Besides maintaining the inside of your home, you also want to keep the outside looking great. Ignoring a problem when it’s first noticed can lead to bigger, more expensive problems down the road. Many times, the issue is that people don’t know what to look for.
Here are several ways you can tell if your home needs exterior renovation.
Major Home Problems: Rotted Wood
If the wood around your home is rotting, you should be able to tell fairly quickly. This can include wood on your deck, and around the windows and doors of your house. Wood rot is usually classified into three different categories; brown rot, soft rot, and white rot.
Common Types of Wood Rot
- Brown rot is often called dry rot. When this happens, the surface of the wood looks brown and dry. This is typically seen in areas where the temperatures are warm.
- White rot has a whitish or yellow coloring. It also feels spongy. It can be seen in areas where the temperatures range between 65 and 90 degrees.
- Soft rot decomposes wood at a slower rate and thrives in any temperature. If you look at your wood and it has a honeycomb appearance, that’s a sign of soft rot.
While these problems may be visible, there are times when it’s more hidden. Sometimes, it’s a matter of needing to feel the wood and see if it feels spongy or wet. Professionals also have special tools they can use to determine wood rot and if you need deck repair or in some cases, complete deck restoration. The same tools can be used for wood around windows and doors.
Structural Issues
Rotted wood is a major problem that you’ll want to get fixed as soon as possible. If the wood is dry and rotted, it can cause structural problems. Sagging floors or a sagging roof are a common sign of structural damage in the home.
Health Hazards
These can be hazardous and dangerous. If the wood is wet and rotted, there are mold issues that can surface, leading to health problems.
Completely Eliminate Your Home’s Wood Rot
No matter what type of wood rot you’re dealing with, you’ll want to get it fixed right away. In many cases, this entails replacing all of the wood. That may be the only way to feel confident that you’ve gotten rid of the rotted wood completely.
When you hire a professional to do the job, you can feel confident that all of the wood is being securely fastened and treated.
Signs of Bad Shingles/Roof Damage
A typical roof lasts between 20 and 25 years. If your roof is around that age or older, you can expect to start to see some problems.
Bad shingles or roof damage are two things you’ll want to get fixed as soon as possible. One tell-tale sign is that roof shingles are loose or missing. If the shingles haven’t fallen off yet, they may be curling, cracking, or sagging.
Other signs of roof damage include leaks inside your home as well as any dark stains on your ceiling. You may also notice rotting tiles. If you notice any of these things, you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible. Ignoring this can lead to severe damage inside your home.
Your roof and shingles are two things you don’t want to turn into a DIY project. You’ll want to call a professional to get the job done right. If your roof shingles are not on properly, you may feel the effects inside your home, such as leaks.
Lesser Home Problems: Old Paint and other Features
There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint on your house for it to really stand out and look amazing. Just as a fresh coat of paint looks amazing, an old coat of paint can really bring the value of your house down.
Over time, the paint on the exterior of your home will need to get painted.
Some signs of old paint include:
- Peeling
- Cracking
- Bubbling
If you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to call an exterior painter in Raleigh to get the job done. Painting your house requires more than just slapping on a new coat. You must clean the exterior first which usually involves power washing. There is also scraping involved before you can actually begin painting.
Because this can be tedious and may require standing on tall ladders, it’s best to leave the exterior painting to the professionals.
If you have a brick house, it will also have to be cleaned before any new paint is put on. Brick painting needs to be done by a professional as well because you want it to look as natural as possible.
Signs You Need New Shutters, Gutters, and Doors
There may come a time when you’ll need new shutters, gutters, and doors.
Here are some things to look for:
Shutters
One obvious sign that you need new shutters will be when you see them flapping in the air. If you try to fix them and they still have a mind of their own, it’s time to repair them. When the paint starts to peel or the slats become broken or warped, you’ll also want to get new ones or at least try to repaint and fix them. Many times if you’ve upgraded your windows, you’ll also need to get new shutters.
To repair your shutters, you may just have to paint them or you may have to completely take them out and replace them. Either way, hiring a professional can give you peace of mind that the job will be done right the first time.
Gutters
Unsightly gutters can be a major sign that your home needs exterior renovation. Signs that you need new gutters include any cracks or splits, peeling paint, pools of water or signs of mildew around your home’s foundation, and sagging gutters that begin to pull away from the house.
If you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to have your gutters replaced. Gutters are important because they direct water away from your home’s exterior walls, windows, and doors. If gutters are not replaced properly, water can seep into your home.
This is another project to cross off your DIY list. The project entails putting entirely new gutters up and making sure they are placed properly and securely. It can be dangerous if not handled by professionals.
Doors
The door is the entranceway to your home and the focal point of many porches. If your door looks dilapidated or crumbling, that’s a clear sign that your home needs exterior renovation. Doors can become weathered or warped which is one major reason for replacement.
Moisture, mold, and mildew are also signs that you’ll want to have your door replaced, as well as any noticeable drafts.
Taking your old door off and putting the new one is something you’ll want to leave to the professionals. You want to be sure the door is not only the right size but that everything lines up properly.
Call Our Raleigh Exterior Renovation Services Company!
When your home needs exterior renovation, you can count on Osborne Painting to get the job done. Whether it’s fixing rotting wood, exterior painting, gutter repair, or deck restoration, our professionals do it right the first time.
Call Osborne Painting today at 919-878-6611 for an estimate.