Do you like the look of a well-trimmed house? Trim work can be one of the most exciting finishing touches on your home exterior. It can add style and balance to the look of your house, and it can give your house an instant update and make it look new.

In addition, exterior trim work can provide extra protection for your roof against moisture and wind.

Read on to find out about all the exciting exterior trim options!

Wood Trim

From fancy hand-milled work you can still find on Victorian-style homes to rustic cedar, wood is the most popular choice for exterior house trim and has been for many years.

The options for exterior wood trim include solid wood and composite wood.

Many people love wood trim for its warmth and beauty, and because real hardwood can be very durable. Quality wood products aren’t as easy to find, however.

Decorative wooden pieces, especially, must be handmade and are therefore more expensive.

The other thing about wood is that it is vulnerable to rot and insect damage. Of course, some wood trim lasts more than 100 years – as you can see in old houses.

However, it is likely to need replacement and repair more than the other materials on the market.

Polymer Trim

Unlike wood, polymer trim pieces are made using molds. Polypropylene resin is injected into pre-made molds of any shape and size, and the resulting parts are put together in construction.

Polymer trim is easy to install, and it can be painted. But, it’s more subject to temperature changes than other materials.

Like other synthetic materials, polymer trim will expand and contract with heat and cold. In addition, it’s more expensive than wood and some of the other choices.

PVC Trim Work

Like polymer, cellular PVC is molded, but this time from polyvinyl chloride. You might be familiar with the hard PVC pipes used routinely for many plumbing applications.

PVC is easy to install with standard tools, and the technology has improved over the years to make it more durable and less problematic with drastic temperature changes, especially in the heat.

However, it is still not suitable for areas with extreme temperature changes due to expansion and contractions. PVC is also more expensive than some other options.

Fiber Cement Trim Work

Fiber cement trim is one of the most versatile and stable options on the market. It costs slightly more than wood, but much less than the plastic options above.

Fiber cement won’t burn, rot, or dent. In addition, it doesn’t attract insects and doesn’t have the same problems with expansion and contraction.

Fiber-cement trim comes primed or prefinished and can be painted. All of these pluses make this one of the best choices for trim work on your home exterior.

Bringing it Home

Before you make your decision, be sure to review your budget, consider your climate, and look at all of the colors and styles available in the different material choices.

While wood is beautiful and warm, it’s not always the best choice for everyone.

More and more builders are using manufactured products because they work well, and they fit the budget.

With all of the color and style choices on the market, you are sure to find a winning combination.

If we can do anything to help you replace or repair your exterior trim and you are located in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We’re honored to help!

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Are you looking for a clean, new look for your home’s brick exterior? Have you considered the whitewash technique that uses latex paint?

Today we are going to wrap up our series on exterior brick and how you can change the look and feel of your house.

Previously, we covered the pros and cons of painting your home’s brick exterior. We also looked at the pros and cons of two popular treatments for brick that don’t use paint: German smear (or mortar wash), and limewash.

There is a third option that is slightly different from a paint job. It yields the same or similar look as a mortar wash or limewash treatment on your brick exterior walls or fireplace.

However, it is an inferior option to limewash, even though sometimes the terms are used synonymously.

In this article, we will differentiate between a whitewash effect using limewash and using diluted latex paint.

Limewash vs. Whitewash

Limewash is different from latex paint. You can make your own limewash paint using hydrated lime putty and water – enough for a whole house for under $50 at the most.

Limewash is basically minerals painted on your wall. It is excellent for brick or anything else porous as the material will soak up the limewash. Not so with whitewash.

Whitewash is diluted latex paint, so it will sit on top of the surface on which you paint it.

Since it’s diluted, it’s a lot less likely to chip and peel the way a thick layer of latex paint will do on a brick exterior.

Still, it’s just as much work as limewash and more expensive for a large area, so this is not the way to give your exterior brick siding a refresh.

You can get the same look versatility by using limewash.

Whitewashing Your Brick

Whether you are using lime paint or diluted latex, the method is basically the same. The first step for whitewashed brick is to clean it very thoroughly first. You can use one of several ways.

According to Bob Vila, these methods are listed from mildest to harshest:

Dish soap

Mix one part dish soap and one part salt with enough water to make a paste. Scrub this mixture into the brick and let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse.

Boric acid

One tablespoon of boric acid powder and one gallon of warm water can be used to scrub the brick. Make sure you use rubber gloves!

Ammonia

Spread one part ammonia, two parts dish soap, and one part pumice powder onto brick with a clean rag. Next, let the ammonia sit for 10 minutes and rinse.

Trisodium phosphate

One-half cup of TSP in a gallon of hot water can be used to scrub brick with a brush. You must wear gloves and eyewear and use extreme caution – this is highly caustic.

After you wash the brick thoroughly, remove any peeling paint, and protect your other surfaces, use a 50/50 mixture of white latex paint and water and brush the surface of your brick with a masonry brush or dab with a rag.

It works best to work in small sections, as the paint dries quickly. You can use a mister to keep it from drying. However, you will want to wipe as you go if you want a partially exposed look.

Likewise, if you use clear diluting solution rather than water, it will extend the drying time, so you don’t have to rush.

Pros and Cons of Using Latex Paint to Whitewash Brick

Whitewash with latex paint is great for small projects, such as an indoor fireplace you want to be updated. It can give a uniform brightening effect without sacrificing the natural texture of the brick.

You can even whitewash wood without losing the grain. It is an excellent way to use any leftover paint you may have for a small, indoor project.

However, it wouldn’t be ideal for a large brick exterior area because whitewash is more expensive than limewash. Additionally, it doesn’t soak into the brick in quite the same way.

Whitewash is just as labor-intensive as limewash and looks the same. In fact, you can apply limewash in several layers to make it look just like it would if you had used undiluted paint.

Bringing it Home

Are you inspired you to try one of these treatments on your dated brick exterior?

They are all DIY friendly and can result in a whole new look for your house.

However, they are all labor-intensive and need a little practice to get comfortable doing.

Whatever you choose, if you have any questions about a new home exterior, please don’t hesitate to give us a call! We would be glad to be of service.

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*Photo credit Infarrantly Creative. Used with permission.

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Do you have visibly aging brick? Are you considering a new exterior on your brick home, but not sure how to change the color or appearance of your brick?

Although brick is one of the oldest and most stable building materials, it doesn’t always age well.

Bricks that are chipped or worn around the edges aren’t the look everyone is going for. There is also the genuine problem of dated brick facades for many homeowners.

How do you give your house an update that doesn’t cost many thousands of dollars in this situation?

In two previous posts, we weighed the pros and cons of painting your brick exterior. We also introduced another technique for brick walls called German Smear, or mortar wash.

Mortar wash is a permanent treatment that changes the texture of your brick exterior, and it’s affordable and DIY friendly.

However, there are two other options you could use to create a similar look to German smear: limewash and whitewash.

So, today, let’s take a close look at limewash: what it is, how great it is for your bricks, and how easy it is to use.

Limewash is Ancient & Eco-Friendly

Limewash has been around for as long as porous building materials like brick and stone. The ancient Egyptians used it on their pyramids.

Limewash is a thin coating with a consistency similar to paint, but it couldn’t be more different.

For one thing, limewash is natural. It is made out of limestone that has been crushed, burned, and made into a putty with water.

The putty is aged, further thinned, and then mixed with natural pigments if a color other than white is desired.

This type of natural paint is a favorite of Belgians and other Europeans for use on their interior stone walls as it is anti-microbial, improves air quality, and is free of solvents that harm the environment.

Limewash creates a chalky, mottled finish that adds depth and beauty to any wall it is applied to.

Historically, limewash has been used only on porous surfaces, because it doesn’t sit on top of the surface, but sinks in.

However, with the right bonding primer, modern limewash paint can be used on your drywall interior walls.

Limewash is Versatile

Limewash is especially helpful for homeowners who dislike the color of their brick, but not necessarily the texture.

Because it will sink in, it doesn’t change the texture of your brick. This is good news for the brick since they need to breathe, and paint isn’t always the best option.

Limewash helps to protect your bricks and mortar from the elements. It comes in a range of earth-tone colors. However, the range is a bit limited.

Since lime is highly alkaline, the pigments have to be able to resist the high alkali. Grays, browns, and taupes are the normal range of colors for limewash paint.

You can also create an antiqued effect similar to mortar wash using limewash paint, simply by wiping the paint off of select bricks as you work.

Limewash is easy to apply with a large masonry brush, and it’s opaque so you can control the depth of color with the number of layers of paint you choose to apply.

In addition, limewash will fade over time, so it needs to be re-applied, but it won’t chip and flake like paint.

Limewash is Inexpensive & DIY Friendly

Just like its companion mortar wash, limewash is one of the cheapest materials you could find to cover your entire home exterior.

You can mix your own limewash using lime putty from hydrated lime. You can find this at a hardware store for $3-$5 for a 50 lb. bag.

Even if you order a bag online, it is less expensive than a bucket of paint at around $40 for a bag. With this much limewash and some supplies, you could coat an entire 1600 square foot house.

Downsides to Limewash

The limited range of colors is one downside, as is limewash’s opacity if you want the job to be done in one step.

The other downside is that it can be tricky to match the consistency of limewash batch to batch if you are mixing your own. This difference can result in a noticeable line on your wall or house.

The best way to solve this problem is to mix more than you think you will need in a large, sturdy garbage can and save the extra with a tarp, and a lid snapped on tight.

Pros of Limewash on Your Brick Exterior

Cons of Limewash on Your Brick Exterior

Bringing it Home

Limewash is one of the oldest and most exciting coatings you can consider for the exterior of your home if you have brick walls you would like to change. It is cost effective and easy to apply and to work with. It can be washed off if you don’t like the effect, and it’s incredibly Eco-friendly.

If you have a house with brick siding that you would like to change, hopefully, this information puts you on the right track toward updating your home the way you’ve always dreamed!

*Photo credit Acme Brick and Romabio. Used with permission.

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Is your home’s brick exterior outdated, dingy, or old? Are you looking for a new look for your home but not sure if you should paint your brick exterior?

We have covered the pros and cons of painting your home’s brick exterior. However, professional masons may discourage you from painting your bricks because they need to breathe, and it’s very difficult – if not impossible – to go back to bare bricks after you paint them.

If your brick exterior needs an update, your options are limited, and many people will go for a new paint job.

Options Other Than Paint

Did you know there are several options for brick siding other than paint?

Mortar wash, also known as German smear, limewash, and whitewash, are all techniques that produce similar effects on a brick exterior.

There are some significant differences. They aren’t all the same material, and they don’t have identical properties.

Today, we will take a look at the German smear technique.

Mortar Wash of German Smear

Mortar wash or German smear is a way of antiquing your brick siding with mortar.

The good news is that it is very cheap and it’s DIY friendly. Also, unlike any of the other options, including paint, it’s permanent. This is a good thing since German smear is also very labor-intensive.

Once you apply a mortar wash to your house, you would have to use muriatic acid to get it off. So, for all intents and purposes, this is permanent.

The Look of German Smear

If you have ever watched the popular HGTV show “Fixer Upper,” you may have seen one or two of the homes transformed by German smear.

This technique is notable for adding an old-world or antique masonry look to your house.

It also lightens the exterior color since the mortar generally comes in white or grey. The large patches of white mortar mimic the irregular joints of an ancient masonry wall.

German smear softens the straight lines of a brick pattern, and it adds a rough texture on top of the bricks, giving your home an entirely new surface.

Since you add a mortar wash by hand, the new texture will have an organic feel to it, just like the bricks in an antique wall.

Basic How-To

Mortar, which is a blend of Portland cement, lime, sand, and water, adheres very well to bricks and other block building material since it’s made for that purpose.

You can buy it pre-mixed, which is ideal as the ratios can be challenging to maintain yourself.

You want a consistent appearance throughout your exterior, and the wrong mix will crumble. An 80 lb. bag of pre-mixed mortar costs about $10, and you’ll need three of these for a 1,000 square foot house.

As a result, you can see how cheaply you can do this yourself.

The hard part is setting aside enough time to get it finished, as it can be quite labor-intensive. To hire a professional mason to apply a German smear could cost many thousands of dollars.

Mortar comes in white or grey. However, color additives are available to widen the range of available colors.

The traditional German smear look is white mortar over red bricks. Since the mortar wash remains pliable for up to 45 minutes after application, you can customize the look and feel of it as you apply by scraping off some of the mortar to let the brick show through.

You can add mortar in any consistency you like and scrape away as much or as little as you want.

Pros of German Smear:

• Change the look and feel of your house to an antique look.
• Inexpensive and an easy DIY project.
• Permanent change with no need to re-apply after several years.

Cons of German Smear:

• Many labor hours to complete.
• Permanent change.

Bringing it Home

If you like an antique style rather than a uniform color and your brick exterior needs updating, you might want to think about using a mortar wash on your dated bricks.

The German smear technique uses inexpensive supplies and takes very little skill to apply. If you have the time or help, this technique might be the answer you’re looking for!

Photos courtesy of Pine Hall Brick. Used with permission

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To paint or not to paint your home’s brick exterior, that is the question. It is at least the one perennial and raging debate you will find on any home renovation blog or show.

Fierce battle lines have been drawn with one side fully in the natural all-brick-all-the-time camp and the other willing to do whatever it takes to cover their bricks.

Do you have your mind set on freshening up your home’s traditional brick exterior? What are your options?

This is when paint comes in handy. It’s affordable, it’s relatively easy and straightforward, and it makes brick as customizable as wood siding. But there are caveats.

Let’s take a look at pros and cons of painting your home’s brick exterior and alternatives.

Before You Paint Your Home’s Brick Exterior

Before you paint brick, you should consider some things.

Alternatives to Painting Brick Exteriors

There are options besides paint that may do the trick.

Clean It

You will have to wash the brick anyway before you paint it, so why not see if cleaning does the trick?

A wire brush, a brick cleaner, and some water coupled with a lot of elbow grease can bring an old brick wall back to life. You might just find yourself eyeing your brick exterior with a new appreciation.

You can enhance this look with a few coats of matte varnish. However, never use high-gloss varnish.

Camouflage It

 Interior brick is easy to cover with artwork. However, it may take a little bit more imagination to do so on your home’s brick exterior.

Would updating your trim work and gutters do the trick? Coupled with a wash and a varnish, new trim may be all you need. Adding some wood elements with a front porch or some corbels would be much cheaper than covering your brick. 

If the trim work doesn’t help, can you use plants to your advantage? Consider window boxes, trellises with climbing plants, and large pots by your front door to soften the effect of all that brick. 

Whitewash It

Whitewashing is just one of several that can yield beautiful results on your home’s brick exterior. It is all cheaper and better for your brick than painting. 

Important Considerations

When All Else Fails

Ultimately, when someone wants their brick painted, they will do it.

Be sure to take into consideration that you may end up having to pay someone anyway if your DIY fails. It is important to consult a brick painting professional before you tackle this project. 

Wait

New brick shouldn’t be painted. It’s too porous, and it needs to weather and for the alkali from the mortar and efflorescence (white spots you sometimes see) to leach out of the new brick. 

Clean

Old paint should be removed first, and the brick should be cleaned thoroughly with brick cleaner or a pressure washer. It needs to dry for 24 hours before the next step

Repair

Any crumbling masonry should be repaired and repointed before painting.

Use the Right Products

Even smooth bricks are not flat, and they need to be sealed before they can be painted.

Count on at least two coats each of sealer and primer before any paint is applied. Each layer will have to dry before the next coat is applied, which takes 4-12 hours. 

Masonry Paint

Use high-quality masonry paint. If it’s humid where you live, you will need a paint that is rated for severe weather if you want it to last. Even then, you will have to repaint your brick at regular intervals. 

Takeaway

When painting your home’s traditional brick exterior, it is important to consider the pros and cons. It is also important to consult with a professional for best results.

If you have any questions and live in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We’re here whenever you need us!

Call Now

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We’ve all seen it: the Smurf blue house in the middle of a block of tan or white houses.

If that is not your house, you immediately wonder how they landed on such a bold color, and why.

Did they paint the whole house before they realized how it would look and then it was too late to go back?

Most of us could avoid making that mistake, even if we live in places where local codes don’t dictate our color choices.

However, let’s face it. It is much easier to make a mistake choosing your home exterior color than it is to choose a color scheme that will make your neighbors say, “Wow, that looks amazing! How did you do that?”

Often, homeowners stay on the safe side with a palette of browns and tans, but some may say that’s boring.

It might take the eye of a professional designer to bring out all that your house has to offer and make it shine. However, here are a few tips to help you get started.

Look at What You Can’t Change

The next time you drive home, look closely at the houses on your block.

Consider how many trees are around your house, and how tall they are. How do they interact with your view of your home?

Look at more permanent architectural elements: roofing shingles, sidewalks, driveways, brick or stone features, and more.

Unless you plan to do a whole renovation, or you are re-roofing your house at the same time, your new house color will need to consider these things.

Is your roof tan or brown, or is it gray or charcoal? A brown roof has warm undertones, but a gray one has cool undertones. Your new color palette should be chosen accordingly.

Take a close look at the other houses on your block. Are they safe beige, tan, and brown?

If so, consider how much you want your home to stand out. Remember: it can stand out in a good way or a bad way.

Maybe you would like to keep to a more neutral palette for the sake of your neighbors, or perhaps you want your house to pop. It’s possible to do both!

Such things as trees, or how far back from the road, your house sits will affect the color as well.

If your house is in deep shade, you might want a brighter color to make it stand out in the shadow.

If your house is close to the street, you might not want something as bold and imposing.

Architectural Style Matters

Many types of houses support a wide variety of color choices. However, some styles look better with the colors meant to go with them.

Do you live in a Queen Anne Victorian? How about an American Foursquare, Colonial, Midcentury Modern Ranch or Cape Cod?

Paint companies offer historically accurate paint palettes many architectural styles, and that’s an excellent place to start.

It’s not always bad to think outside the box for a new color. However, it is also a good way to bring down the value of your home if you get it wrong.

Think of a Palette Rather Than a Color

There is a reason I say palette rather than color, and it’s also the reason it’s often worth the investment to hire a designer.

To make your home pop, you need more than just one new color on every surface.

A home’s exterior has many elements to it:

Often, houses have challenging elements to work around – like a chunky split level or a garage that sticks out.

Basic Design Principles: Best Color for Your Home Exterior

Here are some basic design principles:

Contrast 

Home exteriors often benefit from some sharp contrast in color. Contrast is fashionable right now with the modern influence in design, which is why muted palettes are looking dated.

The contrast could be achieved as easily as having white trim with a grey exterior. However, there is a wrong way to contrast, such as painting your front door, trim, and shutters all the same bright yellow.

Harmonious Whole

A neutral or natural palette can still look contemporary and beautiful. If staying conservative is your thing, look for softer colors and creamier whites to complete this look rather than stark white and black.

Update your tan exterior with a shade between grey and tan, often called “greige.”

Three Parts

Think of your paint job as three separate areas:

The most significant contrast should be between the trim color and one of the other primary colors. If you are opting for a neutral field color and a white trim, it’s okay to go a bit darker for the accent color.

Or let’s say you have a white house or a brick house. Let the trim color frame your home and choose one other color for the front door or shutters.

Bringing it Home

Hopefully, this little guide helped inspire you in your search for the right house color. If you have any questions about new siding, roofing or windows and live in Southeast Michigan, we will be happy to help!

Call Now

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Have you ever thought about changing the style of your house?

The economy is finally booming. The days of ten houses sitting for sale on the same block are gone.

The housing market is doing very well, and the chances are good that you are doing better now, too. Many of us are financially better off than we were during the recession.

Are you starting to think about how you can update your house now that you have more financial freedom?

Is that 1970s split level beginning to bother you, even though you like your neighborhood?

Would you believe it’s possible to change the style of your house entirely? It is! Here are three of the easiest ways.

Easy Ways to Change the Style of Your House

Raise the Roof

Your house’s roofline is one of the leading players determining its style.

Visually, it takes up almost the same space and has the same weight as the body of the house.

If your roof dominates your house and it’s unattractive or worse, in poor repair, it’s likely to make you feel cynical about the outside of your home.

Literally raising the roof, while possible in some cases, may not be in everyone’s budget.

If you don’t need a second story, but you want to add more visual interest to your house, you can change the pitch of your roof.

You can also add elements to your roofline that will dramatically change the style of your home.

A ranch-style home takes on a cottage feel with a steeper slope and deeper eaves. Dormers can give the illusion of a second floor without the expense, and make it into a Cape Cod style.

If you are tired of the flat front of your colonial or split foyer home, the addition of a small front porch works wonders to add charm, depth, and character.

Modernize the Windows

Do you have dated windows? Do they look too small for your house? Or maybe they’re just the wrong style.

Perhaps you want to reclaim the mid-century modern feel of your 1950s ranch and modernize it too.

Swap out the double sash windows for something more horizontal and choose a dark frame that will make your house stand out instead of blending in.

If you have a bigger budget in mind, changing the shape of your window holes is another option. Homes with arched windows have had spurts of popularity, but tend to look dated now.

If you are already planning an exterior renovation, consider making those rectangular instead to bring your house back to a classic look instantly.

Change the Siding

Are you tired of old, worn-out vinyl or aluminum siding? Does your brick color and texture look dated?

The easiest way to make a significant impact is to change the color and finish of your home exterior. You can paint brick or use a German smear technique.

Vinyl and composite siding comes in so many colors, shapes, and finishes today that it’s not a budget killer to update your house’s look.

Bringing it Home

If you think your home exterior is lackluster but you are just not sure how to fix it; or if you’d like to change or update the style of your home, there are style solutions for every budget.

Give us a call if you have any questions! We would be honored to help you find what you are looking for.

Call Today

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Vinyl siding is one of the most popular siding options out there because of its price point, durability, low-maintenance needs, and the full range of color and style choices it provides.

It’s less expensive than similarly styled products like cedar and aluminum. In addition, vinyl siding is much cheaper than brick or stone. If you bought a home that came with wood siding, you aren’t likely to clad it all in brick.

However, you might be tired of painting it every five years.

Vinyl siding isn’t for everyone. Fellow owners of old homes may criticize you for choosing a plastic product.

If you do own an old home in a neighborhood full of old homes and yours is the only one in vinyl, the value of your house could suffer.

However, vinyl siding has dramatically increased in quality over the years. If you want to get a great look for that lower price point, you need to keep a few things in mind.

Here are three tips on what to look for when considering new vinyl siding for your home.

Be Sure Vinyl Siding is Right for Your House

As mentioned above, vinyl siding may not be right for you if you live in a historic district. Even though it may look comparable to the wood siding on the other homes, house hunters may spot it right away should you need to sell your house in the future.

However, vinyl now comes in period styles like the fish scale pattern you see on old homes. If matching your neighbors on an older home isn’t a concern, perhaps vinyl can still meet your house’s style requirements.

Another common concern is that vinyl has been known to fade, yellow, and buckle in the past. Manufacturers have improved their standards quite a bit since vinyl first came out.

Now, there are additives to prevent bleaching or changing color, and since the color is baked into the product, it will never flake off. Concerns with your vinyl siding buckling can be addressed by properly installing the product.

An additional more urgent concern is how vinyl masks leaking in your walls that wood doesn’t mask.

While it might be a pain to have peeling paint on your wood siding, at least this will alert you to the fact that you have a moisture problem.

Not so with vinyl. If you are replacing wood with vinyl, make sure you have a thorough inspection and address any issues with your roof before moving forward.

Choose High-Quality Vinyl Siding

Vinyl comes textured, smooth, horizontal, vertical, fish scale, and in many widths.

One typical finish is a realistic wood grain with a matte finish that mimics rough wood boards. You can find panels that are 8 inches wide, and panels that are made to mimic 3-inch courses or 5-inch courses of siding.

To get a high-quality product, you need to find panels that are up to .045 inches thick, although the minimum standard is only .035 inches.

Anti-weathering protection is a significant factor in the longevity of your siding. Each company has its own ingredient. Be sure to ask about this.

Another issue is what kind of warranty comes with the siding. Be sure to read the fine print. Prorated warranties or warranties that pay less the older the product is are less valuable than full, lifetime warranties. Some companies will only pay to recoat the product rather than replace it.

Choose the Right Contractor

If the top vinyl siding manufacturers offer products that are similar in quality, choosing a contractor who will install it correctly is another story.

The right company will have a lot of experience with correct installation. We know, for instance, that vinyl siding tends to shift with changing temperatures. That is why we have installation techniques to work around this and make sure your siding doesn’t buckle once it’s applied to your house.

Bringing it Home

Vinyl siding can make a positive difference to the look and feel of your house if you need an update or just a new look. Make sure you know what you are choosing:

• That it is a high-quality product.
• That you choose the right contractor for the job.

If your home is located in Southeast Michigan, please give us a call. We would be honored to help with the installation of your home’s new siding.

Call today

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At Renovations Roofing & Remodeling, Inc., we pride ourselves in offering and providing quality home exterior services. With over 20 years of experience, our continued goal is to be number one in service and customer satisfaction.

Our services range from shingles to a whole new roofline; from new windows and new siding, to wood decks, masonry services and repairs. 

That is why we say there are some things you can confidently learn to do yourself as a homeowner. There are also things you shouldn’t try on your own.

Read on to see our list of top home exterior DIY do’s and don’ts.

Home Exterior – Do It Yourself

Maintaining Your Wood Deck

Having a deck is a perk. The summer months don’t feel complete without an outdoor meal every once-in-awhile. A deck makes an excellent place to store your grill.

However, a wood deck is a perk that comes with maintenance. Wood decks need plenty of maintenance over the years. They are prone to:

Fortunately, these fixes are within the skill of an average homeowner.

Maintaining Your Doors

Replacing, fixing or repainting a dated or broken front door is something you can do yourself. Your front door can lose its weatherstripping, sag, stick or become faded over time, and refreshing it is one of the best ways to update the look of your house.

Most homeowners should be able to hang a new door with a partner easily, replace the weatherstripping for drafts, or replace the hardware.

Adding a coat of paint in a bright color is within the skill level of almost anyone.

Landscaping

From planting a window box or arranging a planter to moving big loads of soil, mulch or landscaping stone, most landscaping is grunt work.

If you have a good eye and a sense of what makes a garden look balanced, you can save big money by doing this exterior job yourself.

Cleaning Gutters

Not only can you clean your gutters yourself, but you should also clean them twice a year.

Once in the spring and once in the fall is the cleaning schedule you need to stick to. Cleaning gutters makes sure your roof doesn’t suffer.

Make sure to lean your ladder against your house and not the gutters themselves. Use your hands or a hose attachment made for the job and remove the accumulated debris. Use the hose to check for blocked downspouts.

If you suspect a blockage, remove that section and clear it out before reattaching. Now is an excellent time to have any parts of gutter or downspout that have come disjoined or loose from your house repaired.

Pro Tip: If you are unsure how to repair your gutters or downspouts, call a professional.

Washing the Exterior of Your Home

Wood, vinyl, brick, stone, and composite siding materials can all benefit from a power wash in the spring.

Make sure you follow instructions for your power washer and be careful not to remove paint unless you’re planning to repaint your house.

Pro Tip: Never power wash your roof.

What to Leave to the Pros

Masonry Repairs

Unless you know what you’re doing, and I mean really know what you’re doing, you could do irreversible damage to your bricks by attempting to repoint your masonry yourself.

This is especially true if you have an old house. If your chimney or other exterior masonry needs repair, it’s best to call in the pros. You may not enjoy the expense, but it is best to have it done right.

Replacing Siding

Replacing your siding isn’t advised for the average homeowner.

For the professionals, it may take several weeks working full-time depending on the size of the house. It would take you a lot longer.

It’s not a task for a beginner DIYer either. It may look easy enough to slap siding on an exterior wall. However, the hard parts come when you have to fit those siding panels around your house’s soffits and fascia and make it all look effortless.

The last thing you want is a home exterior that looks like an amateur did it.

Roofing

As we always recommend, it’s not safe for homeowners to get up on their roofs. However, this isn’t the only reason we would say to leave the roofing to us.

Much like applying siding, applying a new roof requires special tools, skill, and a whole crew to get it done in a timely fashion. It also takes an experienced eye to catch any problems before they arise and to install everything correctly so as not to void the product warranties.

Bringing it Home

There are a number of home exterior projects you can do yourself and be proud about how well they turned out.

A few of these – like masonry, siding, windows, and roofing are better left to professionals. It will ensure that you do no damage to your home and that it looks great when it’s finished!

Do you live in Southeast Michigan and need a professional? Please give us a call. We are here whenever you need us!

Call today

The post Top Home Exterior DIY Projects Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Renovations Roofing & Remodeling, Inc..

It’s that time of year again. The trees are starting to put out their buds here in Southeast Michigan, the sun is coming out, and the temperatures are rising.

It’s time many homeowners begin to think about home exterior spring cleaning.

Spring is a traditional time for cleaning. This is because you can see the dirt and grime that has built up after the long winter.

However, not all spring cleaning is equal. See the tips below for how to clean the exterior of your house to prolong its life without doing any damage.

Home Exterior Spring Cleaning Tips

Don’t Go In Without a Plan

If you are a new homeowner or you have never attempted a spring clean of your entire house exterior,

Improper cleaning can damage valuable property. Additionally, if you attempt something unsafe, you could end up with a severe injury.

Gutters

Don’t attempt to clean your gutters from on top of your roof, and don’t lean your ladder against them. They are most likely made of material that isn’t made to withstand this pressure. You could end up bending or breaking them.

We encourage homeowners not to go up on their roofs themselves.

Do lean your ladder against the side of your house and use your hands or tools made for the purpose of cleaning out your gutters.

Disconnect the downspouts if you suspect them to be clogged with debris. Garden hose attachments made for blowing debris out of your gutters can be found at a home and garden store.

Pro Tip #1: The Importance of Gutter Cleaning: What You Need to Know

Pro Tip #2: Warning Signs Your Home’s Gutters Need to be Replaced

Siding

Don’t do your chores out of order. Cleaning your gutters may end up making your siding dirtier. It is best to work from the top down.

Don’t use a power washer on the wrong setting. The same nozzle and pressure applied for every job could end up damaging loose siding.

Don’t just use any detergent for washing your siding before checking with the manufacturer. When in doubt, only use plain water!

Do consult with a professional before using a power washer on your siding. Find out which water pressure can safely be used on which surfaces. Otherwise, you may have to prepare yourself to repaint your house!

Do use sponges and brushes designed to remove dirt and mold build-up to make your house sparkle and prolong the life of your siding.

Pro Tip: How to Deep Clean Your Vinyl Siding

Windows

This one might be a no-brainer, but don’t wash your exterior windows without washing everything else first. You will end up undoing your work.

As with siding, make sure you know how much water pressure your window frames can withstand and don’t go beyond it. You may have to use a sponge or a brush to remove stubborn grime.

Do remove each window and clean inside the window frames, then using a solution of vinegar and water, spray each window and wipe with newspaper.

This will not only make your whole house feel new. In addition, it will significantly prolong the life of your windows.

Pro Tip: 12 Warning Signs You Need New Windows [Homeowners Guide]

Roof

Don’t get up on your roof! You can prevent doing damage to your roof and hurting yourself by following this one simple rule.

Don’t ever use a power washer on your roof! Algae may make dark stains on shingles sometimes. However, this can be cleaned by a professional company with an appropriate cleaning solution.

A power washer will take off your shingles’ protective granules and significantly reduce the life of your roof.

Do take a moment to check out your roof from the ground with a pair of binoculars.

Do call a professional roofing company for an inspection if you suspect damaged flashing, missing shingles, a leak or any other problem while it’s still a small problem.

It is much cheaper, in the long run, to fix those problems while they are small.

Pro Tip: 3 Reasons You Should Have a Regular Professional Roof Inspection

Bringing it Home

The main thing to do this spring, to take care of your house and reduce significant expenses in the future, is to put this maintenance plan on your yearly to-do list.

A simple twice-yearly cleaning of your gutters will go a long way toward preventing problems with your roof in the future.

Do you live in Southeast Michigan? Are you interested in having your gutters, siding, windows or roof replaced? Please give us a call. We would be honored to help!

Call today

The post Home Exterior Spring Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Renovations Roofing & Remodeling, Inc..