Better Exterior Home Aesthetics In One Weekend

When it comes to enhancing your home’s curb appeal, a weekend maintenance project can go a long way.

With just one weekend dedicated to these top 10 quick maintenance tips, you’ll definitely improve the aesthetics of your home’s exterior and achieve a refreshed and inviting look that will impress your guests and passersby alike.

Make sure you read to the end of the article for the Schedule of Projects Over Weekend section for a schedule of each task you can follow to be completed from Friday to Sunday evening.

Let’s get to it.

The Top 10 Weekend Home Exterior Maintenance Tips

1. Clean Your Eavestroughs

Cleaning your gutters helps prevent water damage to your home’s foundation and roof and makes your roof-line look neat and tidy.

Once you’re up there, you can remove leaves, twigs, and debris to ensure proper drainage and avoid potential leaks.

Simply use a sturdy ladder and some gloves for safety, and consider installing gutter guards for easier maintenance in the future. They work wonders.

Why clean your eavestroughs?

• By removing debris you ensure water can flow freely through the eavestroughs and prevent overflow and potential damage to the foundation.
• Clean eavestroughs enhance the overall appearance of your home and make it more attractive to visitors and potential buyers.
• Clogged eavestroughs can attract mosquitoes, rodents, and birds, which can be a nuisance and potentially carry diseases.
• Regular cleaning helps prevent rust and corrosion and prolongs the life of your eavestroughs while saving you money on replacement costs.
• Proper drainage prevents water from pooling around your home, which can damage your landscaping.
• Cleaning eavestroughs prevent them from becoming too heavy and pulling away from your home.
• Regular maintenance – including eavestrough cleaning – helps maintain your home’s value and prevents costly repairs in the future.

Don’t stop with the eavestroughs either.

I suggest you read some of the articles this roof company publishes for their clients for ways to ensure your entire roof – not only the eavestroughs – is in top condition throughout the year.

2. Pressure Wash Your Exterior

If you have a pressure washer or can afford an inexpensive model from Canadian Tire, give your home’s exterior a thorough pressure wash to remove dirt, grime, and mildew buildup.

A quick once-over with a pressure washer will do wonders for the external aesthetics of your home and make it look nice and clean for the whole summer.

Focus on areas like siding, walkways, and driveways while using a mild detergent.

Make sure to follow manufacturer instructions to avoid damaging any surfaces.

Why pressure wash your home’s exterior?

• Pressure washing exterior surfaces removes built-up dirt, grime, and other pollutants and restors them to their original appearance.
• Regular pressure washing can prevent mold, mildew, and algae from growing on your exterior surfaces, which eventually can cause damage.
• A clean exterior will significantly improve the curb appeal of your home and make it more attractive to visitors or potential buyers.
• Pressure washing can help maintain your property’s value by keeping it in good condition.
• Pressure washing can remove old paint and prepare surfaces for repainting.
• Pressure washing can help extend the life of your exterior surfaces by removing contaminants.
• Pressure washing removes allergens like pollen and mold spores, and thus improves the air quality around your home.

3. Inspect and Repair Siding

Check your siding for any signs of damage like cracks, rot, or loose panels.

If you repair or replace any damaged sections you’ll maintain the integrity of your home’s exterior and it will look good year round.

Consider painting or staining your siding for a fresh look and added protection against the elements.

Why inspect your siding?

• Prevent water damage: Inspecting and repairing damaged siding can prevent water from seeping into your home’s walls, which can lead to mold, mildew, and rot.
• Improve energy efficiency: Damaged siding can allow air to escape from your home, reducing its energy efficiency and increasing your utility bills.
• Enhance curb appeal: Repairing damaged siding can improve the overall appearance of your home, making it more attractive to visitors and potential buyers.
• Maintain structural integrity: Siding helps protect your home’s structure from the elements, so repairing damaged siding can help maintain its structural integrity.
• Increase property value: A well-maintained exterior, including siding, can increase your property’s value and make it more appealing to buyers.
• Prevent pest infestations: Damaged siding can provide entry points for pests like termites and carpenter ants, so repairing it can help prevent infestations.
• Ensure safety: Loose or damaged siding can pose a safety hazard, especially during high winds or storms, so repairing it can help ensure your safety.

4. Trim Trees and Shrubs

Get your garden and lawn neat and tidy by trimming trees and shrubs that are overgrown or obstructing the view of your home.

This will improve your home’s curb appeal and promote healthy growth for the rest of the season.

Why do landscaping trimming?

• Well-trimmed trees and shrubs enhance the appearance of your property and make it more attractive.
• Regular trimming encourages healthy growth and allows more sunlight and air circulation.
• Overgrown trees and shrubs can damage your home’s siding, roof, and foundation and make the property look shaddy.
• By removing low-hanging branches and other hazards you reduce the risk of injury to you and your family.
• Properly maintained landscaping increases your property’s value and makes it more appealing to buyers.
• Trimming trees and shrubs improves your views from inside your home too.
• A well-trimmed property creates a neat and tidy appearance.

5. Paint Your Front Door

A fresh coat of paint anywhere on the exterior of your home can do wonders for its appearance.

Why not paint your front door in a bold color that complements the rest of your home’s color scheme.

This minor update can make a big impact on your home’s overall appearance.

Why paint your front door?

• A freshly painted front door can significantly improve the overall appearance of your home.
• Painting your front door can increase your home’s value and enhance its appearance.
• Your front door is an opportunity to express your personal style.
• A properly painted front door can help seal out drafts and improve energy efficiency.
• Paint provides a protective barrier against the elements and helps prevent weather damage.
• A painted front door can draw attention and add visual interest to your home.
• Painting your front door is a quick way to give it a fresh, new look.

6. Upgrade Your Exterior Hardware

Start by replacing a few old and worn-out hardware like door handles, the mailbox, and even your house numbers.

This is a quick and affordable way to instantly enhance the look of your home’s exterior and give it a minor upgrade.

Why upgrade exterior hardware?

• Upgrading your hardware will enhance the overall appearance of your home in a quick timeframe.
• New hardware like locks and door handles will improve the security of your home.
• Upgraded hardware will increase your home’s value.
• Updated hardware will create a positive first impression for visitors and potential buyers.

7. Upgrade External Lighting

You can also upgrade your outdoor lighting fixtures. This will improve visibility and can add a new touch of elegance to your home’s exterior.

Things to consider installing are solar-powered lights along pathways or adding a statement light fixture on your porch for an added touch.

Why upgrade external lighting?

• It takes less than an hour to do this project depending on how much updating you plan to do.
• Proper lighting can improve safety and reduce the risk of trips and falls.
• Well-lit areas can deter potential intruders and provide better visibility for security cameras.
• Lighting can be used to highlight architectural features of your home and add more visual interest.
• Well-planned and placed lighting can increase your home’s value in the case that you’re selling it.

Remember, LED lighting and solar-powered options improve energy efficiency and reduce your electricity bills so consider these options where available.

8. Mow and Weed Your Lawn

Take a few hours to mow, weed, and water your lawn and while you’re at it, make a schedule to do this at least once a month.

You can consider aerating and fertilizing your lawn to promote healthy growth throughout the summer.

Remember, a well-maintained lawn will significantly enhance your home’s curb appeal and you definitely can get your lawn looking great and ready for the season in one weekend.

Why mow and weed your lawn?

• You’ll significantly improve the appearance of your home from the outside.
• Lawn maintenance maintains your property value.
• Mowing helps prevent weeds from taking root and competing with your grass for nutrients and sunlight.
• Regular watering, fertilizing, and aerating promotes healthy grass growth and green lawn.
• A maintained lawn provides a space for outdoor activities.
• Strong grass roots prevent soil erosion and protects your property from water damage.

If you’re really into maintaining your lawn, read this article on the benefits of adding an automatic sprinkler system. You can save money, and ensure your lawn is green all summer!

9. Clean Your Windows

If you clean your windows you’ll definitely brighten up your home’s exterior and improve your view from inside too.

Clean both the inside and outside of the windows. This will make everything crystal clear and if you haven’t done this in a while, you’ll really notice the difference.

This project should only take about 20 minutes and you just need to use a simple glass cleaner and a squeegee or paper towels.

Why clean your windows?

• Allow more natural light to enter your home and brighten up your living spaces.
• Provide clearer views of the outdoors and let you enjoy the scenery from inside.
• Improve their efficiency and reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.
• Improve the overall appearance of your home, which can make it more appealing to buyers.
• Reduce the build-up of allergens and pollutants.
• Enhances the overall aesthetic of your home’s exterior.

10. Add Finishing Touches

Complete your exterior makeover by adding finishing touches such as a new welcome mat, potted plants, outdoor furniture and other accessories.

Try not to be too tacky but these small additions can make your home feel more inviting and enhance its overall appeal.

Why add finishing touches?

• Most finishing touches don’t take too much time to complete, but can go a long way to optimizing the external aesthetics.
• Adding finishing touches lets you personalize your outdoor space and make it feel like home.
• Finishing touches such as a welcome mat or patio plants create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
• Outdoor furniture or decorative accents enhance the exterior appearance.
• Certain finishing touches make your outdoor spaces more inviting and enjoyable.
• Thoughtfully decorated outdoor spaces can increase your property’s value.
• Finishing touches like outdoor lighting or seating add new levels of functionality to your outdoor space.

Get Your Pen and Paper or Print this Page

Transforming your home’s exterior doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

Like we said in the beginning, much of these can be done over one weekend if you start Friday afternoon.

By dedicating just one weekend to these quick maintenance tips, you’ll achieve noticeable results and you’ll be proud of your property – we promise.

Schedule of Projects Over Weekend

Friday:

1. Clean Your Gutters
   • Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
   • Friday Afternoon: Start by cleaning your gutters to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage. Use a ladder and gloves for safety.
2. Trim Trees and Shrubs
   • Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
   • Friday Evening: Trim any overgrown trees and shrubs of your landscaping.

Saturday:

3. Pressure Wash Your Exterior
   • Time to Complete: 2-4 hours
   • Saturday Morning: Focus on siding, walkways, and driveways.
4. Inspect and Repair Siding
   • Time to Complete: 2-3 hours
   • Saturday Afternoon: Inspect your siding for damage such as cracks or rot. Repair or replace damaged sections to maintain your home’s exterior.
5. Upgrade Your Hardware
   • Time to Complete: 1.5 hours
   • Saturday Evening: Upgrade hardware such as door handles and house numbers to enhance your home’s appearance and security.

Sunday:

6. Paint Your Front Door
   • Time to Complete: 1-3 hours
   • Sunday Morning: Paint your front door to enhance your home’s curb appeal and express your style.
7. Enhance Your Lighting
   • Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
   • Sunday Afternoon: Upgrade your outdoor lighting fixtures and improve visibility.
8. Maintain Your Lawn
   • Time to Complete: 1-3 hours
   • Sunday Evening: Mow, weed, and water your lawn to keep it looking lush and green.

Throughout the Weekend:

9. Clean Your Windows
   • Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
   • As Needed: Clean your windows to improve natural light and enhance views.
10. Add Finishing Touches
    • Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
    • As Needed: Add finishing touches like a welcome mat, outdoor furniture and other personalized accessories.

By following this weekend schedule, you can complete all 10 tasks and significantly improve the aesthetics of your home’s exterior in just one weekend.