First-time homeowner Aaron Caldwell purchased his 1960s home about three years ago. He is his second owner of a 55 year old house and has decided he wants to own and update the home but needs our help with curb appeal ideas.
He started with improvements inside, including updating the kitchen and repainting the walls. After that, he tackled some outdoor work, including resurfacing the driveway and replacing the windshield, but it wasn’t enough. Now that the inside is to his liking, he wants to get serious about the outside. So we’re giving him the curb appeal his home deserves!
project
wrought iron replacement
Wrought iron is no match for the new look Aaron wants for the front of the house. However, wrought iron is load-bearing, so you need to put something in its place to support the weight. So I decided to replace it with a 6×6 wooden post.
First, I used a jack and a wooden post to lift the eaves. Once that’s done, remove the wrought iron and saw off the remaining screw heads.
Next, John installed a post with a galvanized saddle and screwed it on each side. After securing the pillars, he also used a lot of wood to create trim around the pillars to give them an even better look.
Initially, Aaron wanted to dye the wooden pillars, but after much consideration, he decided to paint the pillars a neutral color. This way the pillars match the trim that was already there and the paint requires less maintenance than dirt.
The best part about these pillars is that Aaron found the original blueprints for the house. And sure enough, the pillars we added were almost identical to the original house pillars.
replace garage door
Aaron’s garage door is on the front of the house and is the first thing you see when you approach his house. So Aaron wants those doors updated and fixed. Originally installed double doors are not the same and the left door does not work.
First, Wayne Dalton’s garage door installer removed the existing door and reinforced the frame around the opening to allow the new door to withstand greater wind loads.
Then I installed a new door. The new door not only has a fresh look, it’s also functional.
The new door Aaron chose was the perfect complement to the existing look of the house. All the doors are the same, and the light beige color attracts the eye. Now Aaron is proud of his home when people come to visit.
Add a new landscape
Aaron has never been shy about the fact that plants can’t be kept alive. His mother helped Aaron add landscaping to the front lawn, but it soon died because Aaron neglected to water the lawn.
In order to renew the drab and withered landscape, we cleared the old landscape and prepared it for new vegetation.
We chose drought-tolerant plants to keep Aaron alive, but they still need some water. Added a soak hose to water the plants on a timer so that this new landscape lasts longer than the previous one. The new plants have improved the overall look of his house.
we too
- Added shutters that are 2 shades darker than the siding
- Terrazzo painted porch
- Re-stained existing concrete to match new driveway
- I painted the front door blue.
Impressions after production
Aaron’s house was facing an identity crisis. The clean, modern lines within the austere were disrupted by the bar iron columns. The new driveway and windows were offset by old concrete and an old garage door. Everything didn’t seem to fit together, especially all the parts, the landscape.
But now the house has found itself. A new garage door adds character and makes it the focal point of the home instead of being overlooked. The new pillars and shutters work with the house’s clean lines rather than against them. And a terrazzo coating on the porch characterizes the porch and separates it from the driveway. Plus, the new colors and lush landscaping of the front porch will perfectly welcome Aaron’s guests.
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