Exterior Home Improvement: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

At this moment you could say that my exterior is at the ugly part. It hasn’t been updated since we moved in over fifteen years ago. Has it really been that long? This spring we have plans to do the bathrooms because they need to be updated as well but I am in the middle of researching what I want the exterior to look like.  It took me a while to find a contractor that I liked and didn’t charge an arm and a leg. After getting quotes and estimates from various contractors I know why home improvement is a billion dollar business. Some of those estimates where almost as much as the house is worth it seemed. I finally found a contractor I liked and was reasonable. She even showed me inside of a house she redid in my neighborhood.

The Good

The good news is most of the foundation is looking good. There is one spot where we have settling but getting that fixed will not be as difficult as I thought. Since it in one bathroom that will be redone, when they tear down an exterior wall they can repair the foundation then. At least that is what my contractor told me. That is the only thing outside that doesn’t require a lot of work.

The Bad

The back porch needs all new posts. You know the ones that hold the roof up. They have been waterlogged and rotted because the house had no gutters. That means the water just pools onto the porch since there is nowhere to direct it. It has created such a problem. I would love to get decking or something like that from Decks & Docks Lumber Company. I don’t know if that is possible but I want something to make the back of the house more inviting. Maybe by adding some curtains or blinds like those from affordableblinds.com. Not to mention we need a new roof. We had one put in a few years ago after a tornado, however; it is looking as though it wasn’t done properly. This was one project my ex did himself while having one foot out the door. So I’m assuming he didn’t care enough.

The Ugly

The rock fireplace is leaking through the rock inside the house when it rains. Small chunks are also falling off it outside. So, it needs to either be redone or taken out all together. I’m torn about what do with this one. I looked at how to repair the cracks but let’s be honest, I can’t do that. I also need to replace almost every window in the house. They are a fire hazard since some of them no longer open. They roll out on one little turn things. They stopped working, and I knew this would need to be done. There are a couple that still function properly but they need to be replaced with modern windows.

The house was built in the seventies and it is showing its age now. I know that with a little love and more money than I really want to spend, the house can be great again. It needs a little TLC which is something that I put off far too long.

What are you loving or hating about your home’s exterior right now? Let us know in the comments below.