A stone or brick home has a timeless elegance that many love but redoing your siding to be made of stone or brick is expensive, time-consuming, and you need to hire a contractor. However, faux stone and brick veneer gives you that timeless elegance for a significantly lower price and you can install it yourself. …
Cleaning gutters is one of those things many folks can do themselves, but as you’ll see with our nifty gutter cleaning cost calculator, it’s not all that expensive. You can save yourself 3 to 6 hours of unpleasant work by parting with a couple of hundred bucks. The thing is, many people can’t navigate ladders …
How much does it cost to replace gutters? It goes without saying that usually you don’t care until you need new gutters. If your gutters can’t hack it anymore and you’re curious as to what new gutters will set you back, you’re in the right place. Use our gutter cost calculator below. PLEASE NOTE: This …
Is the old faded paint on your vinyl siding the reason why you never have anyone over? Does it make your house stand out like a sore thumb from the rest of the houses in the neighborhood? Could it be the reason why your neighbors always give you the stink eye every time they walk …
Have you ever come across a building where the vinyl siding panels appear to have buckled or popped out of place? Well, they weren’t always like that. That appearance is usually brought on by a process known as warping, and it’s what happens when you paint vinyl siding a darker color. It doesn’t always happen, …
To paint or not to paint? That is indeed the question. And, no, this isn’t a bad rendition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is a question that plagues the minds of millions of homeowners across the country – specifically those who have vinyl siding cladding on the exterior of their houses. You’re probably thinking: Why on …
Summer’s right around the corner and the thought of going another year with the same dreary-looking vinyl siding feels like a punch to the gut. You want them in a color that speaks to your soul; a tone that reflects your personality. Something that’s going to enhance your property’s curb appeal. The reality, however, tells …
Can you picture a world without vinyl siding in it? What if the wood siding was the only option available for homeowners everywhere? The horror! Not that there’s anything wrong with it. But who has the time (and money) to spend on continuously repairing and repainting it every year when summer rolls around? It’s never …
Money makes the world go round, and it certainly plays a huge role in determining the scale of any home improvement project you embark on. Sure, we would all love to go the Extreme Makeover route and knock down a couple of walls, change the whole kitchen set up, and even get rid of that …
We all love the idea of adding or modifying our home. After all, nobody wants a plain, boring, drab old home to live in. We want a house we can show off to our friends, use to make our neighbors jealous, and have that awesome community barbeque. Sure, we all love the idea of reaping …
Picking windows can be a real challenge, as I know from my own experience. The last time I picked out windows, I had my heart set on wood windows. I’ve always loved the look of real wood, and I thought that wood windows would match my home’s decor. However, I decided to do a little …
What is Board and Batten Construction? Board and batten is a type of building exterior treatment with precut wide, wooden boards framed and secured in place with narrow board strips named “battens.” In some cases, the style can be used for interior surfacing as well, but in most applications, it’s used on the outer surface …
Quicklist: Types of House Foundations Full Basement Daylight Basement Crawlspace Concrete Slab Wood Foundation Poured Concrete Precast Concrete Panel Concrete Masonry Units Stone Wood Footing and Stem Wall Pier and Beam Pier and Beam for Manufactured Homes Slab on Grade/Monolithic Slab Pre-Poured Slab Related: Types of Decorative Concrete | Types of Concrete Cleaners | Types …
Contemporary designs in architecture and houses’ exteriors are always evolving, that’s why contemporary designs are very stylish and popular. Contemporary designs can also be customized to follow what the owner wants that’s why homeowners who plan to get custom-designed house exteriors and interiors choose contemporary. Contemporary designs often feature an open-concept floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, …
The front door is what takes you into a house. Welcoming, intimidating, bold, meek, or charming, the front door says a lot about the homeowner. It contributes to a home’s curb appeal and is part of the first impression. What dictates the look of the front door? Many times it can be the structure of …
Quicklist: Roofing Shingles Three-Tab Asphalt Arhcitectural Hip and Ridge Metal Standing Seam Metal Shake Sheet Metal Wood Ceramic Tile Metal Tile Concrete Tile Bituminous Tile Polymer-Sand Tile Copper Tile Composite Tile Slate Rubber Laminate Copper Sheet Living (Green Roof) Solar Shingles Impact-Resistant Shingles Cool Roofing Shingles PVC Shingles This might boggle your mind. 30 years …
Building a house requires a lot of decisions including what types of gutters to install. If replacing gutters, you also need to consider your options. While gutters are popular, there are alternatives to gutters. While not something most people think about regarding their home, gutters serve a very important purpose. You notice that when they …
Choosing the right house exterior color is not easy. As hard as you might try picturing your home in different colors, you fear you’ll choose wrong, but are stuck with it. It’s expensive to paint an entire house, whether you do it yourself or hire a painting crew. While your house likely doesn’t look like …
Dormers are built on the roof and often contain a window. They project outwards, vertically beyond the plane of the roof. The dormer roofs are a great way to increase the space in lofts or attics. The window openings also bring in natural light into the small spaces. Related: Types of Roofs | Tools for …
Floating homes in North America are typically found in the Northwest – Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. In Europe, floating homes are canal boats or houseboats, although as you’ll see below, Sweden and Denmark have floating homes that aren’t boats. In the Northwest, floating homes are regular home structures on floating raft-like platforms. Many floating …
Log cabin homes are absolutely beautiful. The look of the cabin, the contrast of color between the wood and the lush green surrounding, the serenity…all of this, plus more is what makes log cabins so picturesque. There is no doubt that a log cabin home catches the attention of anyone nearby; but, most times, the …
I had mountains of fun putting together this collection of sleek glass houses from dozens of world-renowned architects we’ve partnered with over the years (i.e. have featured on this site). What do I mean by a glass house? It’s not a greenhouse. It also doesn’t mean glass is the only exterior material (as in 100% …
This is a super cool article because the software is so cool for any homeowner considering painting their home exterior or changing exterior material. It’s hard to visualize a different color or material. That’s where these software options come in. Most that we selected to include in this list was easy and fast to use. …
The idea of roof vents existed for hundreds of years with natural vents employed in Chinese buildings during the Tang Dynasty, natural ventilation ducts in the Buddhist monks’ caves, and wind catchers incorporated in Arabian architecture. Vent roofs with steeples, towers, or cupolas can be found in different buildings from barns to cathedrals. The building …
I love awnings, especially retractable awnings because you don’t always need them extended. Sometimes the weather is perfect without requiring any covering. But, when it gets cooking hot or it rains, awnings make it possible to continue enjoying the outdoors. A HUGE decision to make when buying an awning is whether you should get a …
Lots of houses have vinyl siding. There are many good reasons to opt for vinyl siding instead of other home exterior options. Like pretty much every home improvement option, material and item, there are pros and cons to it. Because it’s not cheap to put up vinyl siding on your house, choosing to do so …
Stucco is made up of Portland cement, lime, sand, water, and additives applied in several layers over wood or metal lath. There are numerous benefits for choosing stucco as siding for home exteriors including noise-reduction, energy-efficiency, low maintenance, longevity, and versatility. Stucco type of siding is also easy to install, fire-retardant, and resists rot, mildew, …
Utilize natural stone for a sustainable and hard-to-beat look for your home by checking out the different types of stone siding for home exteriors that you can choose from. Stone siding for the home exterior is a popular option among homeowners who want a distinct look for their homes. The beauty of stone is incomparable …
Wood siding is a popular option for home exteriors because of its timeless, classic look. It’s enough to make homeowners feel secure and grounded in their own homes. Wood is also biodegradable so it’s one way to lead a green lifestyle. Many homeowners save on installation costs by installing their own wood siding. Wood is …
I love turrets on houses. Probably because I love castles. I like the exterior look of them as well as the small nook-style rooms they create inside. Turret rooms in castles, palaces, older homes and even those built in newly built houses today are fun – a small office, reading nook, small kids play room, etc. …
Dormer windows give houses a distinct look. They’re typically used on more traditional house styles. What is a dormer window? A dormer window is a window that projects vertically from a sloping roof. They can be on all types of roofs including gable, mansard, gambrel, hipped, shed and more. Here’s an illustration of a dormer …
Most homeowners don’t opt for exposed concrete exteriors, but some do and it can be striking. Depending on the structure, it can come off as brutalist architecture but doesn’t have to. An exterior with concrete combined with plenty of glass and natural wood can be luxurious and even warm. These three materials are somewhat common …
Choosing the right glass for your front entry door is a meticulous process. For homeowners seeking a little more privacy, frosted or stained glass offers less visibility. Rain glass, giving the appearance of heavy rain streaks against a window, is a current trend. Clear beveled glass is less private option, but allows the maximum amount …
The timeless, rustic beauty of a wood entry door is beyond compare. From their presence in colonial homes to their incorporation in contemporary architecture, wood entry doors are known for their versatility and customizability. Every homeowner understands the importance of having a unique front door that both establishes curb appeal and complements a home’s overall …
Stucco homes look amazing. No wonder stucco was the finish-of-choice throughout the western U.S. until the 1980s and is one of the world’s oldest types of siding materials. Traditional stucco is extremely strong and durable because it’s made of lime, sand, and water. Many of today’s stucco, however, is less durable and can be brittle …
Welcome to our massive house exterior photo gallery where you can get all kinds of exterior ideas by color, material, architectural style, vote for Your Preferred Home Exterior siding type and more. Also, check out our online visual paint software where you can upload a photo of your house exterior and apply hundreds of different …
Whether it’s standing on top of a hill or tucked in a forest, a stone house has the power to hit you with nostalgia as they carry with them a historic legacy built from centuries ago. No wonder many suburban houses with a stone exterior have popped up, instantly standing out from the rest of …
Asphalt is one of the most popular choices for driveways. It’s smooth surface makes it a good choice for being driven over with minimum noise while its uniform black color can match the look of any home. It’s also environment-friendly because it’s entirely recyclable. Once damaged, the top layer can be removed, reheated, and then …
Choosing brick pavers for driveways remains a popular choice. The classic brick is aesthetically pleasing and comes in a wide range of hues, shapes, and installation designs, so you have the option of creating a driveway that looks like it’s been around for ages or one that matches your home’s color and landscaping. Another practical …
A grey house exterior lends itself as one of the top choices when you want your house to look elegant, timeless, and to stand out from rows and rows of white houses. This neutral color will also bring a moody makeover to your home and has become trendy for both the interior and the exterior. …
There are many types of driveways. Concrete is a viable option for a driveway surface, whether a short or long or circular driveway. While there are several concrete alternatives for a driveway, with today’s technology, especially stamped concrete, you should consider concrete. Another option which I like just as much as stamped concrete is using …
From modernist houses to coastal retreats, the choice for going all-white on house exteriors have given homeowners the bright makeover they needed for their homes. White will always be a top choice for house colors — both interior and exterior — for many obvious reasons and for many residential architectural styles. It’s pristine, crisp, clean, calming, …
Choosing the paint for your house exterior can be a tough decision. The color you select combines with the architectural style of your house to make the best (or worst) first impression. The choice of white for house exterior remains popular among homeowners because of its pristine look and its ability to blend easily with …
In America, modern concrete homes are becoming very, very popular. This makes a lot of sense, especially since, according to Chemistry World Magazine, concrete is the most widely-used building material in the world. From this same 2008 issue of Chemistry World Magazine, we learned that over two-billion tons of concrete are produced every year. Keep …
Wrought iron entry doors have delivered a look of luxury and grandeur to doorsteps around the world for centuries. Widely regarded as being timeless, heavy-duty, and multi-faceted, wrought iron doors offer security and function for any home. When combined with a sidelight or transom, or highlighted by an outdoor hanging light, a wrought iron …
There are many different types of ivy for various uses. This collection sets out a number of new and historic homes with ivy (or similar vegetation) growing on the exterior. I use the term ivy mostly, but in some cases, it may be something different such as bindweed. For the sake of simplicity, ivy is …
Not all houses should have exterior shutters. But some should and definitely benefit aesthetically. Our aim with this post is to showcase houses that look better as a result of using exterior window shutters. In my view, shutters should contrast with the main exterior color of the home. Most of the examples in this collection …
There are two types of natural wood exterior homes. There are log homes and then homes with some form of natural wood siding. While the distinction isn’t huge, it’s a distinction nevertheless. This gallery showcases homes with natural wood siding (i.e. not log homes – you can see our log home gallery here). Of course, …
Driveways began appearing on homes in the second half of the 19th century. Gravel was the most popular surfacing material during those times while stone, brick, and flagstone became popular alternatives. During the age of motorized vehicles in the 20th century, driveways and back alley access became commonplace. Asphalt and concrete became widely popular next. Nowadays, …
A few years ago I had the good fortune to visit Sweden, which is a beautiful country. One thing that struck me is that there are a lot of red houses there. I loved it. The countryside is peppered with red (and yellow) houses. It was really interesting because red exterior is not all that …