Fall is one of the most charming seasons filled with apple-picking, pumpkin spice-flavored everything, and gorgeous autumn scenery. It’s also one of the best seasons for tackling home improvement projects. With the humidity and hot weather of summer tapering off, now is the perfect time to get
outside and work on the exterior of your home. Besides the favorable weather, fall is also a good time to hire a contractor for home improvements, as they typically aren’t as busy during this time of year.
Infographic – Top 3 Best Home Improvement Projects for Enhanced Exteriors
Want to give your home a makeover? Check out this infographic to find out what home improvement projects best help improve a property’s curb appeal. [Read more…]
The Best Exterior Improvements To Do This Summer
The summer season always seems to fly by quickly, with only a few months of idyllic warm weather to enjoy with friends and family. This year, make the most of this fun-filled season by making home improvements that will add to the summer fun!
Fortunately, with the help of a qualified professional like Exterior Source, you can quickly complete home improvement projects with plenty of time to enjoy them before summer is over.
3 Ways to Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Curb appeal matters because first impressions last. Since your home is an extension of yourself, you should make it reflect your personality. If you decide to sell in the future, it will be easier to attract buyers who will consider buying your house.
5 Reasons Why Vinyl Siding Is A Great Option For Your Home
Vinyl siding has become a popular choice for homeowners since it was first introduced to the market in the late 1950s. In addition to being cheaper than cedar or aluminum, it is also much easier to maintain than other forms of siding. That said, not all vinyl siding is created equal. It is important to pick a quality product for your home.
At Exterior Source, we install CertainTeed vinyl siding and trim because of their aesthetically advanced and long-lasting products. As a CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor, we’ve seen our share of vinyl siding products and can confidently recommend CertainTeed to our homeowners.
Here are a few reasons why CertainTeed vinyl siding is a great option for your home:
- Vinyl siding comes in a wide array of colors guaranteed to fit the style and architectural design of your home. With CertainTeed, each vinyl siding product is covered with PermaColor Lifetime Fade Protection, so you can be sure the look of your home will last for years to come.
- While vinyl siding is great at boosting curb appeal and improving the overall look of a home, it is also great at insulating your home against the elements and weather. Even with insulation between the walls, your home can still leak air where the studs come in contact with exterior siding. Insulated vinyl siding adds another layer of protection to keep your home comfortable while cutting heating and cooling costs.
- One of the biggest advantages of vinyl siding is its low maintenance and durability. Unlike other siding options, vinyl needs very little cleaning and can withstand extreme weather conditions.
- Vinyl siding is available to fit every budget. According to This Old House, vinyl siding is much cheaper than other siding options such as cedar, which can cost around 2.5 times more.
- Last but not least, vinyl siding is environmentally friendly and one of the few materials that comply with the strict requirements of the National Fire Protection Association.
Building professionals continue to choose vinyl siding as the #1 choice for home construction. With versatility, color options, weather resistance, high safety ratings, and an affordable price tag, vinyl siding is a great addition to any home. If you’re ready to improve your home’s exterior, talk to a contractor about the vinyl siding options available.
To learn more about Exterior Source and the other services we offer, visit our website.
Exterior Source®: A Proud CertainTeed Vinyl Siding Installer
As the area’s most trusted source of quality home improvement products, we make it a point to use only the best on the market. That’s why when it comes to siding, we proudly install CertainTeed vinyl siding. It’s our go-to option for guaranteed customer satisfaction. We trust it in our business and so should you. [Read more…]
5 Home Maintenance Items To Check Off This Summer
Now that Memorial Day is past, we’re officially in summer mode. It’s time to pull out the grill and start planning the BBQs and pool parties! In between all the summer fun, take some time to care for your home to ensure bigger problems don’t pop up down the road. By making home maintenance a priority this summer, you can enjoy more family fun without worrying about home emergencies getting in the way.
Here are 5 home maintenance items to check off this summer:
Inspect your home’s exterior
Power washing the siding or brick will improve your home’s facade and get rid of dirt, dust, and tree sap that has accumulated during the last months. Look for loose or rotted siding that could indicate larger problems.
Wash your windows on both sides
Cleaning the inside and outside of your windows will instantly make your home feel brighter and cleaner. Plus, it’s a great way to improve the view this summer!
Keep the dirt outside
Stop trekking summer’s mud and muck through your home by placing a coarse mat outside and a softer one inside. This will collect most of the dirt before it’s tracked through your home.
Inspect your dryer vent and exhaust duct
These little guys can be easily forgotten, but clogged vents can cause a house fire when they’re not maintained. Take some time to thoroughly clean both of them this season.
Repaint exterior where needed
Chipped, cracked, or faded paint can drag down the curb appeal of your home. A touch up of fresh paint will go a long way to improving the look of your home, as well as protect it from the elements.
5 Reasons to Remodel the Exterior of Your Home
The exterior of your home is arguably just as important as the interior. It sets the first impression of your home since it is the first thing friends, neighbors, and guests see. It’s also one of the leading contributors to curb appeal when it comes to the value of your home.
There are many ways that you can transform your home’s exterior, but the good news is that remodeling doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive. A few minor improvements like the ones we’ve listed below can go a long ways towards the value, look, and appeal of your home.
1. New siding is one of the best ways to improve home value.
The National Association of Realtor’s website, Houselogic, reported that the best choices for improving home value are through exterior projects, like siding replacement. As the outer shell of your home, siding not only adds to your property’s curb appeal but it also helps to improve energy costs.
2. LeafGuard gutters remove the headaches of maintenance.
Cleaning gutters twice a year is assumed to be one of the unavoidable chores of homeownership. Thanks to LeafGuard, you’ll never have to clean gutters again! Their one-piece gutter solution offers the best rain protection system around, keeping your home’s foundation and exterior safe from water damage. They also incorporate a seamless design that will boost curb appeal for your home, allowing you to enjoy both improved aesthetics and function for your property.
3. Replacement roofing is appealing to buyers.
If you’re thinking of selling your home, a replacement roof will up your home’s curb appeal factor tremendously and make it much more appealing to potential buyers. Is your roof missing shingles, streaked with stains, or leaking? Replacement roofing not only protects your home, but can also improve the aesthetic appeal.
4. Replacement windows improve energy efficiency of your home.
New windows may not be on the top of your home improvement list, but they are one of the single most important factors when it comes to making your home more energy efficient. On top of that, they can yield up to a 73% return on investment if you ever choose to sell your home!
5. A new front door instantly transforms the look of your home.
A replacement door is one of the quickest, easiest ways to give your home’s exterior a major boost. They offer timeless style and incredible energy savings to improve the function and look of your home.
How To Tell If Your Siding Needs To Be Replaced
Siding is one of the most important components of your home since it serves as the first line of defense against the elements. Much like insulation, it protects your home from weather, dirt, insects, and moisture. Most homeowners don’t give the siding on their homes a second thought – until problems, such as rotting or warping start occurring. Then it becomes hard to ignore and can create a domino effect of problems for the rest of your home.
If you are unsure whether or not you need to replace your siding, here are some common signs to look for:
1. Warped siding. Warping and sagging after often a sign that moisture has seeped behind or underneath the siding. When this happens, it is only a matter of time before the moisture makes its way into your home.
2. High heating and cooling bills. There can be several likely culprits for high heating and cooling costs, one being faulty siding. A visual inspection of your home’s siding will help you determine whether or not heating and cooling could be escaping through it.
3. Peeling paint or sagging wallpaper inside. Sometimes the damage from faulty siding can appear inside your home! Peeling paint or wallpaper can be the result of moisture dwelling between the siding and framework of your home and should be inspected immediately.
4. Mold or mildew on the exterior of your home. A build-up of moisture at or near the seams of your home’s siding can result in the slow growth of mold and mildew on the outside of the siding.
5. Rot. This is often the surest sign that immediate replacement is needed. Press underneath your siding with a sharp object, like a screwdriver, to check the firmness of the layer beneath. If it appears to be soft or rotting, replacement siding is a must!
6. Fading. While some may think of this as just a cosmetic issue, it could also be an indication that your siding is nearing the end of its functioning life. Most siding is formulated to retain its color for its entire lifespan. If the siding on your home is so old that it has started to fade, its functionality may be failing as well.
If you are concerned about the state of your siding, call us today for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION ESTIMATE. Our specialists will meet with you to discuss vinyl replacement options, and show you some great possibilities.
Find more information here.
Why Winter Is A Great Time For Home Improvement Projects
While summer, fall, and spring months are often thought of as the peak months for home improvement projects, there are some advantages to saving these projects for the winter months. In Virginia, and most other southern states, there are often plenty of good weather days during the winter months to update siding, replace roofing and windows, install new gutters and finish multiple other exterior projects. Consider some of these advantages to starting projects during the winter:
Contractors are not as busy. Spring is traditionally the time of the year when builders are the busiest. Most homeowners are coming out of winter hibernation, have money to spend, and are looking for something new. Prices go up and schedules get booked quickly. The winter months, however, are a much more flexible time for home contractors since they aren’t swamped with multiple projects at the same time. Contractors may be able to get to your project sooner and finish it quicker than they would during peak months.
Materials are often less expensive. The same way that Halloween candy is cheaper on November 1st, materials are often less expensive during the non-peak building months. Because the cost of materials often influences a contractor’s price, you are more likely to get a better deal during the winter months.
You’ll get a jump start on your project. It’s never too early to start planning and, luckily, planning isn’t weather-dependent. It’s true that the best projects are often solidified before the work even begins, so the winter months are a great time to start researching, planning, and reaching out to contractors. Even if your home improvement project requires warmer weather, you will be more likely to get a jump start if you begin planning now while the weather is cooler and business is slow. Not waiting for good weather (aka when everyone else starts calling) has its advantages!
Call us today to get started on your home improvement project!
Richmond: (804) 275-5323
Tidewater: (757) 464-2060
Celebrate National Home Improvement Month with Exterior Source
One of the best ways to increase your home’s value is by updating its exterior. And what better time to focus on your home than during National Home Improvement Month?! At Exterior Source, we understand the importance of your home’s exterior. Not only does it protect you from the elements, but it also plays a large role in the curb appeal and real estate value of your home. Here are five projects that can improve the exterior look and quality of your home:
Upgrade Your Siding
HGTV ranks new siding as the #1 way to increase a home’s value. Damaged, cracked or peeling boards can be an eye-sore and will greatly reduce the selling points of your home. Replacing your home’s siding with CertainTeed or James Hardie durable siding will improve not just the look of your home, but provide maximum thermal and moisture protection; help save on energy costs; and drastically reduce the amount of maintenance. You can also add personality with beautiful accents like trim, soffits, and window and door surrounds.
Replace Old Gutter Systems
If the gutters and downspouts on your home are old, chances are they’re starting to cause a few problems — like rust spots and leaks. Exterior Source is the exclusive Englert LeafGuard rain gutters dealer in the Central Virginia, Charlottesville, Roanoke and Tidewater areas. We know the costly water damage headaches that come with non-functioning gutters. That’s why we only install the very best — LeafGuard. With LeafGuard you can “Get It. And Forget It” and, while new gutters may not seem like the most glamorous update to your home, it is certainly one that will pay off in the long run! Plus, they are guaranteed not to clog, or we’ll clean them for FREE.
Become Energy Efficient
Energy efficient windows are a great way to improve your home and, according to Money Crashers, you can expect to recoup 60%-90% of your costs back. We offer Energy Star certified Soft-Lite replacement windows, designed to provide superior energy efficiency, beauty, durability, and are easy to maintain. You’ll immediately reap the benefits of upgrading to Energy Star by increasing the value of your home when you’re ready to sell. Learn more about our replacement window services here.
Revamp Your Roof
Roof issues are one of the most expensive parts of homeownership because they can quickly compile into water damage and structure problems. A replacement roof will improve your home’s appearance while extending its value for years to come. At Exterior Source, we specialize in GAF Advanced Protection® asphalt roofing shingles which are rated #1 in quality and protection. Options like architectural and designer shingles will add a level of sophistication to your home, improving the look of your home now and its sale value in the future.
Style Your Front Door
A front door is the focal point of your home’s curb appeal and gives a sneak peek of the style that lies behind it. Our superior line of ProVia® entry doors are customized to work with your style and needs. Your front door should not just look good, but also provide security, insulation and performance. That’s why our ProVia® entry doors all come with expert installation and lifetime warranties.
Ready to start improving your home? Contact us today for a free, in-home consultation on any of our services, including gutters, siding, roofing, windows or doors!