Exterior Home Improvements
Improvements to your home’s exterior are critical to fending off the weather, presenting a proud face to the neighborhood, and ensuring the value of your home. Roofing, siding, windows and other parts of the exterior shell of your home are the barrier between Mother Nature and your family—it pays to keep them in good shape.
In this family of articles, we look at buying, improving, repairing, and maintaining all of the components of your home’s exterior, including the yard and landscape. Pick a section below to dig deeper.
Aluminum & Steel Siding
Expert advice about aluminum and steel siding, the benefits and drawbacks of metal siding, with tips on installation, maintenance and care.
Architectural Detailing
One feature that all outstanding traditional-style homes share is great architectural millwork: the moldings, posts, columns, and other detailing applied to house exteriors.
Asphalt Roofing
Asphalt shingles are relatively affordable, easy to apply, fire-resistant, comparatively lightweight, available almost everywhere, and durable enough to last for 15 to 40 years.
Brick & Stucco Siding
Brick is one of the most durable siding materials. It doesn’t need to be painted, doesn’t rot or fade, and weathers handsomely. It also provides excellent insulation for your house.
Built-Up (Flat) Roofing
“Flat” roofs (which usually have a very slight slope) utilize a roofing system that is completely sealed and therefore impervious to leaking, as long as they're designed properly.
Exterior Painting
When it comes to improving your home, one of the quickest, easiest, and least expensive ways to make a significant impact is to paint the siding and trim.
Garage Doors
Is your garage door an eyesore or falling apart? If so, this section has what you need to buy, repair, or maintain this outdoor investment.
Gutters & Downspouts
Rain gutters and downspouts are critically important for protecting your home from water damage. This section will help you with selection, installation, cleaning, and more.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs are favored for their fire-resistant qualities, longevity, and speed of installation. The material is also surprisingly lightweight and great at reflecting heat from the sun, among other benefits.
Plywood & Panel Siding
Plywood, oriented-strand board (OSB), and hardboard are significantly less expensive than real wood and offer effective usage of wood by-products.
Roofing (All)
Some roofing materials, such as slate, wood shakes, and copper, have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Learn about them, as well as how to repair and maintain them in this section.
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has been a very popular type of house siding in the United States since its invention in the late 1950s, no doubt because it is durable, easy to maintain, rot- proof, termite-proof, and much less expensive than the traditional product it imitates—wood siding.
Windows
Admitting in natural light, permitting views to the yard and beyond, providing natural ventilation—windows perform a number of critical roles in a home.
Wood & Shingle Siding
Wood board siding has long been a favorite of homeowners because of its natural beauty.
Exterior Home Improvement Articles
10 House Painting Rules You Should Never Break
No home improvement project revives, protects and beautifies a house as quickly, effectively and affordably as exterior painting. A new coat of paint can completely
How to Prepare Walls for Vinyl or Aluminum Siding
Learn how to prepare walls for vinyl aluminum siding in this expert how-to, with diagrams and steps for preparing, sheathing, and furring walls for siding.
Hurricane-Proof Garage Doors Keep Your Family Safe
Do you live in an area that is vulnerable to hurricanes? If you do, when it comes to choosing a garage door, be sure to
How to Install Rain Gutters
DIY tips for vinyl, steel, and aluminum gutter installation, including taking measurements In This Article: Gutter Sizes & Profiles Installation Advice While most gutter installations
How to Repair an Asphalt Shingle Roof
Expert advice on how to repair an asphalt shingle roof, including repairing torn or curled asphalt shingles and replacing badly damaged shingles. Includes advice on
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Featured: Roofing & Siding
How to Install Vertical Vinyl Siding
Common Roofing Terms | An Illustrated Glossary
Pros & Cons of Metal Roofing
Repairing Hardboard & Plywood Siding
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