If you're hoping to sell your home in the near future or are simply unhappy with its drab appearance, then it might be worth spending a bit of time renovating its exterior. Doing so will not only make it easier on the eye, but could also increase its overall value.
Landscape your garden
Giving the garden a makeover can completely transform the look of your property. Before making any changes however, think carefully about which aesthetic and functional features would best suit the needs of you and your family. For instance if you frequently host barbecues during the warmer months, then you might want to consider installing a spacious patio area, where you can easily fit some outdoor dining furniture and cooking equipment. If you are quite green-fingered, then establishing a space for a small vegetable patch might be a good idea.
Repair your driveway
Few things spoil the look of a property's exterior like an old, crumbling driveway covered in potholes and weeds. Aside from being unsightly, a driveway in this condition can also cause damage to the vehicles which pass over it, resulting in issues with both a car's suspension and tyres. For this type of issue, there are two options; replacing the entire area or carrying out repair work.
If the wear and tear to your driveway is extensive and you decide to opt for the former, it's important to go for the right material. Asphalt repairs is the most popular choice, largely because it is non-slip and impact-resistant. However you could also go for flat concrete; this is equally robust but is slightly more prone to attracting dirt and would therefore require more frequent hosing.
In cases where there are just one or two potholes, hiring a contractor to restore your driveway is usually a much cheaper and less time-consuming option than replacing the entire thing. Concrete and asphalt repairs are generally quite straightforward and will rarely take more than a day or two to complete.
Change or paint your front door
A faded, battered-looking front door does little for the kerb-appeal of a property. If yours is a bit worse for wear, consider investing in a new door which better suits the general style of the house. For instance, if your home has a number of period features and is full of character, but your front door is a standard UPVC model, you may wish to replace it with a cottage-style, solid wood model.
If your budget won't stretch to this, you can still improve your door's appearance by painting it. Provided you are willing to do the work yourself, the costs will be fairly minimal; all you will need is some sandpaper, along with a bit of primer and paint. Don't be afraid to be bold with your choice of colour; a bright yellow, red or even pink door is a fantastic way to add some personality to the outside of your property.
Share8 July 2016
Concrete may seem boring to the uninitiated, but as the wife of a concrete contractor, I have learned, over the years, that it is anything but boring. Contemporary concrete can be used in a range of applications from functional sound walls to decorative koi ponds, and it can be left gray, stamped or acid stained. If you are getting ready to do a project, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to post a myriad of information about concrete with an emphasis on project ideas and the different uses of concrete. By the end, I hope you find concrete as exciting as I do!
