Home Exterior Improvement Part 1: Clean Up Your Yard
Home Exterior Improvement Part 2: Small Things
Home Exterior Improvement Part 3: Doors and Windows
Home Exterior Improvement Part 4: Garage Doors
Updating your doors and windows is a task which can bring you number of benefits. Whether you choose to completely replace your doors and windows or just freshen them up, you will immediately give your home’s exterior a noticeable facelift. Let’s look at a few ways you can go about this upgrade.
Replacement
Replacing your doors and windows can dramatically alter the look of your home. You can incorporate a new style which begins to alter the entire style of your home. Studies have shown that replacing your front door increases the value of your home by five times the cost of the new door. That’s a good investment!
Front Door
When replacing your front door, one idea to consider is to increase the size of the opening and add windows around the top and sides of the door, not just simply swap a new door for an old. This stylish update increases the perceived splendour of what was formerly a simple, functional opening.
Windows
Do the words draft, mold and rot give you stress and nightmares? New windows will drastically improve the thermal and visual qualities of your home’s interior while giving the exterior a big boost of energy and style. If your old windows are really, well, old…then you may want to consider the best practice method of replacement which is called “brick-to-brick.” This fully replaces your frames and windows, and gives you the best visual and functional upgrade.
Replacing your doors and windows is not something for the faint of heart. It’s a job that needs to be completed quickly and accurately and usually, hiring a professional will provide peace of mind, with fewer surprises and stress.
Freshen up Existing Doors and Windows
If your existing doors and windows are in reasonably good shape and can be painted, then a low-cost solution is to freshen them up yourself.
Front Door
If your front door does a reasonable job of keeping the cold out and it is still mechanically in good shape, painting it will give you immediate bang for your buck. As we mentioned in a previous article, new trim is a bit more work but will also be a great update. Adding an accessory to your door, such as a wreath or new knocker, will give it a lovely new look.
Here is a tutorial on painting your front door
Windows
If you have windows that have good thermal qualities (double glazed) and are still in good condition, you can re-finish the frames, which will immediately improve their look as well as extending their life. Don’t forget to inspect the seal and hardware and take time to prep the frame, inside and out, before you paint.
Here is a window refinishing tutorial for you to read.
Don’t let budget stop you from making a huge improvement to the look (and lifespan) of your doors and windows. You can paint them for a very negligible cost and enjoy the fruit of your own labour. Alternatively, if you want to dive in and upgrade both the function and make a dramatic visual update of your doors and windows, then replacing them is a more pricey, yet wise investment.
