Overview on Exterior Home Improvement

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The right home improvement products, techniques, and services:
Contractors, home improvement stores, and specialty shops in your area may not yet have a complete familiarity with the ‘green’ opportunities, products, system integration, and overall savings potential. So, you may get some resistance, since people in general are typically more comfortable recommending something that they are already familiar with rather than something new. To help break the inertia, use the information across this website like our Return on Investment Master ROI Table. Also feel free to post a question in our forum on the message board about a particular need for your home relative to your area. Our team has spent multiple years aggregating research from public and private sector performance reports and from manufacturers and homeowners across the country in order to provide you with the perspective you may need to see the initial payback and long term advantages. Environmental enthusiasts and leading institutions like the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Realtors, see the value and link into our resources to support their members.

The Green Home:
For your overall home improvement, you can save money, improve your family’s health, and save the planet. Find out for free how much it will cost to do different types of home improvement in your home from a qualified and member approved contractor in your area. Get a FREE Quote . Plus, regardless of the size and scope of your home improvement project, save money and keep your home clean with the top rated chemical free and concentrated Green Home Cleaning Products .

Category Checklist:
Make sure to consider the latest Home Improvement products and services. If you are doing the work yourself or planning on working with a home improvement contractor use this checklist below as a guide to review and ask questions about the preferred products, details, and installation techniques related to:
  1. Window Shutters and Awnings: Shading for Energy Savings, Roof Overhangs, Fixed and Retractable Window Awnings, Window Shutters and Hardware and Hurricane Shutters, and Wood and Vinyl Shutters.
  2. Chimneys: Chimney Caps, Chimney Liner, Chimney Construction, Chimney Flashing, and Chimney Cleaning DIY.
  3. Driveways: Driveway Paving Materials, Driveway Sealer, Driveway Gates, Driveway Pavers, Asphalt Paving, Repairing a Driveway, and Concrete and Gravel Driveways.
  4. Gutters and Drainage: Gutters DIY, Gutter Cleaning, Seamless Gutters, Copper Gutters, Gutter Guards, and Home Drainage Systems.
  5. Siding, Stucco, Brick, and Stone: Façade Design and Materials, Vinyl Siding, Log Siding, Cedar Siding, Fiber Cement Siding, Aluminum Siding Repair, Siding Contractors, Stucco Walls, Stone Walls, Brick Walls, Painting Stucco, Stone Masons, and Power Washing Walls.
  6. Roofing: Metal Roofing, Roofing Shingles, Roofing DIY, Copper Roofing, Roof Waterproofing and Winterizing, Roof Materials, Smart Roofs, Green Roofs, Snow Guards, and Roofing Contractors.
  7. Garden Patios, Walkways and Steps, Flagstone Patios, Stamped Concrete Patios, Paver Patios, Patio Installation, Patio Enclosure Installation, Patio Furniture and Maintenance, Patio Umbrellas and Cleaning, Walkway Materials, Walkway Installation, Step Materials, Step Installation, and Power Washing Patios, Walkways and Steps.
  8. Decks and Porches: Deck Plans, Deck Building, Deck Lighting, Deck Materials and Maintenance, Deck Stairs and Railings, Waterproofing a Deck, and Porch Design and Building.

Tips on Exterior Home Improvement:
  1. Clear gutters and downspouts. Water damage often comes from clogged gutters and downspouts; dry weather offers a good opportunity for cleaning them out. For replacing gutters.
  2. Check to see that the grating/swale in the lawn does not contribute to puddling of water and/or running water towards the foundation.
  3. See if the foundation and wall areas of the house could be walled in by earth in any way to help insulate the home and improve drainage away from the house and the foundation.
  4. See if windows could be installed to let light into the lower level thus eliminating the need for day lighting.
  5. Check under any decks, or crawl spaces for insulation, puddling, and air leaks into the house.
  6. Check all crawlspace areas for proper installation of insulation or any puddling in areas that may present problems under the home. Proper ventilation and closed ventilation during the winter should be followed.
  7. Visually inspect siding, vents, roof vents, attic soffit vents, dryer vents, stove vent, chimney, foundation for cracks, all interface areas, siding brick and concrete, eaves and soffits, cable and satellite cable entrances into building. You may need to fix any gaps with expandable foam or caulk.
  8. Windows doors and storm inspections: garage door and basement windows with sills. Inspection of hurricane doors and hurricane door areas. Look for the integrity of the air sealing.
  9. Check exterior caulking around doors and windows, and see whether exterior storm doors and storm windows are sealed tightly and caulked correctly.
  10. Have a professional inspect exterior air handlers and air conditioning units. Inspect fans in any window air-conditioning units. Check coils and filters.
  11. Check gas lines for leaks. Check underground tanks for safety and leaks.
  12. Check exterior lighting. Consider the possibility for solar lights, and solar path lights, and look into photocells and timers regardless of the type of lighting to save money.
  13. Consider a location for a backup generator in a soundproof area if possible. Check exterior water faucets for drips and water pipes for leaks.
  14. Check roof shingles for deterioration over time. Consider Smart Roofs and Green Roofs.
  15. Check siding especially vinyl siding for cracks, pulling way from corner boards, and poorly fitting joints.
  16. Insulate any exterior exposed piping or piping within exterior cases that may not be insulated.
  17. Create a home escape route with your family and stand outside to show them where they could potentially leave the house from upper levels. An emergency ladder may be necessary to add to your purchase list.
  18. Check drainage and standing water areas.
  19. If you have a swimming pool, make sure to use the cover for safety but also 70% of pool heat loss is by evaporation.
  20. Regularly switch the pool filter and sewer operations to off-peak hours at night. Consider Replacing Old Pool Pumps and Motors with the Updated More Efficient Equipment.
  21. Check Condition of Shutters and the possibility of using shutters where there are no storm windows.
  22. Repair any tripping hazards in your sidewalk and driveway. Also consider a ‘permeable’ driveway surface if you are adding a new one or fly ash in concrete if possible.
  23. Deck: go for composite and recycled low maintenance materials on a new deck to reduce maintenance and save reduce the landfill debris.
  24. Trees and shrubs: Check to see if they are situated so that they shade the house during the summer and let sunlight through during the winter.
  25. Use native plantings, rock gardens and low-water gardens to reduce water use and the energy used to support it. Recycled Mulch: Tires, etc...
  26. Consider getting one or more rain barrels to collect water from your downspouts to irrigate your lawn and landscaping.
  27. Solar Energy Assessment: Have a professional in your area come out to provide a free quote and determine if your home is oriented correctly with the right roof pitch and clearance for a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system or Solar Thermal system.
  28. Solar Thermal: You may be able to capture the energy of the sun and heat the water for the house: (uses are for: washing clothes, washing dishes, bathing, and home heating.)
  29. Geothermal Assessment: Have a professional provide a free quotes on the of using the ground temperature to heat and cool your home.
  30. Wind Power: Check to see if you are in a wind zone that would generate an adequate payback on a residential turbine.

Find out for free how much it will cost to do different types of home improvement in your home from a qualified and member approved contractor in your area. Get a FREE Quote.

Home Improvement Basics:
When it comes to home improvement basics, look for interior home improvements like creating a clean, safe, and healthy home through sustainable ‘green’ furniture, home décor, zero VOC and Interior Paint, plus ENERGY STAR Appliances and Electronics. For energy and utility savings you can focus on insulation and air sealing, windows, doors, lighting and skylights, water saving plumbing opportunities, and high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems. On the outside of your house, look for exterior home improvement opportunities through landscape design and gardening plus solar energy, wind and other power sources. If you are undertaking a major home renovation, an additions, or building a new home, then take the lead to ‘go green’ in as many ways as possible to save money and the environment.

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