When remodeling your home, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the fancy trimmings and personal touches that make a home aesthetically pleasing. And these are important aspects of remodeling a home, to be sure. But equally important — in some cases, perhaps more important — are the practical aspects of a home. These two can be improved or even replaced during a remodeling job. With that being said, it’s usually easier to do these types of remodels with the help of a professional company — doing it by yourself wouldn’t be easy, and if you end up with bad results the fixes can be fairly expensive. For that matter, issues like roofing and window selections are not so much matters of personal taste as they are matters of what works best for your home, the area in which you live, and your budget. For those reasons, among others, avoid any amateur work when it comes to these parts of renovations. You be glad you did. There are many different options to choose from when it comes to everything from types of house siding to several window selections. Below, we’ll list some of the things you should prioritize when remodeling your home.
1. Windows
Whether you’re updating or entirely overhauling your windows, you’ll discover that there are several window selections on the market for almost any type of home. Windows are more important to a home’s value than many of us realize — in fact, a window replacement can recoup about 73 to 77% of its original cost when a home is sold. That’s a great return on your investment. The thing about windows is that they aren’t just aesthetically pleasing; they’re also rather important when it comes to protecting your home from the elements. A poorly installed window might fail to keep cool air out, while letting warm air in. For that matter, windows can be prone to cracking if they’re too old or of poor quality. For example, of the several window selections available, single pane glass windows are probably among the least efficient. Though they’re present in most homes built before the mind 1990s, they can seriously affect your heating and cooling bills due to their inefficiency. By replacing inefficient windows with more updated, efficient versions, you can lower your energy bills by 7% to 15%, according to Energy Star. Therefore, when choosing from several window selections, find something that is pleasing to the eye — but prioritize efficiency over anything else.
2. Sidings
Many of us don’t think about sidings in our daily lives — but how strange would homes look without them? Sidings are an important part of a house’s aesthetic appeal, and a lack of good sidings can seriously affect your house’s overall value. For example, old, worn down sidings can lower your home’s value by up to 10%. On the other hand, replacement vinyl sidings have a return on investment rate of about 81.6%. This makes them well worth the investment, while at the same time not being overly difficult to install or replace. In particular, vinyl can be a time efficient option for homeowners, in that it doesn’t require any painting and is low maintenance. When well maintained, vinyl siding can also last for 40 years. Siding is so completely basic that less is really more, and you should consider choosing material for its longevity, versus specific aesthetic qualities.
3. Roofing
Nobody wants to think about repairing or replacing a roof. It’s a time-consuming project, but the fact is that you do need to have your roof regularly examined. Remember that it’s best to avoid installing a roof over an existing roof; this can cut the lifespan of your new roof by as much as 20%. Consult with roofing experts about the type of roof that will best suit your needs; you can combine a great look with durability and longevity. When it comes to roofing, be picky.
