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20 Ideas for Your Next Exterior Home Remodeling and Renovation Project

The exterior of your home plays a very important part of your home’s value. A well-maintained and updated exterior not only increases the value of a home but also dictates a home’s style. The appearance of your home’s exterior not only affects its own worth but the worth of your neighbors’ homes, as well.
When a remodel or renovation is being done to the exterior of a home, the style and architecture of the home should influence the updates being made. For example, steel features would be perfect for modern homes with sleek structures, but probably wouldn’t look right on a Victorian style home. Keep your renovations in line with the true essence of the home.

Ideas for Your Next Exterior Home Remodeling and Renovation Project - Above and Beyond Roofing and Construction

We’ve compiled a list of 20 different exterior remodeling and renovation ideas to help you gain some inspiration. These renovation ideas will improve not only the appearance of your home but its functionality, as well.

Now, let’s get started!

1. Siding

There are many siding options available in today’s market. Some of the more popular styles include wood, metal, vinyl, and fiber cement. Each offers its own advantages and disadvantages.

Wood siding is typically found on historic homes. It requires an exterior finish, such as a paint or stain. Wood siding can be damaged by sun exposure, rot, or insects.

Many siding options are available in today’s market. Some of the more popular styles include wood, metal, vinyl, and fiber cement.

Metal siding comes in a broad range of styles and can be installed vertically or horizontally. It is a durable material, but is prone to denting.
Vinyl is one of the most popular choices. It is relatively affordable and comes in an array of colors, styles, and textures. It is very low-maintenance, but can warp or buckle.

Fiber cement siding is one of the most recent developments in siding. It is made from recyclable materials and is also incredibly durable and low-maintenance. However, the cost is higher than other types of siding.

Your final choice should be made based on your budget, the amount of maintenance you are willing to put in, and the architectural style of your home.

2. A Fresh Coat of Paint

You should never underestimate the power of a new coat of paint! Peeling and cracked paint immediately ages a home. A fresh coat of paint or stain can easily transform a shabby old house into a clean and inviting one.

When choosing a new color, try to pick one that also complements the other homes in your neighborhood. If the majority of the houses in your neighborhood are bright and cheery, you probably shouldn’t paint yours a dark brown.

You should also make sure to pair the color to the architectural style of the home. For example, Victorian houses are typically painted a slightly darker shade with lighter-colored trim and decorative accents to help balance it all out.

3. Add a Pop of Color

Along with freshening up your home with a new coat of paint, add some pops of color to the accents of the house. Paint your door a bright color to draw attention to the entrance of the house. You could even paint the shutters a beautifully contrasted color to add even more dimension to your home’s appearance. Also consider painting features such as trim, gutters, or other decorative accents. Try to only use color in small doses so as to not overwhelm the eye.

4. Replace the Roof

Roofs are not only vital to the functionality and security of your home but also lend a hand to its overall design. Most homeowners only replace their roof when it has suffered a noticeable amount of damage due to the elements or other natural disasters. However, if it within budget and could use a little TLC anyways, consider updating your roof with something a little more stylish.

While asphalt roofs are a popular choice, they don’t carry unique design qualities as compared to other types of roofing. Architectural shingles add dimension that asphalt roofing does not, and are also designed to help reflect UV rays. For contemporary homes, standing seam or metal roofs are a great option. Tile roofing is a perfect option for older homes; available in many different styles and shapes.

5. Extend or Add a Porch

Porches are often listed as one addition most people would like to see on a home; making a beautifully updated porch a great selling point. Plus, just imagine how lovely it would be to have a spacious, open area to enjoy a morning cup of coffee while taking in some fresh air.
With extended porches, you’ll have the ability to include options such as fire pits, fans, and large seating areas for all of your family and friends to enjoy.

6. Incorporate Different Textures

Texture is an important element when it comes to design. It creates dimension and adds visual interest. A great way to incorporate texture is through the use of brick or stone skirting or accent walls, or even adding wood shingles to a portion of the home. For modern homes, add corrugated metal panels, architectural panels, or even stucco.

7. Add or Update Shutters

Colonial, Victorian, and Farmhouse style homes are just a few of the many that typically incorporate shutters into their design. For those homes that already have shutters, think about updating them with functioning ones, or painting them a bold color to really make them pop.

If your home does not currently have shutters, look for a style that will complement your home’s architecture. For example, if your home is more on the contemporary side and you’re not sure if shutters would go with the style, look for one of the many available options that feature a more modern and sleek design.

8. Enlarge Windows

Windows are often considered the eyes of the home. If you have too few or too small of windows, it can tend to make your home look unbalanced. By adding or enlarging the windows, it will transform not only the exterior appearance, but will make a huge difference to the design of the interior, as well. Large windows will bring in so much more natural light – something every homeowner craves! Adding bay or picture windows are the perfect way to add even more dimension to the appearance of your home.

9. Improve Landscaping

Clean, uncluttered landscaping can bring so much life to a home’s curb appeal. Plant flowers, bushes, or shrubs alongside your walkway to help guide your guests to your door. You can even use shrubs or plants to help disguise any unsightly areas of your home’s exterior. Landscaping is also a fantastic way to include color into your exterior’s design scheme.

10. Update Exterior Lighting

Install sconces, overhead lights, solar pathway lights, or floodlights as part of your updated lighting scheme. Upgraded lighting will not only make it easier for you and your guests to navigate around the exterior of your home at night but will also help to increase security by deterring would-be intruders from attempting to break in.

If your home has large soffits or overhangs, installation of discreet lighting would also be a beautiful addition to your renovation.

11. Improve the Driveway

Don’t overlook a deteriorating driveway. Improve your driveway by giving it a little facelift, even if it’s as unassuming as replacing cracked concrete. But, if you want to spice things up a bit more, make your driveway more decorative by adding stamped concrete pavers or bricks to make a bold statement.

12. Replace Garage Doors

A garage door can add quite a bit of character to a home, so it’s important not to neglect it – especially if it faces the main street. Replace your garage doors with something more decorative, such as carved doors, carriage style doors, wrought iron doors, and so much more!

13. Enhance the Entryway

A growing trend in exterior renovation is updating a home’s entryway. Extending or widening the awning or front steps of a home creates a drastic change in appearance, making the entrance look much more “grand”. Add railings, columns, or beams to really take it to the next level.

Another integral part of the entryway is the front door. You could either replace the front door entirely with something much flashier, or you could install glass inserts on either side of your door. Heck, you could even do both!

14. Update the Walkway

Impress guests walking up to your door by creating a beautiful walkway. There are several options you have in order to achieve this.

If your current walkway is relatively narrow, widen it. Replace outdated materials with new pavers or concrete. Choose from stamped pavers, bricks, or intricate stones for visually interesting characteristics. Line the walkway with lovely flowers or shrubs as well as lighting to help guide your guests to and from your home. You can even add in a bench alongside the path for both decoration and practicality!

15. Spruce Up the Chimney

Does your home have a chimney? If so, is it capped off for protection from small animals and the elements? Chimney caps not only provide functionality, but they can add visual interest to the roof of your home. Try a decorative cap made from stone, metal, or even wrought iron to spruce up a typically boring and overlooked feature of a home.

16. Replace Guttering

Gutters that are durable and intact are crucial to preventing damage to your home due to the elements. Experts say gutters should be replaced, on average, once every 20 years. This is also assumed that the guttering system has been well maintained during that timeframe.

How do you know when it’s time to replace? Walk around your home, preferably after a rain, and look for any spots where water seems to be leaking or for sitting water. If you also notice any cracks or splits, peeling paint, areas of rust, or water damage around the gutters, it’s probably time for some new ones.

When replacing your guttering system, consider installing gutter guards, which will help prevent dirt, leaves, and other items from getting into and clogging up the system.

17. Add a Deck

Relaxing, welcoming, and comfortable rooms shouldn’t be confined just to the inside of a home. A deck is the perfect way to extend the life of your home to the outdoors. Extend or upgrade your existing deck with more durable materials, like composite decking.

A well-designed deck should provide plenty of seating areas and space for you and your guests to move around and enjoy one another’s company. Creating this outdoor living space will also give you an opportunity to enjoy that newly landscaped yard!

18. Install Egress Windows

Egress windows are crucial to the safety of your family and any guests that may be staying at your home. Building codes now require that all habitable rooms are required to have an egress window. These are especially important to have in basement bedrooms. An egress window allows inhabitants to safely exit the room in case of an emergency, such as a fire.

Most newer homes should (hopefully) already meet these requirements, while older homes probably won’t. If that is the case, you may want to replace any windows in bedrooms with ones that meet the safety requirements.

Egress windows don’t just provide safety benefits. They are also a great source of providing additional natural light and better ventilation.

19. Add or Upgrade Fencing

Fencing is a highly sought out feature for home buyers, especially for homes in suburban areas. Not only do fences help to keep your children and pets safe – while also keeping other animals out – but they also add instant curb appeal.

With the many types of fencing available on the market today, it’s easy to find an option that adds style to your home. Decorative wood fencing or beautiful wrought iron are just a couple of the impressive options you could choose from to construct a statement-making trait to the exterior of your home.

20. Decorative Accents

Finally, incorporate some smaller, more discreet decorative accents into your design. Decorative brackets, moldings and mantels, gable vents, and trim are just a few of the many additional decorative accents you could add to the renovation of your home’s exterior.

Exterior Renovation in the Wichita, Kansas Area

They say there’s always room for improvement, so why not give some of these ideas a try?

Our Above and Beyond Roofing and Construction team will help you brainstorm ideas to come up with the perfect exterior renovation! Whether you choose to implement just one or several of the ideas we’ve provided here, the Above and Beyond team is available to help guide you in choosing styles that will work together in order to create a cohesive feel.

If you’re in the Wichita, Kansas and surrounding areas and have been inspired by any of these potential exterior upgrades, give Above and Beyond Roofing and Construction a call (316) 719-2819 today!