Are you living in an older house and looking to bring your home into the 21st century? There’s no need to build a new house if you’re just looking for a new look. You can upgrade your older house with an exterior renovation to modernize your home. Here are the top 8 renovation ideas that will give you a modern look.
1. Put a Fresh Coat of Paint on Your Siding or Trim
A simple way to breathe new life into your home is a simple coat of paint on your siding. Even if your current paint is in good condition, simply updating an outdated color scheme is a fantastic way to modernize your home. You’re not limited to painting your siding, too. You could repaint your trim with a nice accent color to make your home pop.
Working with a professional painter will ensure that your home is painted properly and safely with the right equipment and materials. If you have the experience and tools to paint your house yourself, be sure to buy a quality exterior paint, as interior paints will not work.
2. Replace Your Old Shingles
Your roof is another place to look when deciding to modernize your home. The shingles on your roof last anywhere from 12 to 30 years, depending on the type. Your roof will get damaged over the decades and those weathered down shingles will fall out of style, too, making this renovation a win-win.
Roofing contractors in your area will have a variety of modern roofing materials to choose from. We at E&E contracting install asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, standing seam, or engineered slate.
3. Add Stone Veneer
An excellent option to modernize your home’s siding, aside from fresh paint, is stone veneer. Stone veneer is a decorative stone siding not meant to bear weight but will replace your typical vinyl siding or stucco. This decorative stone can replace the whole side of your house or just a section, like your entrance, to give a nice accent.
There are two types of stone veneer to pick for your home, natural stone and engineered stone. Natural stone comes from a quarry, has natural color that doesn’t fade, and is extremely durable. They do come at a higher price, however. The inexpensive engineered stone is made from aggregate and cement, giving you a consistent, easy-to-maintain look. They come in a variety of colors to match your style.
4. Replace Windows and Shutters
Replacing your windows is an excellent choice to upgrade the look of your home and they should be replaced every 15-30 years, anyway. You can take this time to enlarge your windows, letting in more light and updating the look of your exterior. Another option is to update your windows’ crown molding to a more modern look.
Related to your windows, your shutters also strongly impact the look of your home. Most homes are built with generic, unattractive shutters which are fixed and non-functional. Replace them with modern, functional shutters and it’ll look like a whole new house! You can even try going with a bold color to really make your home stand out.
5. Upgrade your driveway or walkway
You might not think to look down, but your driveway and walkway really do impact the overall look of your home. You could look to simply expand your existing driveway to include another parking spot or basketball court. You could replace the generic asphalt or concrete with pavers, brickwork, or a stamped concrete to give your walkway or driveway a unique, modern look. You can also take this time to build walkways to new parts of your property, like your garden, pool, or detached garage.
6. Add Exterior Lighting
With all the work you do updating and upkeeping your home, you’ll want people to see it at all times of the day. Investing in some modern exterior lighting helps to upgrade the look of your home and make it visible at night. You’ll also be helping guests navigate your property at night. You can simply replace your outdated fixtures with new ones or add more lights to new areas, such as entryways, patios, garage doors, or lining your driveway and paths.
7. Replace Your Garage Door
Your garage door is another area that can easily become outdated over the decades, and should be replaced about every 30 years, anyway. Consider replacing your generic garage door with a modern, decorative door, like a carriage style or other contemporary style. Garage doors are yet another place to add a pop of color, too!
8. Replace Your Front Door
Your front door gives your house so much character; consider upgrading your door to give that character a much needed face lift. Your new door can come in a variety of styles and materials, from wood to steel, aluminum, or fiberglass. Frosted glass windows can let in light while maintaining privacy. You could even expand your existing door frame to include a sidelight or two, allowing you to see who’s ringing the doorbell before answering.
If you’re looking for extensive remodeling, contact an experienced contractor to assist in your decision process. We’ll help you navigate the various options available to modernize your home. Contact E&E Contracting today.