Welcome to the Kleber & Associates blog! Here’s the latest on Choosing the Best Outdoor Projects to Enhance Your Home and Lifestyle
Sunnier skies appear to be on the horizon for homeowners, as interest rates remain low, home prices rise and the summer months hold the promise of a little extra time around the house. Whether for the purpose of adding value, enjoyment or expanded living space to the home, many homeowners are considering a wide range of indoor and outdoor projects. Making the right product decisions for the remodeling project and staying within the budget are important elements for guaranteeing complete satisfaction when the job is done.
If you choose to remodel, do your homework and carefully select your home renovation project to be sure to add value and enjoyment to your home. According to Katie Insogna, Vice President of Rubicon Construction Inc., kitchens and baths are typically the first spaces home owners renovate, but this type of renovation can be very expensive. “Most of our clients are looking to add more functional living space that they can use now, and know that when the house is sold the numbers will add up,” says Insogna. “We have seen a large increase in basement renovation as well as adding outdoor living space by growing families that want to expand the footprint of their existing living area.”
Freshen Up Your Exterior Living Space
While tackling an entire basement may extend your living area, one of the most popular home replacement projects is updating the entry door. For instant curb appeal, there is nothing like a beautiful – and durable – front entry door.
Fiberglass Door. Since your front door speaks volumes about your home, it is important to invest some time and learn about the improvements in door materials as well as the multitude of entry door designs available. According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, steel entry doors and fiberglass entry doors are both high-value projects. Steel doors topped the list of popular exterior remodeling projects with an estimated ROI of 85.6 percent. Fiberglass doors also give homeowners a nice ROI at 65.9 percent.
Gay Pennell Payne, owner of DIY Decorating Plan, is a particular fan of fiberglass doors and the Masonite Belleville Smooth BLS- Full Lite. According to Payne, “The options for homeowners are abundant for homeowners to make a home lifestyle statement. Many of my clients are particularly fond of the Belleville® Fiberglass 2-Panel Door Collection and the Barrington® Sierra Fiberglass 1-Panel Plank Camber Top Door. The Belleville door combines great architecture with a high-definition panel profile, while the Barrington Sierra fiberglass door is designed to complement Southwest-, Spanish- or Mediterranean-style homes and has a beautiful mahogany texture.”
Whatever you home’s architectural style, you can create the door of your dreams from a range of Masonite door and glass design options, including sidelights and transoms. And, you will enjoy its beauty and low maintenance for years.
Outdoor Living. A popular home renovation project involves moving outside to create an outdoor living space. Outdoor living projects add character to any property, as well as a “‘wow” factor for entertaining. There are more products, styles and choices than ever when it comes to creating a fabulous outdoor living space.
Outdoor Kitchen. Let’s start with an outdoor kitchen – there’s no need to go out when you can invite family and friends to gather at your house for a backyard cookout or dining alfresco under the stars. Whether the goal is to build a poolside bar for entertaining, or a fully equipped kitchen for a crowd to enjoy; an outdoor kitchen has been proven to add value and fun to the family home.
“Now, more than ever, we are seeing homeowners getting excited about designing their outdoor kitchens. They want choices and ways to make the “look” their own,” said Mitch Slater, president and founder of Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens. “They love powder coat finishes in faux wood and a myriad of custom colors—these allow designers to create a luxurious look with little to no maintenance.”
Architectural Structures. Another way to make your outdoor space more inviting is to add an outdoor structure. Many homeowners opt to have an extension of their indoor living or family rooms continue outdoors. Pergolas, gazebos and arbors are a great way to add architectural interest and charm to your space; and, they add shelter to your outdoor kitchen and dining area.
In fact, Walpole PVC pergolas are available with retractable fabric canopies to provide shade and shelter when the weather changes. By covering the space and furnishing it with stylish and comfortable furniture pieces, you can invite guests to relax outdoors, rain or shine.
“With today’s busy lifestyles, now more than ever people want to create spaces for relaxation with family and friends. A commanding outdoor presence as an entranceway, or outdoor room, a Walpole PVC pergola adds sophistication and charm to any home,” said Lou Maglio, president of Walpole Outdoors. “In addition to our pergola kits, which are easy to install, we offer custom designed pergolas for special installations.”
Railing Infill. For that special view from the deck, homeowners may want to look at replacing their current wood picket railing with a stylish and durable alternative – CableRail infill. One look at CableRail steel cable assemblies by Feeney will make a homeowner a true believer in a minimalist design statement. Available in an array of standard and custom fabricated stainless steel cable assemblies, CableRail by Feeney is made of weatherproof, 316-grade stainless steel with an assortment of attachment hardware options. It is a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly, and visually unobtrusive alternative to commonly used wooden or metal picket infill.
According to Katrina Ralston, president of Feeney, “CableRail infill is the greatest infill product and yet many people are unaware of its versatility, durability, strength and virtual invisibility. From coast to coast, homeowners are excited to be able to enjoy their view and contractors love the easy installation.”
For more information about obtaining products for your next home renovation project, please visit:
www.danver.com
www.feeneyinc.com
www.masonite.com
www.walpoleoutdoors.com
