External Home Improvement Projects Which Bring Life Back Into Your Home : Everyone knows that redoing the interior of your house is one way to make an impact on the property’s value. However, many focus on the inside of the residence and forget that the exterior is the first thing guests will see. If you want to make your residence pop, you can implement several exterior home improvement projects.
Paint and Siding
If you really want to breathe new life into your house, you should start by looking at the walls. Chipped and peeling paint can give a negative impression to your visitors. You can freshen up the exterior by repainting the surface. Every 400 square feet of surface requires one gallon of paint.
If you do not want the hassle of repainting, you might consider siding. Unlike paint, siding has the ability to withstand heat, cold, and moisture. Additionally, this surface can withstand wind speeds of up to 200 mph. Siding has the added benefit of not needing to be painted, only to be cleaned annually with mild soap and water.
Siding has the added benefit of being more diverse than paint. Instead of just making your home a certain color, you can change the look by adding a stone, slate, or wood façade.
Gutters
Another great home improvement project for the outside of your house is adding gutters. Guttering can help to accent your residence by matching your accent colors. In addition, they serve a greater purpose, funneling water away from your property’s foundation. This can help keep your house from settling prematurely and causing you to require piers in order to address the issue.
You must maintain your gutters by periodically clearing out debris. Even the so-called maintenance-free options require inspection every few months to ensure there is nothing trapped, which could cause a blockage. Unmaintained gutters could pose problems to your roof by causing water to backup under the shingles.
Windows/Doors
Updating your windows and doors can also breathe new life into your home. Worn out doors and windows can make your house look older than it is. Older doors and windows are not energy efficient and could allow cold and heat to escape, costing you more money to cool and heat each month.
A professional installer should come to measure your openings prior to purchase and then again prior to installation. This ensures that the doors and windows installed are the correct size and that there are no gaps.
Roofing
Worn out or missing shingles make your home look like it is in disrepair. Additionally, you run the risk of damage to the plywood underneath from exposure to the elements. You can prevent this damage by replacing the shingles and felt before you notice any sagging in the roof or leaks inside your house. With the exception of storm damage, you should replace your roof every 20 to 25 years.
Home improvement projects make your home look great and help your house show better and sell quicker when it comes time to put the property on the market.