Facade Facelift
Renovation
Budget: $6k
Duration: 3 months
The project started because we wanted a new look, the brick was dated and not our favorite but after inspecting the condition of it; it was clear we should replace/repair it completely. The weight and damage to the brick was causing it to pull away from the structure and create gaps. We knew we wanted to use a vinyl, since it was low maintenance and affordable. This was our first install of vinyl and was quite easy!
Before + Afters
There were a couple structural issues with the front. The brick had multiple patches and stress cracks underneath the window sill areas, the stairs were crumbling and pulling off the house, creating a gap for animals. Finally, the wooden bay window was original to the house and had begun to rot on the outside.
The Details
Some up close details of the design that we chose. Number plaque was created using leftover trim and wood that we stained. Vinyl: Shaker Shingles in Harbor Blue, Decking: Dekorators in Hana Brown, Railings: Dekorators, Tiling: Satori Oxide Ledgestone in Natural Stone Slate
The Process
We hired help to remove the brick and get it down to the base level so we could start the application. Before we started vinyl application, we went around and painted the foundation with a concrete paint to prevent moisture, mildew and add color to create contrast. We removed the storm door and decided to keep it off. We knew we needed to replace the bay window. We looked at a variety of options, but in the end we found a returned item at Lowes, which was an incredible price and perfect for us. We also knew a flat picture window would prevent any future issues. From here, we got working on the laying the vinyl, which was a pretty quick process. We also installed new soffit and moved the light from the center of the garage to the sides for more ambiance. Before we finished, we power washed the wall to get it bright and new looking. We love the warmth from the stone, front door and steps mixed with the dusty blue shingle, bright white trim and black details. Overall, it feels like a whole new house!
The Stairs
Our stair rails were probably the best part of the stairs, they were in great condition - so we sold them to recoup a bit of the cost. After the stairs were demolished, we dug new footing holes to build the pretreated frame. Then we covered the posts in vinyl and installed the composite decking. We opted for rails that mixed the white vinyl with the black rails for contrast and to pull the details from the front.