Advice on changing the front of my house

[Nick-a8c0c]

We’ve recently bought a 1950’s house for the location and the interior, however the exterior has been given the k rend and grey window treatment.
I’d like to make it a little less stark and preferably to look a bit warmer. Initial thoughts are cedar wood cladding to replace the grey composite, paint windows white, replace front door and windows next to it with wood / glass door and replace grey guttering with black.
Any advice welcome. Are there any other options short of rebuilding the whole front in the original brick?

[Correvor]

I'd start with the cladding and take it from there, Vastern timber does a good write up on options - https://www.vastern.co.uk/what-is-the-best-wood-fo... Although Cedar and other timbers are naturally durable, they will weather so treating with a UV oil will help extend the fresh look - if that's what you want.

Rather than tackling the windows and guttering, what about adding an oak porch?

Adding some plants which over time could reach up to the first floor may would also help but be careful of anything which could damage the cladding

Edited by Correvor on Tuesday 4th April 01:22

[Nick-a8c0c]

Thanks. I like the porch idea as the front is very flat. No roof overhang etc. I’d want to keep the cedar looking original. I understand you need to treat it every couple of years from what I’ve read.

[Crumpet]

I actually quite like the cladding. It’s the nasty grey windows that spoil it.

My brother had very similar but with white windows and I always thought it was pretty tasteful.

[GreatGranny]

Agree with the porch idea, it will break up the frontage.

Cedar cladding will soften it up as well.

Can the windows by sprayed a different colour?
Not sure if this is possible but would be much cheaper than replacement.

Hopefully this style of refurb will go out of fashion at some point.
Just think it will age the building terribly in the future.

[Correvor]

GreatGranny said:

Hopefully this style of refurb will go out of fashion at some point.
Just think it will age the building terribly in the future.

100% agree, not a fan of the various tones of grey people insist on using all over their house.

[OutInTheShed]

Clematis?
Grape vine?

Contrasting feature like a porch?

[Jcwjosh]

Black cladding - Big oak framed porch with glass and some decent plants is what i would go for.

[PositronicRay]

Jcwjosh said:

Black cladding - Big oak framed porch with glass and some decent plants is what i would go for.

I think that would look rather good, could you paint the cladding rather than replace?

[nickod]

Thanks for the advice - I think I could replace the cladding with Cedar , replace the door and paint the UPVC windows rather than replace them. And then as suggested add a porch. Hopefully it should look a lot better. And shouldn’t cost a fortune.

[nickod]

Also I am the OP . I seem to have two accounts and I’m not sure why.

[TCruise]

Porch idea for sure
- part brick (to match the brick at the rear - assuming that's your house)
- oak and glass front and side

Replace the front door to match

Replace the cladding with wood to match the porch.

Is the paint stark white, hard to tell from the photo? If so, an off white would soften it a lot.

Then plant climbers to go up the far left wall, along the front wall, above the window, across to the new porch.

I would worry less about the windows. Once you have done all of the above it won't notice much. And looks like the whole house has them, so I would just leave it. Painting them is a dangerous game, if the painting is done poorly and they peel, you will WISH you never started.

[Simpo Two]

To me it is lacking a 'top'. I think it needs wood (or brown plastic) boards diagonally under the edge of the tiles to bring it down a bit and make it look more homely.

[nickod]

Thanks - the brick part on the left is part of the house and is how the whole house looked previously. This picture gives a better perspective. I like the idea of the porch being in the same brick to link it in - I’m going to do that.

[nickod]

The render is off white not white. The cladding is composite and doesn’t look great in my opinion in terms of quality. I like the white cladding posted earlier but I’m thinking cedar may look better. Just trying to work out what sort of front door would go with that look. I don’t like the long steel handle style and would prefer a more ‘ mid century ‘ looking door.

The windows are UPVC. Google search is telling me they can be resprayed or painted easier than composite.

[TheJimi]

nickod said:

Thanks - the brick part on the left is part of the house and is how the whole house looked previously. This picture gives a better perspective. I like the idea of the porch being in the same brick to link it in - I’m going to do that.

Compare the above photo with your first photo -



Seeing the whole house in context makes a big difference, imo.

[V8covin]

nickod said:

The render is off white not white. The cladding is composite and doesn’t look great in my opinion in terms of quality. I like the white cladding posted earlier but I’m thinking cedar may look better. Just trying to work out what sort of front door would go with that look. I don’t like the long steel handle style and would prefer a more ‘ mid century ‘ looking door.

The windows are UPVC. Google search is telling me they can be resprayed or painted easier than composite.

What colour are the window frames internally?
They may have already been painted or even wrapped

[OMITN]

The windows are fine and go well with the brick.

A porch is a good idea - for practicality of nothing else - but don’t go olde worlde and put an oak porch up. Something discreet and in keeping with the house as it is.

Only thing I don’t like - the colour of the cladding. It’s too light. There are some lovely colours in the bricks - it would look better trying to tie across one of those colours through the cladding.

Then some greenery in planters beside the white and you have a fabulous house.

(Oh and sort out the garage door - matching the colour of the windows..!)

Enjoy - looks a beautiful place to live..!

[bennno]

Lots of architects specialise in facelifts, good ‘bones’ to your house, but would hugely benefit from exterior tweaks.

Front entrance isn’t prominent or central, colour of render, wood board cladding adds warmth, window fenestration pattern ok in brickwork part, not in rendered / clad part - eg triple or quad equal opening / equally proportioned windows.

Can you share a floor plan? Front door be better moved to left where window is so it’s in the middle with canopy over.

https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/ideas/best-remodels...

Edited by bennno on Wednesday 5th April 10:01

[DonkeyApple]

It looks nice in the whole. The colour scheme and absence of a porch just makes it look a little bit like an outlet store at Bicester Village. Just changing the colours and adding the right sort of porch would probably transform it enormously.