How can I renovate this house (pics incl) from the Outside?

Question

I have been looking for new house for awhile I finally found one in a good location and I am considering buying it.However it is quite ugly from the outside (the inside looks fantastic)

What measures can I take to make this house(minus garden) better from the outside? I really dislike the orange bricks and white roof.

My budget is probably 10k. Thanks in advance for your answers!

This is the picture : http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6674/z103544935ml1167829840cr2.jpg

Answer 1

I have a vision of revamping your homes front into a craftsman style home. You will be faking it basically but you can totally pull this off. Try visiting this site and look at the craftsman style and see if you even enjoy that look.

http://www.craftsmanperspective.com/docs/midwest.html#thumbnail

Your home has a good start for a dress up like this. I saw a home very similar to yours done in this style on home remodel show. Sorry I tried to find the episode but couldn't remember.

If you like that style. Look at some other craftsman architecture site and check out the magazines at Lowes and HD.

Answer 2

The bricks that you currently have are probably the most durable and maintenance free exterior that you could have.

The bricks can be painted but this will have a tendancy to peel over time. You could plaster over the bricks directly, which would give a spanish-adobe look where the shapes of the bricks are somewhat visible. You could also use a lathe and plaster method which would involve nailing a wire material (lathe) to the bricks a applying a couple of layers of plaster.

Personally I would keep the bricks and replace the white roof with something more rustic and paint the white trim a more neutral or rustic color. I would also replace the aluminum cover across the from with a more rustic looking cover.
You could replace the front door with newer one to match whatever decor you decide upon.
Replacing windows with new energy efficient ones is a possibility or even a slider?
I would need to see more to give more definitive ideas.

Good luck with your project

Doug

Answer 3

All right, I have done some thinking on this one! I flip houses all the time with cosmetic faults. You know what they say, " brick is forever" but however there are some things you can do without getting to expensive.(1) You can always paint the brick,but if you do!, use a good concrete primer to start, this is probably the most cost effective(2) Your brick company's now make this stuff that is simulated stack stone and it looks fabulous but its is expensive, although you could do just the front and still have enough money to change your roof color.To me it looked like in the photo you have a Spanish tile roof? You can always replace it with a different color or paint it but the same thing applys with the primer.The best way to save you self some serious bucks is to do to job our yourself.Also beef up your landscaping a little, maybe some retainer walls or something.I f you need anymore info email me at [e-mail]! By the way I did the stack stone myself on the first try with no trouble.

Answer 4

I have to say think it's a nice looking house altho maybe the orange is stronger in person. You could paint the bricks or cover them with stucco or some stuff like that to give it a new look. I've also seen on HGTV where they use some kind of wash on bricks, like diluted white paint, to tone them down a bit if the color is too intense. I imagine you could also paint the white trim altho it looks like you have some metal soffits that might not be paintable.

Answer 5

i think there is too much contrast in the colors... i would stain the brick, then, brick in the bottom of the windows (in the front).. i wouldn't put stucco on it at all! i'm not sure how expensive that is either. i think home depot, lowes, or some other home improvement store can use pictures, and change the colors, windows, and roof while you are there. just like when you are building a house..they can change the pitch of the roof.
good luck, and have fun!!!

Answer 6

Since replacing brick would be terribly expensive.... try painting it a different color, or covering in a nice stucco. The roof can be re-shingled in a different color as well. I would also re-paint the windows & trim to give it a cheap "facelift"

Answer 7

a few more pics will help a lot, u can try and build some arches in front even if there not solid they will create a completely different view and hide the brick or cover it with some kind of stone (flagstone).

Answer 8

ok because you aksed i am going to allow you to already know the truth of what i imagine. commence with the hair. evidently like lifeless, ironed doll hair. shrink it to a bob and get a sparkling shade brown with some golden highlights. enable it strengthen out so it would want to look healthful. your face structure might want to look great in a bob. makeup. Your eyeliner is merely too harsh and it makes your lips look merely about non-existent. your chin is amazingly pointy extra making your mouth disappear. you've appropriate eyes, yet you're aggrevating your looks with the eyeliner. stability your useful factors by giving your lips some interest. Line them and use lighter colorings with gloss. for your eyes use lighter shads of eco-friendly (khaki) and concentrate on thick lashes. this may stability out slightly your huge eyes and tiny mouth.