Exterior trim is a great way to add style and character to your home. It’s also a way to ensure that you match the color of the exterior paint on your house. It is necessary to know what type of material should be used in the interior and exterior parts of the house. The best way to design this is by knowing what will work with your home and what won’t. This article will cover some things you’ll need to consider when designing the exterior trim for your home.
Use Fascia Boards Below the Roof Line
If you’re looking for something easy to install and protect the wall’s surface from moisture and weather, consider using fascia board panels below the roof line. They also add style to your home. In addition, fascia boards are an essential part of your home’s exterior trim.
These boards are made out of wood or vinyl. These materials are easy to install on any flat surface and come in various styles and colors, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. You may also consider metal fascia boards which tend to be more durable than other materials but can require professional installation.
Overall Exterior Design
When designing your home’s exterior trim, you should keep the overall design of your home in mind. For example, consider using a simple design for the trim if you have a ranch-style home. On the other hand, if you have more ornate features on the house’s exterior, use an ornate design for the trim.
If you have a Colonial-style house with many windows and doors, use a more ornate or contemporary design. On the other hand, if it is a modern or contemporary home with few windows and doors, consider using simpler designs that fit into this house style better than other styles that might work out.
Landscaping
The exterior of your home is the first thing people see when they drive up to it, so it’s necessary to make a good impression. In addition to the aesthetic aspects of landscaping, there are also practical benefits. For example, planting trees provides shade on hot summer days and keeps the house cooler by blocking direct sunlight from entering through windows.
In addition, it can help save on energy costs. An average American pays a hefty amount of money on energy bills. A recent report estimates an average annual residential energy bill is more than $2,500 in the US.
Trees also help reduce noise pollution from cars passing by on the street outside your home. You might not notice it too much when you’re inside, but having them as sound buffers will make a big difference for those who live in areas with heavy traffic.
Landscaping can cost you anything, between $50 to $7,000, depending upon the nature and complexity of the job. Around 80% of the total cost includes labor because landscapers charge hourly, varying from $50 to $100 per hour.
Siding
Siding is the material you use to cover your exterior walls. It can be made of wood, vinyl, aluminum, or fiber cement.
Siding helps protect your home from the elements, but it can also be decorative. Thus, consider how you want it to look and maintain when choosing the side for your home’s exterior trim design.
Some types of siding require little maintenance, such as vinyl and aluminum, which are durable and resistant to moisture damage. But if you want more low-maintenance options with a more traditional look, consider cedar shingles or shakes that feature minimal upkeep and require little care except occasional cleaning. A mild soap water solution is enough to rinse off dirt during outdoor rains.
Roofing
When it comes to roofing materials, there are many factors to consider. First and foremost, you’ll want a material that will stand the test of time in your climate. In addition to determining the best type of shingle or tile for your home’s design, consider what kind of maintenance a particular material requires. For example, some clay tiles require more maintenance than asphalt shingles. On the other hand, metal roofs are much more durable than wood shake siding, while slate roofs can last decades longer than asphalt shingles.
Once you’ve chosen a suitable material, you’ll be able to find out if it will work well with your home’s design by checking out samples.
Paint and Stain Colors
You should also consider the colors of your exterior trim, which can impact the overall look and feel of your home to a great extent. You can choose a color that matches other trim pieces around your house, but also be sure to think about how it will look when paired with landscaping. For example, if you have bright blue shutters on one side of your house and red shutters on another side, it might not be more pleasing to look at. On the contrary, if both sides match each other in a lighter shade such as green or white, it will look more pleasant.
Paint is an integral part of exterior trim, and you cannot set aside painting while doing exterior redesigning to your house. However, the average home exterior painting expenses could range between $3,750 to $9,750. Therefore, the minimum cost to paint an 1100 sq ft house exterior could be around $2547, while a 1,500 sq ft house could cost around $5,362. A 2,500 to 3,500 sq ft big house can cost a whopping $12,690 for painting the exteriors.
Even though the cost of painting is high, if done correctly, it can last for a long time. Properly painted exteriors would only require a rework after 5-10 years.
Color-Coding Trim Elements
You can use color coding to make your trim elements easier to identify. For example, you might decide to use black as your primary trim color, with a red accent and white trim as secondary colors. This system makes it simple for guests and passersby to understand what kind of items they’re seeing without thinking too much about it.
Another way you can go about this is by using different shades of the same color, such as dark wood on baseboards, while using lighter wood for crown molding or chair rail details. These are all still considered part of one overall “wood” theme, but each has distinct characteristics and uses that help differentiates them from one another.
Size of Trim Pieces
When outfitting your home’s trim, you need to make sure that all of the pieces are consistent with one another. In other words, they should be the same size. The best way to ensure consistency is by ensuring that all the trim pieces are made from the same wood.
Additionally, your trim piece(s) must match up with what’s already on your house and match up with each other. For example, if there are several styles of windows in your home, then maybe try using one type for all of your doorways or two different types for two doors.
Designing the Exterior Trim Might Feel Overwhelming, But These Tips Should Help
When designing the exterior trim of your home, remember that you’re not just making a house into a home. You’re also designing an extension of yourself and your family.
The exterior trim can make a statement about yourself and express your personality like no other part of the house can. The right choice will add detail and character to the exterior design while also making it more recognizable as yours.
If you’re ready to start your exterior trim design, remember that trim can be both functional and decorative. Try not to forget about either when planning out the details of your project. There are no rules for this kind of home improvement.
