I was a remodeling contracter years ago, but I just closed last week on my 1st fixer-upper. I bought the house (furnishings included) from a buddhist astrophysicist who joined a monastery in Woodstock, NY. The guy was really non-materialistic, the place still has the original paint and carpets from 1979. Now I need the help of you long time FHB readers. What exterior materials and details have you used to create style and appeal without breaking the bank?
The good: The house is structurally and mechanically sound, except for some bad windows and most of the masonite siding. It sits on 2 wooded acres in a high-end subdivision where most of the other homes appraise for 2-3 times the price of my place.
The bad: The house has NO character. I have lots of ideas for the inside, but don’t know where to go with the exterior. Before I hire an architect, I thought I’d ask you for help.
How you can help: I’ll try to post a picture in the photo section. Give me some ideas. I can afford 25 or 30K in materials. I’ll do the work myself. I don’t want more square footage, just some pizzaz!
Thanks!
Karl Kaminski, Greenville, NC
Replies
Having trouble attaching photo. What am I doing wrong?
Gotta wait after you click UPLOAD.
Prospero works slowly and mysteriously.
It will show as attached, up at the top I think.
Only then can you click Done.
Takes a while to digest your offering.
Joe H
if you are going to do the work yourself it may be a god idea to qualify your skills, ie what are you good at?
if you are a skilled plasterer, then you may consider a stucco finish, if carpenter type skills are stronger than masonry type skills you may want to reside with a hardy board or similar type of cement fiber siding, that would be my choice. also i would choose the totaly flat style instead of the raised grain simulated wood style, it will look like a wood sided house sanded and painted when finished.
you may want to apply a brick or stone veneer to the front, if that style fits the neighborhood and you have the skills, again labor is probably the most expensive thing here, so if you do it yourself a big bang for the buck. once you have set you limits then you can ask for input from designers as to what to do, check with the local junior college design or architecture classes for ideas from students.
Was it built in 1979? What style is it? What form is it? What style are the nearby homes in the neighborhood?
I'll try to post a smaller version of that monster you left in the Photo section.
Bang for the buck?
A coat of paint, some landscaping, clean up, flowers etc. A new wood panel door on the front entry is always impressive, as well as exterior lighting. That glass wall could go, unless theres a spectacular view. Maybe a series of smaller windows.
The world is not growing worse and it is not growing better...its just turning around as usual.-Finley P Dunne
Edited 5/23/2004 12:04 am ET by Turtleneck
Edited 5/23/2004 12:08 am ET by Turtleneck
Looks to me like you could hit it with an 'ArtsCrafts' kind of style easy enough. Change the windows to a 6-over-one sash arrangement, a square,tapered porch posts supporting a low arch, Earthtone color scheme, extend the eaves(needs a roof anyway) and add corbels.
Edited 5/23/2004 8:50 am ET by DAVE HEINLEIN
Hey Karl, just did the same thing, it goes on the market next fri. (Can't hardly wait!) Whereas everyone has some great thoughts for the outside, thought I'd put in my 2 cents for the interior. We had a TOTALLY 70's house, 2200sf, dark paneling, tile, etc. Plus some BAD octogonal windows. Changed those to 5-0's. We didn't do too much structurally, did make a great master bedroom with small bath from a 2nd great room by just adding a wall, and doing a somewhat "open" small bath. But some other really great looking things, done inexpensively was to move a door,& make a couple of archways, (one in a master shower to match entry to bathroom). We did some "killer" tile work, bamboo floors throughout, faux painting, (I know, a bit over the top, but my baby loves to do it, and the house called for it, a bit unique, on a golf-course, and high end) new appliances, painted cabinets, I did my first concrete counter-tops, all new plumbing fixtures, and one of the first things that gets great comments, is the lighting. I hate to admit it, but we did get some at the "ugly box", but for sooo much lighting, we got some great looking, at least, lighting. A totally, completely different house, with about 35,000k. If you can do tile, spend some time to put some creativity too it,& give it a go. If it's the dump on the block of nice homes, don't just white-wash, clean and sell. It seems that our sometime "a bit too far" might pay off pretty well, we'll see. Sorry this is so long-winded, but get excited about this kind of stuff, and love to hear what others are doing. Keep us posted, Beck
That sunroom or whatever needs a re-do.
A horizontal rail with windows framed on top?
Some color that isn't moss?
Maybe just a sunny day....looks dark on that little porch.
Sounds like you have the potential for a nice profit, maybe a look around the neighborhood will give you some ideas to move yours into their price range.
Joe H
Thanks to all for input so far. Keep 'em coming. I thought about contacting NC State, they have an acclaimed architecture dept., but with a very modernist approach. Greenville is a little tobacco town- growing, but pretty conventional. Anything too avante-garde wouldn't fit. The neighborhood is mostly Georgian, Colonial, and updated ranches. My house in the only ugly duckling in the bunch. It was really dark in front, Joe. We hauled away 2 logs trucks worth of timber from the front yard. You can see the house from the road now. It was strange buying a house full of possessions. My son appreciated the 1957 Willies Mays baseball card though. Anyone need a phD in physics diploma?
Karl K
I read an article a few months back that had a list of projects and the percentage of cost recovered when selling the home (averages for 2003). The only one that was over 100 percent was a deck addition. The other exterior items on the list were siding replacement (98 percent), and window replacement (86 percent). Not listed was landscaping, which I believe can add dramatic value if done well.
Steve C.
I kind of like it as-is. Except that the screened porch needs to be enclosed with something a little nicer, and the paint needs to be re-done. Maybe a nicer set of front steps? And landscaping improvements...maybe a curving brick planter.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Edited 5/24/2004 12:57 pm ET by Ed Hilton