My thing in this season of life is the exterior of buildings. I love what I do. It’s the process of seeing the visions of others’ dreams come to life.
Excitement can be mixed with dread on the part of the homeowner. Enthusiasm because it’s really happening and dread in having to trust someone else with that dream. Will they capture what I’m seeing in my mind’s eye? Will they do a good job? Will they deliver on what they promised for the price that was agreed upon? Will reward balance out risk?
These are all legitimate questions and concerns. Renovating the outside of your home is a big ticket item. The last thing you need is to feel as though you just squandered a pile of money on an outcome that fell short of expectation.
Many of us have heard stories of epic failures. There are TV programs dedicated to these kinds of stories. Unfortunately, we cannot afford TV personalities to sweep in and make all our dreams come true in 45 minutes or less.
Perhaps you have enough construction skills to scare your spouse or no skill at all. Perhaps you have the skills, but time is an issue. Where do you start? What do you do?
I’ve got some ideas for you. My list is far from complete, but it will give you a great starting point:
Start thinking budget – what can you afford?
Look around and see what you like. Take pictures, ask questions, google search. There’s lots of information out there.
Hire a design expert if you have a large enough budget. This can be a hard call but ask around. You need someone who is creative, but practical. It’s easy to blow the budget on too much creativity. By the way, the right siding contractor will have good ideas as well which are free. *We personally come, measure your home, and give you a complimentary quote.
Choosing the siding contractor that works for you:
Ask around to see who comes recommended.
Ask for references.
Get a quote based on your ideas.
Read the quote and ask questions.
The cheapest is not always the cheapest.
What is your gut feeling – not a very scientific method, but worth listening to.
Money/Budget/Contingency
Never max out your budget. If you are renovating, there will always be surprises depending on the age and condition of your house.
For example:
Stucco – the stucco of the 1950’s and 1960’s could have asbestos in it. This would require removal by a licensed abatement company.
Rot – this is the tricky one. If it’s fairly minor; a siding contractor can deal with it. If it’s extensive, a building engineer may have to be brought in and the remedied work performed by a building construction professional.
Termites, Rodents, Carpenter Ants, Etc. – as scary as this may sound, there is usually evidence that there may be a problem even before you start.
A siding contractor on his/her first visit can often see evidence of problems. For example, a rotten outside corner of your house could indicate problems in behind. How the exterior was constructed and material used are further clues.
It is impossible to quote on what cannot be seen. All that to say, leave some money on the table for surprises.
To Summarize:
How much money do you have available for this project? An average house will cost somewhere between $20-40,000 depending on a pile of variables.
Educate yourself – look around, get ideas.
Compile your ideas and present them to a siding contractor. Employ a design company if you’re unsure.
Choose a siding contractor – remember, price does not mean level of quality or value. Use references and your spidey senses.
Have a reserve of money for surprises. A good contractor can “see” possible problems on their first visit but cannot predict everything. Transparency throughout the entire process is key.
Jump in and have your dream come to life.
Like an old rancher friend of mine used to say, “Don’t let fear and common sense hold you back.”