Though the real estate market has cooled of late in much of the nation, the average American homeowner can still enjoy tremendous benefits when it comes to sprucing up the home’s exterior.
Nothing speaks more to pride of ownership than the exterior appearance or “curb appeal” of a home. And curb appeal goes well beyond the borders of the lot on which a home is situated. Nice communities are composed of good neighborhoods, and good neighborhoods are built from well-cared-for homes.
The hard work also will pay big dividends when it comes to home value. Real estate professionals agree that all else being equal, a well-maintained home with good curb appeal will sell faster and command more money than one that is starving for attention.
Curb appeal doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. And many home improvements are do-it-yourself projects. What’s more, unlike a bathroom makeover that requires everything to be done at once, an exterior “facelift” can be “phased” or performed in steps to coincide with your budget and schedule.
The biggest challenge that most people deal with when it comes to a facelift is where to begin. The answer is simple: First, tackle the projects that will improve safety, protect your investment and improve energy efficiency.
For example, an element that will have a significant impact on the appearance of your home is the roof. Replacing an old, worn-out three-tab shingle roof with an architectural grade laminated roof can make have a tremendous impact on a home’s appearance. Plus, replacing a leaking roof can prevent water damage and rot that could threaten the safety and integrity of the home.
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders to improve the appearance of a home. The right combination of colors can dramatically transform a home by accenting certain elements such as shutters, the entry door, trim or other architectural elements. Good preparation that includes caulking joints and trim, filling gaps with foam, and priming raw material will prevent rot and preserve the exterior cladding.
Where the exterior cladding has been neglected and is too far gone, new siding presents the opportunity to tweak the architectural appearance, add insulation and install a more maintenance-free finish such as vinyl, fiber-cement or a composite material.
Whether you will be installing new siding or just sprucing up with a fresh coat of paint, trim can go a long way in contributing to a successful facelift. For example, trim around windows and doors, window shutters or shingle mold at barge rafters are subtle elements of that “much needed” touch that may have been missing. Add a contrasting color to accentuate the new architectural elements.
Stone and brick are other marvelous means of sprucing up the appearance of a home. An otherwise monolithic appearance of stucco or siding can be dressed up quite nicely with stone or brick wainscoting, pillar masonry, decorative columns or other tasteful applications that bring life to the home’s exterior appearance.
Lighting is an essential part of any facelift plan because it offers a host of benefits. Aside from being a decorative element, lighting can improve safety and security. A well-lit path can prevent a nasty fall and an amply lit porch can discourage an unwelcome intruder. Motion detection lighting and low-voltage landscape lighting are energy-efficient upgrades that will save money in addition to improving the safety, security and appearance of your home.
A new entry door can also do wonders to improve the curb appeal of a home. Add decorative glass, one or more sidelights with decorative glass, a decorative glass transom, energy-efficient and maintenance-free fiberglass construction and a new decorative lockset.
A garage door can account for up to 40 percent of the exterior appearance of your home. If your garage door is one of the old one-piece tilt-up style doors or if it is a “sagging sectional,” consider replacing it with a new sectional door constructed of steel or fiberglass. Be certain to select a panel style that is compatible with the architecture of your home.
Paths, porches and driveways can speak volumes about a home’s appearance. If your entry path, porch or driveway is cracked, discolored or otherwise unsightly, there are several “fixes” that you can consider.
Concrete that is in reasonably good shape can be patched. Fill cracks with a self-leveling concrete caulk or a vinyl concrete patch. Blotchy concrete can be stained using a penetrating concrete stain or acid stained for a more durable and decorative finish. Paint is another alternative finish that is especially popular for a concrete porch, but less durable for paths or driveways.
A popular alternative for distressed concrete finishes are architectural coatings that consist of polymers that offer a “stamped” finish in a host of colors that can transform virtually any concrete finish into a thing of beauty. Cracks in asphalt should be patched using an asphalt caulk. Preserve asphalt and improve its appearance by periodically applying an emulsified asphalt coating to seal the asphalt and prevent water intrusion.
Finally, when it comes to curb appeal, not enough can be said about the importance of a well manicured yard. There is no substitute for neatly mowed and edged turf, nicely pruned shrubs and trees and pockets of seasonal color.
For more home improvement tips and information from James and Morris Carey, visit their Web site at www.onthehouse.com or call 800-737-2474 Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 8 a.m. every Saturday.
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