There are many reasons you might want to improve the outside of your home. Maybe you are looking to improve the value before you sell it, perhaps you just want it to stand out from the other homes around you, or maybe you’re just tired of the way it looks. Whatever the reason, if you want to change the outside of your home, here are 6 great ways you can get started.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
A new paint color is a great way to give your home a new look without changing too much. If it’s been a while since your home was painted, the current paint could be faded or chipped. Painting it an entirely new color, or even just giving it a fresh coat of paint of the same color, can make a big difference. To do this, you’ll have to find a paint that works on the type of material you have on the exterior of your home. If you’re not comfortable climbing up on ladders or doing the job yourself, you’ll want to hire a local exterior painting company.
A New Roof
Replacing the roof of your home has a number of benefits, the first of which is improving the look of your exterior. Old roofs can give your home a worn-down look and make your home look worse, no matter what else you do on the outside. Beyond that, replacing the roof can make your home safer by protecting you from leaks and being stronger against falling debris. Finally, newer roofs are better at regulating the temperature within your home, which will help you to save money on energy costs.
Most roofs are built to last for a few decades, so see how old your current roof is, then decide if it’s time for an upgrade. If it is, contact a local roofing company for a quote on how much it will cost to replace your roof.
Fix the Driveway and Sidewalk
Over time, sidewalks and driveways can become faded and cracked. This happens naturally, as sunlight fades the color and the ground underneath shifts. It happens so slowly that you may not even notice it. But if you take a close look at your sidewalk and driveway, and notice it could use some repairs, this is a great way to improve the outside of your home. Adding some fresh tar to your driveway can make a big difference, especially if you have an issue with puddles. The same goes for your sidewalk, where installing new tiles can improve the appearance and help with drainage.
Landscaping
A major way to improve the exterior of your home is through landscaping. Landscaping encompasses your lawn, your trees, and any other plants you have around the yard. It can also include the shape of the yard itself. One way to shape it and add a way to walk through your landscape is by creating a sidewalk. You can hire a company like Richfield Concrete to come out and look at your project to give you an estimate and even help you plan it if needed. Simple landscaping tasks can go a long way or you can go with a complete overhaul. For example, you could plant some colorful bushes in your front yard or flatten out the large hill in your backyard. Look at these great landscaping ideas for some inspiration as to what you can do with your yard.
Outdoor Lights
Lighting is a simple way to improve the appearance of your home at night. Adding a few solar-powered lights to your walkway can make it easier to see where you’re going at night and illuminate your home from the street. You can also do larger projects, like adding a lamp post or putting floodlights in your yard. Think about where you could use some light outside at night, then find an option that would not only provide this light but look great at the same time.
Extra Amenities
Finally, look to add some extra amenities to your yard. For instance, a patio improves the appearance of any yard and it’s a great place to spend time outdoors. Another option is adding in a fire pit, where you can sit around outside when the weather turns chilly. The last option is to add a pond to your yard, which not only improves the appearance but if you add a fountain to it, can add the sound of running water to your yard.
Focusing on the Exterior
When trying to improve our homes, we often spend too much time focusing on the interior. The next time you are looking for a home improvement project to complete, see what you could do on the exterior of your home. A few small projects will not only make your home a more appealing place from the outside, but it can even raise the home’s value when it comes time to sell.