Improving your curb appeal is important for many reasons, and shouldn’t be done just when you want to sell your home, either. A great exterior brings with it a sense of pride and belonging. It also helps improve your neighborhood overall. If everyone in your neighborhood worked hard on beautifying their properties, the community would be better off. More people would visit, stores would do better, and more opportunities would arise. That is why if you are not completely satisfied with your curb appeal, it’s time to freshen it up by following this guide:
Clean
When it comes to sprucing up your curb appeal, cleaning it will always be the first step. Rent a power washer and clear away any dirt and grime from your steps and even from the side of your building. You will want to be very careful of the windows, of course, but clearing away the grime from brick and siding can give your home new life. If your exterior still needs some sprucing up to do after you have cleaned it, don’t worry. You will have needed to power washed all the dirt off your exterior before you repainted it anyway.
Sand
If there is any paint peeling away or cracking on your exterior, your next step will be to sand it down. You will want to use a thick grain so that you can not only get most of the old paint off where it has pulled away from your property but also so that the paint will have more grain to seep into.
Fixing Cracks
If you have a stucco exterior, you will instead need to go through and repair the cracks. Don’t attempt to do this on your own, however. Cracks in your exterior wall is a prime indication of structural damage. Instead, call in an inspector to check out what is happening. In the best case scenario, the stucco that is cracking is simply due to thermal expansion or the stucco is a cosmetic addition to an otherwise solid brick wall. In the worst case, you will need to save up for some fixes. Structural damage is very dangerous, and should not be taken lightly.
Get the Right Equipment
Though a lot of fixes can be done by yourself, that doesn’t mean anything should be attempted without first getting the proper equipment. This means getting fall protection equipment from the Fall Protection Pros to renting out a certified power washer, and so on. Get the right equipment and be sure you know how to use it before you attempt something that could result in injury or property damage.
If the crack is nothing to worry about, however, all you need to do is take a trip to your local hardware store and pick up the tools to fill it in.
Decorative Elements
- Painting: Front door, windows & trim
When all the prep work is done, it will be time to repaint it. This is where your fall protection equipment will come in, as painting will require you to get to hard-to-reach places. Always buy a few extra cans of paint in the color of your property so that you can make touchups as needed.
- A New Mailbox
A brand new mailbox is one way to add a touch of class and luxury to your curb appeal for an affordable price. Whether you have a mailbox by the road or you choose to fix one to your property, there are a variety of designs to suit your house. You could choose to create a pillar mailbox which features your address made out of rustic stonework. Alternatively, you could paint your current mailbox to match the new color of your home.
- House Numbers
Updating your home’s house numbers can make a big difference to the overall curb appeal of your home. Choose a fixture which matches your front door colors and trims to add wow factor.
- Landscaping
When updating your house’s exterior, it can be easy to forget about the finishing touches, such as the landscaping. This is one way to make a long-lasting impression. You could add a water feature to the front yard along with bright, colorful flowers and shrubs to welcome visitors.
Your exterior doesn’t have to be drab. Fixing it up is fun and easy to do, and the benefits are huge for both you and your community.
