Renovating the exterior of your home can be a rewarding project, enhancing its street appeal and value. Several factors must be considered, whether you’re making minor updates or embarking on a major overhaul. From your home’s style and local regulations to the colours of neighbouring houses, each element plays a role in achieving a harmonious renovation. Let’s break down how to update your home’s facade, from simple maintenance to significant changes.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Renovating your home’s exterior can greatly enhance curb appeal and increase its value. Start with simple tasks like cleaning, painting, and repairing damaged areas. More extensive upgrades include:
- Landscaping.
- Replacing doors or windows.
- Updating porch railings.
- Adding features like covered entrances or dormer windows.
Costs vary depending on the scale of the project, with landscaping averaging $3,240 and painting around $2,800. Consider adding external insulation and upgrading rainwater systems during a remodel for better efficiency. Overall, a well-planned exterior renovation can make a big impact.
Steps To Improve Your Home’s Exterior
1. Cleaning And Maintenance
The simplest and often most effective step in transforming your home’s exterior is thorough cleaning. A pressure washer can clean dirt and grime from siding, windows, porches, and decks. Regular cleaning can refresh the look of your house, making a noticeable difference.
- Gutter Maintenance: Clean gutters of dead leaves and debris to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage.
- Outdoor Storage: Declutter outdoor areas using storage bins for toys, gardening tools, and other equipment.
- Repair Damages: Fix minor issues like chipped paint, damaged siding, or broken porch railings to maintain your home’s structural integrity and aesthetics.
2. Exterior Paint And Shutters
A new coat of paint is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your home a fresh look. Choose a colour scheme that enhances the architecture and complements the surrounding houses.
- Wall and Trim Colour: Dark walls paired with light trim (or vice versa) create a striking contrast. White trim, in particular, can make almost any wall colour look sharper.
- Shutters: Adding shutters can make windows stand out. They come in various styles, such as louvred or panelled, which can suit different home styles.
3. Entryway Enhancements
The front door is the focal point of a house’s exterior; even small updates can make a big impact.
- Door Colour: Consider painting the front door boldly, like red, which creates a welcoming impression, or black, which can add sophistication.
- Additional Elements: Install new hardware, including a stylish doorbell, modern house numbers, and porch lights to complete the look. Flower pots and a fresh doormat can also enhance your entryway.
4. Structural Enhancements
If your budget allows, consider updating or adding architectural features to improve your home’s character and street appeal.
- Columns and Porch: Wrapping columns in brick or stone can give your porch a more upscale look. For homes with space, adding or enlarging a porch can create a welcoming area for visitors.
- Roof: If your roof shows wear, replacing or painting it can instantly improve your home’s appearance. However, get a cost estimate, as this can be a significant investment.
- Garage Doors: Outdated garage doors can detract from the overall look of your home. Replacing them with modern designs can offer an aesthetic lift, especially if they face the street.
5. Landscaping
Landscaping plays a major role in the appearance of your home and can often be the most expensive part of an exterior renovation.
- Plants and Shrubs: Native plants, shrubs, and flowers help your home blend into the environment, adding beauty and value. Keep the landscape tidy and well-maintained.
- Professional Help: For large landscaping projects, consider hiring a professional landscaper who can help design a layout suited to your home and climate.
Additional Ways To Enhance Your Home’s Exterior
1. Covered Entrance
A covered entrance can increase your home’s appeal while providing shelter from the weather. Depending on the style of your home, consider a simple pediment for colonial-style houses or a larger, Craftsman-inspired porch.
2. Lanterns And Lighting
Installing outdoor lighting, such as a decorative lantern, can add a charming touch. Whether the home is a modern farmhouse or Cape Cod style, appropriate lighting can make it feel more dimensional.
3. Window Boxes
Window boxes filled with flowers or plants can add colour and vibrancy to your home. Select window boxes that match the design of your house and paint them to blend seamlessly with the exterior.
4. Gates And Fences
A well-designed gate or small fence can frame your property and increase street appeal. Combined with strategic landscaping, this addition can make a small front yard feel larger and more private.
5. Driveway And Garage
A well-maintained driveway is essential for good street appeal. Stained concrete or masonry can create a visually pleasing and durable driveway. Make sure the design complements your home’s architecture.
If your garage doors face the street, their design should match the rest of the house. Consider painting them the same colour as the house or investing in new doors for an upgraded look.
6. Dormer Windows
Adding dormer windows is a more expensive renovation but can enhance a home’s architectural interest, making it look larger and more attractive. Dormers can also bring more light into the interior.
7. Roof Upgrades
Replacing a roof can be costly, but it significantly impacts the look of your home. Whether you choose shingles, tiles, or metal roofing, ensure the material and colour suit your home’s architectural style.
8. External Insulation
If you’re cladding your home, consider adding external insulation. This will improve energy efficiency while maintaining a seamless look. Be mindful of condensation issues and ensure proper installation with vapour barriers and ventilation.
9. Replacing Windows And Rainwater Systems
Replacing old windows, particularly single-glazed ones, is a great way to modernise the look of your home and improve energy efficiency. On average, three windows can be replaced in a single day.
Additionally, upgrading rainwater systems such as gutters and downpipes with materials like aluminium or zinc can increase longevity and give your home a polished look.
Cost Breakdown Of Exterior Renovations
1. Painting Costs
The average cost of painting a home exterior is about $2,800, but this can vary depending on the size of your home and the quality of paint you choose. Painting the home can save money if you’re on a budget, but hiring professionals ensures better results and safety, especially for multi-story houses.
2. Landscaping Costs
Expect to spend around $3,240 on landscaping updates. While this can be the most significant expense, it is also one of the most impactful. Good landscaping adds to street appeal and may increase your home’s value. Stick to native plants, which are often easier to maintain and more resilient to local weather conditions.
3. Trim For Doors And Windows
Replacing the trim around doors and windows can make a big visual difference for a small investment—around $235 on average. A fresh coat of paint on door and window trims can also make a home feel more polished. Consider replacing old single-glazed windows with modern, energy-efficient ones to improve aesthetics and energy performance.
4. Front Porch Railings
Replacing or updating porch railings costs about $600. Wooden railings can be repainted or replaced with more stylish alternatives, like wrought iron. Painted railings that match the house’s shutters can create a cohesive look.
5. Exterior Decorations
Adding exterior decorations, such as patio furniture, outdoor lighting, and accents like planters and cushions, can cost around $600. These items not only add visual interest but can also make outdoor spaces more functional and inviting.
Conclusion
Renovating your home’s exterior is a worthwhile investment. Small changes like a new coat of paint or updated landscaping can improve street appeal and increase your home’s value. Whether adding dormer windows, replacing garage doors, or simply cleaning and maintaining the facade, every improvement contributes to your home’s aesthetics and functionality. When planning your renovation, remember to prioritise your budget and make changes that complement your home’s architectural style and neighbourhood.
FAQs About House Exterior
What Is The Exterior Design Of The House?
Exterior design includes your home’s size and shape, how it fits into the surrounding neighbourhood and streetscape, and its impact on its site.
How Can I Make My House Look More Expensive Outside?
Talking about greenery, one of the most obvious and effective ways to boost curb appeal is to add some fresh plants and flowers. To add to your home’s exterior appearance, you don’t have to create a whole garden – add some planters to accentuate and frame key visual points, like windows and entryways.
Why Is Exterior Design Important?
A well-designed exterior can increase your property value by up to 20%. A good exterior design shows that you’ve put time and effort into making your home look its best. It also indicates that you care about your property’s overall appearance-something potential buyers will appreciate.
Do Architects Design Exterior?
The big difference between these two professions is that architects design our built environment’s interior and exterior spaces, determining the spatial relationships within a building.
What Is Exterior Architecture?
The exterior architectural feature means the architectural elements embodying style, design, general arrangement, and components of all the outer surfaces of an improvement, including, but not limited to, the architectural style, design, arrangement, massing, texture, painted and unpainted surfaces and materials.
