drees_homes-11We spend most of our money, time and lives trying to perfect the interior of our homes. What about the exteriors? The outward appearances are eaten away by neglect, lack of funds and over time leave a tired dilapidated impression of our home on the visitor’s mind.

We have put together a list of easy home exterior upgrades that keep your home looking as good on the outside as they are within. What’s more, these upgrades once done need not be bothered about for ages to come.

Fiber cement siding

Adding fiber cement cladding does more than just give you solid beautiful looking exterior walls. It is resistant to rot, termites and fire. It can hold up against all kinds of extreme weather as well as variations in the weather. No matter what your home’s exteriors have to put up with, be it snow, heavy rains, extreme sunshine, fiber cement siding or cladding on the walls helps protect your home and looks great too.

Roof gutter guards

If you have a roof, you probably have roof gutters to drain the storm water. You also have the nagging duty of clearing up dry leaves and other debris from it periodically. Save time on that clean-up with roof gutter guards.  They can be found to fit any size gutter. Small, large, oversized, commercial, whatever the size of the roof gutter, you can find roof gutter guards or brushes to fit.

The best part about installing gutter guards? No more roof clean-up duty once these beauties are installed.

Light up the entrance

Do you just a tired dim single bulb in the centre of your doorway? Well, you could do a lot better than that. Add old style lanterns on either side of the doorway; invest in brighter lighting of the front door. Not only does it help a visitor appreciate the entry to your home better, it increases your home’s curb appeal as well.

From solar lighting to tall lamps to outdoor chandeliers, there are many options for homeowners who are interested in lighting up their doorways.

Cover up the exposed foundation with faux stone

Nothing makes for a tackier external appearance than the foundation work being exposed in places. Cover all appearances of the foundation with faux stone or brickwork walls. This gives the appearance a neat and solid structural appearance. It protects the foundation as well from the extreme weather changes.

This exterior upgrade is not just low on cost; it is also easily and quickly done without any inconvenience to the inhabitants of the home.

Add flagstone to your walkways, patios and decks

Splurge a little, get flagstones paved on walkways, patio or your deck. These are not an extravagance but a one-time investment kind of exterior upgrade. Flagstones are all weather friendly, naturally slip resistant, endure the vagaries of the weather for years and are super strong and durable.

In addition, they add such a charming detail to your home. Flagstones make for a mighty impression on every visitor to your home. When that day comes to think about your home’s resale value, these heavy duty pals are going to help escalate the sale price. Worth their weight in god, these little beauties are.

Summary

Now that we have shown you some exterior upgrades with serious benefits, get going. Start planning that next home improvement project, with a focus on your home’s exterior.

Deborah Tayloe

Deborah Tayloe is the publisher of DIY Home & Garden. When she’s not blogging, she loves cooking with fresh fall ingredients. She is particularly proud of her recipe for homemade apple butter.