Facelift our house!
Discussion
You can of course simply paint the window frames - there are companies that spray them too.
Wood cladding is a pain to maintain - look at the Hardiplank range.
If you just want to cheer it up get rid of some of the brown, replacing the fascia and painting the garage door would go a long way.
Wood cladding is a pain to maintain - look at the Hardiplank range.
If you just want to cheer it up get rid of some of the brown, replacing the fascia and painting the garage door would go a long way.
Is there any need for some sort of planning?
I'm not one with a huge experience of identikit estates, but if one house looks completely out of character to the others does that give others home owners nearby recourse?
I've seen one local to me, and by itself it looks nice, but in a mid 90's estate it does look a little odd to me. No doubt potential buyers would feel the same?
I'm not one with a huge experience of identikit estates, but if one house looks completely out of character to the others does that give others home owners nearby recourse?
I've seen one local to me, and by itself it looks nice, but in a mid 90's estate it does look a little odd to me. No doubt potential buyers would feel the same?
In answer to your question which is too complicated to quote......a good architectural designer would be my first port of call if you are unsure about tying the whole scheme together. Failing that, an extensive Internet search for pictures of similar houses. I'm sure you'll find a picture of a very similar house that has been updated.
If you don't like the idea of wood because it will need maintenance to keep it looking the same as when you installed it then there are some very clever products out there which look like painted wood, but are actually types of plastic or concrete. That sounds really naff, but it can look great. This was a Grand Designs house a few years ago....
http://www.tappassociates.com/house-by-the-water/
If you don't know what you're doing get proper help because it'll look miles better than if you try and cobble something together without knowing what you're doing.
If you don't like the idea of wood because it will need maintenance to keep it looking the same as when you installed it then there are some very clever products out there which look like painted wood, but are actually types of plastic or concrete. That sounds really naff, but it can look great. This was a Grand Designs house a few years ago....
http://www.tappassociates.com/house-by-the-water/
If you don't know what you're doing get proper help because it'll look miles better than if you try and cobble something together without knowing what you're doing.
Thanks for the further replies.
Re the planning - I don't think there would be any PP issues as it's only decorative, we're not in a conservation are or anything like that. Croudace may have put covenants on the houses (I know for instance that there is/was one reading front garden fencing) but on that particular one, and ref another house nearby, I checked with the Parish Council and they said fine, go ahead. Also, other people have changed window colours, etc. I doubt it's enough of a flagship for Croudace these days (the houses are c. 30 years old) for them to be bothered about it. Sometime covenants are passed to the LA anyway, but I'll check before we spend any money.
Re the planning - I don't think there would be any PP issues as it's only decorative, we're not in a conservation are or anything like that. Croudace may have put covenants on the houses (I know for instance that there is/was one reading front garden fencing) but on that particular one, and ref another house nearby, I checked with the Parish Council and they said fine, go ahead. Also, other people have changed window colours, etc. I doubt it's enough of a flagship for Croudace these days (the houses are c. 30 years old) for them to be bothered about it. Sometime covenants are passed to the LA anyway, but I'll check before we spend any money.
SonicHedgeHog said:
In answer to your question which is too complicated to quote......a good architectural designer would be my first port of call if you are unsure about tying the whole scheme together. Failing that, an extensive Internet search for pictures of similar houses. I'm sure you'll find a picture of a very similar house that has been updated.
If you don't like the idea of wood because it will need maintenance to keep it looking the same as when you installed it then there are some very clever products out there which look like painted wood, but are actually types of plastic or concrete. That sounds really naff, but it can look great. This was a Grand Designs house a few years ago....
http://www.tappassociates.com/house-by-the-water/
If you don't know what you're doing get proper help because it'll look miles better than if you try and cobble something together without knowing what you're doing.
Each to their own I guess! I'd say that was a proper eyesore that doesn't fit in with it's surroundings at all, and looks less homely than the waiting area in an Audi showroom.If you don't like the idea of wood because it will need maintenance to keep it looking the same as when you installed it then there are some very clever products out there which look like painted wood, but are actually types of plastic or concrete. That sounds really naff, but it can look great. This was a Grand Designs house a few years ago....
http://www.tappassociates.com/house-by-the-water/
If you don't know what you're doing get proper help because it'll look miles better than if you try and cobble something together without knowing what you're doing.
Maybe I'm just stuck in the 90's tho - Grand designs type probably love it.
CAPP0 said:
Our house, from the front, is, well, a little dull. <clip> thoughts, suggestions, price estimates - do your worst!
Drive is the worst bit so replace that. Box in the porch and fit a modern front door. Paint the soffits and garage door urban grey and paint the windows pale urban grey. Cheap and easy. 
Well, slightly bizarrely, today I came across a house finished exactly as we've need discussing, only a couple of miles away. Not the same style, but I'm almost sure this house has been there quite a while and has been re-modelled, or whatever it's called. Grabbed a quick snap which I hope the owner won't mind me using (I've cropped out what I can). Grey doors, check, horizontal dear cladding, check, white/cream render, check, greyish driveway, there it is. I'd have the upstairs windows grey too though.
The roof appears original, although of course in this aspect you can't see it like on mine. But this gets pretty close to what I'm thinking.
The roof appears original, although of course in this aspect you can't see it like on mine. But this gets pretty close to what I'm thinking.
Edited by CAPP0 on Sunday 18th September 15:39
SonicHedgeHog said:
And that will have been designed by someone who knows their arse from their elbow. Get hold of someone who knows how to put different materials, different colours and unusual shapes together. It isn't as easy as it looks.
I've Googled architectural design locally, found one or two although most seem to be full-on architects; I'm sure they could do the job although they seem more used to building, well, Grand Designs! I'll see what they say - unless you'd like to quote!Have also dropped the chair of the Parish Council a line to check on covenants, PP, etc. It may be in our deeds but he might know first-hand.
I think that look is in fact easy to achieve, and would work well on the ops house. I do however feel that it is a touch 'in fashion' and therefore likely to age quickly once the trend for cladding and grey windows passes. It will probably age better on an out an out 70s style like the picture too.
Great if you're selling, less so if you just want to update and leave.
Great if you're selling, less so if you just want to update and leave.
For a less stark look (without changing everything) I'd render the bottom brick (it would go well with the tiles, colour dependent), change the windows and paint the facias, box in the porch and add the oak door others mentioned. Paint/replace the garage door, find a way of staining the concrete and add some planting.
Then add the ubiquitous up and down lighters either side of the door and garage and a frosted glass backlit name or number.
Then add the ubiquitous up and down lighters either side of the door and garage and a frosted glass backlit name or number.
My last post coz I'm starting to sound like a know it all. There is a 1970s house near me that has tried to achieve this transformation. They did everything, but it hasn't worked, They needed greater imagination with the way the cladding is arranged because it too vast an area to have it all running in one direction.
If the cost or lack or added value means a total transformation doesn't make sense then go with some of the less dramatic changes suggested. Or perhaps just do drive as that will lift the whole property.
If the cost or lack or added value means a total transformation doesn't make sense then go with some of the less dramatic changes suggested. Or perhaps just do drive as that will lift the whole property.
SonicHedgeHog said:
My last post coz I'm starting to sound like a know it all. There is a 1970s house near me that has tried to achieve this transformation. They did everything, but it hasn't worked, They needed greater imagination with the way the cladding is arranged because it too vast an area to have it all running in one direction.
If the cost or lack or added value means a total transformation doesn't make sense then go with some of the less dramatic changes suggested. Or perhaps just do drive as that will lift the whole property.
Pic / street view link ?If the cost or lack or added value means a total transformation doesn't make sense then go with some of the less dramatic changes suggested. Or perhaps just do drive as that will lift the whole property.
CAPP0 said:
Do your worst...
Brace yourself for my morning tea break effort...you may need a bit of 'vision' for this...
I'll not give up the day job!
This is a 70's house that has been totally refurbed with rear extension. Previously was dull brickwork with concrete slabs to the side and a messy garden.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4850112,-1.53866...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4850112,-1.53866...
Hitch said:
Well you asked, …….. the issue is that there is nothing light at all on your house. Every feature pulls the colour and tone down as it gets progressively darker. On your house the brickwork at the bottom is relatively light, so if you highlighted some of the other features you may not need to render which would probably avoid your wife's fear of it sticking out vs. your neighbours.
You're absolutely spot-on. It's the darkness that does it in. It's even worse in low light, as you approach the house it's just oppressive.Re the render, strangely several of the other houses in different designs do have cream render, so we might get away with that. I'll try and get some more pics of other houses; whilst none of them are as modern/contemporary/current fashion, it does show quite a disparity of styles. I'd prefer not to put the Streetview link up.
MJG280 said:
This is a 70's house that has been totally refurbed with rear extension. Previously was dull brickwork with concrete slabs to the side and a messy garden.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4850112,-1.53866...
Take away the window boxes and other fripperies, and that looks a lot like what we want. That seems to have the original roof tiles too. In broad terms that's definitely what we are looking for.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4850112,-1.53866...
Thanks for these and other comments, all very much appreciated. Cost-wise, yes, we're not expecting this to be cheap. It's whether we can do it for a price which makes us love the house a bit more without pricing it out of the locale. I'm sure the drive will be the single most expensive element. Can anyone advise on what the cedar cost might be, to remove the tiles and fit cedar cladding? Size-wise, for scale, the house is about 9m wide plus a 300mm return either side. The back is not tiled so doesn't need cladding (at this stage at least).
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