Exterior Home Renovation – Ideas for Outdoor Spaces and Home Exteriors

Exterior home renovation can enhance the curb appeal of your home and provide an attractive outdoor living space for your family. Here are several ideas for improving the livability and appearance of your home’s exterior.

Siding Replacement

You may want to replace your external siding for maintenance purposes or aesthetics reasons, but it is also a great way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. James Hardie fiber cement siding products are beautiful and durable, engineered for your local climate and are rated as the #1 Return on Investment by Remodeling magazine’s “2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report”. James Hardie’s ColorPlus process applies a baked-on coating in a wide range of colors that is guaranteed not to chip, crack or peel for 15 years.

Other sustainable options are CertainTeed’s Cedar Impressions Shakes and CedarBoards Insulated and WeatherBoards Fiber Cement siding. All products are NAHB Green Approved and come in a range of finishes and colors.

Garage Makeovers

Finish your garage to expand your living space. You can still share the space with your car. Install a stained concrete floor or use a polyurea coating or put down polypropylene floor tiles on top of the concrete. Use wall shelving, hooks or pegboard systems for storage. Freestanding shelving units can double as dividers to segment off a workspace or play area. Installing a new energy-efficient steel garage door will allow you to use your new space year-round.

Affordable Deck Updates

Create a container garden by adding plants to urns and planters. Add a bistro set or outdoor furniture with fade- and stain-resistant cushions along with an outdoor area rug to create an outdoor living area. Use freestanding folding privacy screens to make your space an intimate retreat. Create a cozy entertainment center by adding a heater or fire pit along with a gas grill for outdoor cooking. Install solar post caps to extend your time outdoors during the evening.

Sunrooms

Due to the development of new amenities, sunrooms are becoming popular again as an exterior home renovation project. Sunrooms have evolved beyond glassed-in decks and porches into four-season rooms for relaxation and entertainment with features such as sliding doors and skylights. They  allow you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors year-round regardless of the weather.

Concrete Patio Upgrade

Is your concrete patio showing wear and tear? You can lay cobblestone directly over the surface and dress it up by including a planting bed along one edge. This can be easily done as a DIY weekend project.

Replacement Windows and Doors

Replacement of your windows and doors with energy-efficient alternatives is an exterior home renovation that will definitely save you energy and money in the long run. Energy-efficient windows and doors can save as much as 20% on tour monthly heating and cooling bills. While it is a considerable investment, you can recoup your purchase and installation costs within 7 years. While you can repair or your windows and doors, the cost of repair can be nearly as much as that of replacement, plus there is no tax credit for repair materials and tools.