So you live in an older home and in an established neighborhood.
You might be noticing that your neighbors are making improvements on their home and leaving your home looking rather dated. This article is going to discuss the siding of your home and the many options you have some issues you need to consider as you prepare to make a sizeable yet beautiful investment in your home.
1. Analyze your neighborhood
and watch what the neighbors are doing. You have plenty of latitude with what you can do, but you don’t want to be too showy or use the wrong materials or the wrong colors. You might love the look of a log cabin, but if your neighborhood is mostly brick and siding, adding log siding might not offer a great look or help at resale.
2. Get ideas and create an Ideabook
of what you like. Hopefully, you will see a similar pattern of what you prefer. Maybe you keep coming back to deeper and rich colors of siding and contrasting trim, maybe you want to add some columns, or create some peaks by changing the roof line. We have found an outstanding website called Houzz with so many pictures of homes from the interior to the exterior. Then share these ideas with your contractor.
3. Define your budget
This will allow you to comfortably decide what materials you can afford. You will need to make sure you allow for all those little extras that pop up. Did you remember permit fees, expenses for new light fixtures, will you need additional contractors to assist with things like, plumbing, electric or carpentry. And unfortunately, you might get some surprises when removing the old siding.
4. Know your options
Some homes have Dryvit with mold and water problems. The Dryvit can be removed and many homeowners are replacing the Dryvit with stucco to keep the same appearance or maybe a cement fiberboard siding and adding stone or brick accents. Dated brick makes a great surface if you like the look of stone. Manufactured stone veneer can be applied directly over the unpainted brick. Painted brick can be covered too but requires a couple of extra steps. Stucco can also be applied directly over the brick and decorative banding can be added around the doors and windows. There are many siding options that can also be explored with different price point options, colors and textures.
5. Look at the big picture
As you consider changing the appearance of your home with a new siding look, make sure you look at other factors that might affect the appearance of your home. Will you need a new roof, front door or windows? You will want to coordinate these projects to sequence them in the best order so you don’t redo some work and you also coordinate the colors and textures of the materials.
6. Get to know your contractor
These are challenging times for homeowners’ and contractors a like. The homeowner needs to check references, look at examples of previous jobs, and check the BBB for issues. Some homeowners like to use Angie’s List, which rates contractors in your area. Not all contractors are members of Angie’ List. Buying a project strictly on price will almost always assure short cuts are taken and an inferior job. Sometimes we need to be reminded you get way you pay for.
The home make over is fun and very rewarding. You will enjoy the home now and improve the value of your home and make it more sellable when that time comes.
