The Complete Guide to Planning Your Home's Exterior Transformation

There's nothing quite like watching a home transform from the outside in. Perhaps you've been driving around your neighborhood marveling at how spruced up some of the homes have become, or maybe you've just decided it's your turn to give your home a facelift. Regardless of what brought you to this decision, a good exterior transformation does not have to be overwhelming.

In fact, the best way to tackle a project like this is to view it like any good planned project and implement some consideration, research, and ideas.

Where to Start?

First things first—decide what it is that you want. This may sound easy, however, countless homeowners jump into the material selection and finding their contractors without dedicating proper time to this step.

Go outside and walk around your home. What bothers you? What will bring a smile to your face every time you pull up in front? Some want a full style overhaul while others just want to have a well-maintained home that appears similar in style.

Take pictures of homes that you like. Create a folder on your phone. Note patterns of color selections or use of trim or how materials blend together. You’ll thank yourself later for some visual aids when it comes to making definitive decisions.

Material Considerations

Now you're getting into the fun stuff. Material selections are exponentially greater than what they've been even ten years ago.

Siding options come in all kinds and varieties. Many have transitioned to vinyl as it's far more realistic looking than it used to be and requires next to no maintenance. Fiber cement siding mimics real wood but lasts significantly longer. Engineered wood, wood, and metal also make for excellent choices based on preference and aesthetics.

Even roofing matters—while asphalt shingles are the most affordable and come in a variety of colors, architectural shingles are beautiful three-dimensional selections while metal roofs can last decades with little upkeep.

The thing is that they all need to play together as one. Your siding choice will help dictate which trim styles look best. Your roof color will depend on which siding colors are complementary, etc.

Budget Considerations

Budgeting for an exterior project means knowing what costs actually get incurred—and what represents every dollar spent. A full exterior renovation can be moderate to extensive depending on size and material choices.

If budget is tight, you don't have to do everything at once. Many homeowners tackle their siding replacement one year and handle the roof another time. There's no rule saying it all has to happen simultaneously, though doing multiple projects together sometimes saves money on labor and scaffolding.

It's important, however, when acquiring quotes that they are specific as opposed to vague. Vague quotes don't do much for anyone. Find out what each contractor includes—materials, labor, prep time, clean up and permits—it's all worth consideration before determining which contractor is best.

Hiring a Contractor

This person is critical—the best materials that are installed poorly will still look bad and won’t hold up, while average materials installed beautifully can impress anyone.

Start by asking around—check out your neighbors who recently had work done and get their feedback on the contractors they've used. Use online reviews but be careful; every contractor has an unhappy review here and there, but if there are consistent complaints, it's time to look elsewhere.

Aim to meet with about three contractors. Don't just pick the cheapest option; see who resonates with you the best. See how they communicate—do they listen to what you're advocating for or are they intent on pushing their agenda? Are they clear communicators? Can they show you some work that represents your vision?

The best contractors will walk your property with you, point out things you never even considered, and give honest feedback about what you hope to do; they'll provide broken down written estimates that provide attention to detail regarding projected costs.

Timing Considerations

Weather plays a critical role more than you think—most exterior projects occur between late spring and early fall when there's reasonable stability in conditions, but summertime is peak season, so assume contractors will be busier during this time. Also expect that the weather will likely need to be pretty consistent for project execution.

If you're looking for a set time frame, book in advance as good contractors get booked out months in advance, especially during peak times. Waiting until the very last minute will limit options for excellent resources.

That said, some homeowners prefer off-season work; late fall or early spring may allow for better accessibility, and sometimes better pricing, but weather-related delays could be more prevalent.

Preparing for Your Project

Once your project is scheduled, it's important to get your property and mind right to welcome change. Cut back all access spots around your home; furniture and plants and decorations should be moved so that any contractor has ample space to work safely (and effectively) without worrying about damaging personal property.

Talk to your neighbors; no one likes surprise noise next door but if they know what's coming, they'll have better patience about it. Expect some inconveniences; no matter how tidy crews are, there will be dustiness, noise, and your daily routine may be upturned for however long it's necessary—but it's short lived!

Managing the Project

The best way to make sure the project goes successfully is to not micromanage but stay in the loop continuously until it's complete. This means check-in regularly—with crew members and the supervisor as needed—to see if everything's going according to plan; if there's been an error in reporting or seeing something that's not looking right.

Pay attention—are they protecting your landscaping? Daily clean ups? Is your project going according to plan? It should!

Once it's complete, you should be proud of what you see; your home should look exactly as you envisioned it—even better! That's the point of proper planning—to create something that makes you smile every single day—even after completion.

Take your time when planning an exterior transformation so that it's worthwhile and doesn't throw too many surprises at you along the way!