with most types of landscaping.
Windows can either be the best thing about your home or the worst. Neglected, shabby windows can age a house well before its time. Cracked or broken windows can cause the home’s market value to plummet, make it less energy efficient, and pose real hazards to safety and security.
Replacement windows may take the biggest portion of your exterior improvement budget, but they are worth it. Take the time to work with professional installers and contractors. They can advise you on the window products most suitable for your home. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to replacement windows:
♦ Surveys show that remodeled windows have a high return on investment and can significantly increase resale value.
♦ The right window can transform a drab kitchen into a cheerful and bright place for the entire family.
♦ Window replacements are critical for older homes. Newer windows can add to the stability and integrity of exterior walls.
♦ Changing to larger or taller windows can make uninviting porches more appealing and add to a home’s livable space.
Windows are long-term money savers. Modern windows use technology to boost energy efficiency that will translate to lower utility bills. Smart homeowners know that these home improvement costs will depreciate over a few years. Energy Star-rated window replacement products can even qualify for tax credits in certain regions.
Windows will add style to any home based on its material and design. Frames come in many types – you can choose from wood, fiberglass, vinyl, or aluminum. Choose the design that fits your home the best. You can choose from sliding, casement, double-hung, garden, picture, bay windows, and many others.
Increase the aesthetic value of your home by painting windows frames, sills, or shutters with an accent color. Having an accent color that contrasts with the primary color will show off your new windows’ best features. Window treatments will further boost attractiveness.
When is a door not just a door? Exterior doors can be many things: a feature, an asset, and a cash machine. Doors are the physical gateways into your home. Homeowners have two options for their front doors. They can maintain existing doors by repainting and recoating. They can then add a new doormat and place some plants around the entrance. This will certainly refresh the front view and make it more welcoming.
The second option is replacing the door and door frame. This option will result in advantages beyond aesthetics. A door replacement can affect:
Older doors and frames have less insulating power than newer versions. Reducing incoming air in the winter and outgoing air in the summer will result in lower gas and electric bills. A thick fiberglass door has insulating properties five times greater than a wooden door.
Newer doors are more durable. They resist warping, chipping, and peeling. They have higher weather resistance and require less need for regular painting. Ideally, you want to replace both door and frame at the same time.
A new door enables smart technology. You can install Wi-Fi cameras, video doorbells, and remote locks.
Newer doors are designed to resist forced entry better. You can also outfit them with stronger locking mechanisms.
Like windows, Energy Star-rated doors can provide tax credits in certain regions.
Newer doors significantly improve the overall aesthetic of your home. You can paint them to maintain harmony with the home’s architecture.
Proper lighting draws approving glances day or night. It can define the style of a home. Before buying fixtures, evaluate the exterior of your home. Some areas will need more light than others. Take measurements of doors and windows to prevent the possibility of being stuck with oversized or undersized light fixtures. Take pictures to match colors. Consider blending a variety of lighting options.
Location can determine the placement and style of exterior lighting. For example, you can use ground lights to illuminate landscaping, and focused porch lights help you find your keys. Soft soffit lights frame the architecture of your home, and a small light by your home’s number sign serves as a navigational aid.
Choose the mounting method based on the home’s design. Flush-mounted fixtures are suitable for exteriors with low ceilings and porches. A hanging or pendant fixture is best for high ceilings and wider spaces. For areas where the wind is a problem, use flush-mounted fixtures instead. Use single or double sconces in areas where height and space are limited.
Fixtures can be made of aluminum, sheet metal, copper, or brass, with or without powder coating. Glass can be clear, beveled, or engraved with a design. Finishes can vary. Choose from copper-finished, matte black, aged brass, polished brass, brass, polished nickel, or oil-rubbed bronze. Choose a style that fits your home’s architecture, milieu, and tone. – from cottage, arts and crafts, Tudor revival, colonial, ranch, Victorian, colonial revival, classical, federal, and modern.
Use the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings to decide what fixtures will balance cost and aesthetics. Building codes specify acceptable UL ratings. There are three evaluations: dry, damp, and wet. A dry rating applies to lighting intended for interior use where moisture will not be a factor. You can use fixtures with a damp rating in areas that could have occasional humidity and condensation, like laundry rooms and showers. For exterior fixtures with direct weather exposure, the wet rating is a requirement, so the electrical components are shielded from water and moisture buildup. They also have vents or drains.
Motion-sensor lights will increase safety, convenience, and security. They can be of great help on stormy nights or just when your hands are full. These lights also deter wild animals and any other unwelcome visitors. They can be used with cameras to heighten safety within and around your home. Motion-sensor systems cost less for year-round operation, and solar lighting offers an even lower cost after the initial purchase and installation. The installation of motion-sensor lighting is straightforward.
If your home’s landscaping is composed of grass and a few bushes, you may be wasting a chance to improve your health, reduce expenses, and enhance your home’s value. A well-manicured lawn is pleasing to view and leaves a good impression on visitors and home buyers. With landscaping, mindful and creative design will have the most impact.
Green spaces reduce stress and improve quality of life. Concrete, asphalt, and cement absorb heat, while plants and trees do not. Walking barefoot through grass is more refreshing than walking over asphalt. Lawns and yards also capture dust and smoke from the air, while trees and shrubbery in a backyard help lessen noise pollution. By adding some lighting, you can transform your front yard into additional space for entertaining and enjoying the outdoors.
Trees and firs can also contribute to lower annual energy costs since homes in the shade of tall trees have lower internal temperatures. You can also plant a row of trees or bushes to minimize wind gusts and make your yard more pleasant and attractive.
Landscaping improvements can be simple or extensive. Choose the approach that works for your home. Add decorative plants to highlight areas or hide flaws. Vary the color and texture of planters to add character to a plain exterior. Remember, planters and window boxes can also greatly enhance doors and windows. Plants can transform an entranceway from forgettable to enticing.
Aim visual focus towards your home with strategic landscaping. Place plants in a graduating pattern from low to high towards the house. Symmetrical layout of parallel flower beds or small trimmed bushes can lead the eye towards an entrance. If your home has a pronounced roofline, you can break the optical line with tall evergreens on one side. Tall trees with sweeping branches can artistically frame an entire house. Refresh a ranch house by shaping hedges into interesting shapes all around.
Making smart changes to your home isn’t complicated. Look at your home through the eyes of a visitor. Take a “before” picture and sketch out an “improved” picture. Notice homes in your neighborhood to see what works and what doesn’t.
Try out different ideas on your sketch. Create your vision on paper. When you’re ready to move dirt and wield a paintbrush, call in the professionals for quotes, expert advice, and a helping hand.
California has some of the strictest building codes in the country, so leaving your home’s transformation to professionals is a good idea. At US Window & Door, we fully understand state and city building regulations and know how to navigate the permitting process.
When it comes to San Diego windows and doors, we will match our skills, experience, and product lines against anyone else. Our team of experts is always ready to help you turn your “what if” sketch into a reality. How would we do it?
♦ We know our products inside out. We can make recommendations that will improve the beauty, comfort, and functionality of your home.
♦ We can handle standard and custom installations.
♦ Our installers are trained in every facet of replacing doors and windows. There is no waste of time or money. We work with an emphasis on safety, efficiency, and cleanliness.
♦ We work closely with manufacturers. We are partners with Milgard, a premier manufacturer of doors and windows. Together, we offer a full lifetime warranty. This guarantee covers parts and labor on installed Milgard products for the length of your homeownership. US Window & Door will respond to calls scheduled by registered Milgard customers. We will explain and perform all warranty work.
♦ With over three decades of experience, we are proactive about spotting pre-installation complications. We will advise you on solutions, not workarounds. Over the years, we have executed small and large projects, residential and commercial.
Happy with your “what if” sketch and need a quote? Give us a call or visit our website. If you’re still thinking about changes, browse through our inspiration page to get some ideas.
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