We’re in Rhode Island to meet the winner of our Elevate Your Exterior Contest. Her name is Merry Beth Cutler and her 25-year-old home is about to get an exterior makeover, courtesy of the contest sponsors, Therma-Tru Doors, Fypon Millwork and Fiberon Decking.
Even though Merry Beth’s home has been well cared for, wood components have started showing wear and tear. And the old metal door was neither energy efficient, nor very attractive.
That’s why we’re here!
Home Exterior Makeover: New Front Door
Merry Beth and her mom watch as the crew removes their old front door. And, after prepping the opening, a new fiberglass unit is set into place — and what a difference it makes!
Jerry Flanigan from Therma-Tru helped Merry Beth choose a door from its Classic-Craft collection.
Therma-Tru doors look, feel and sound like authentic wood doors. They can stand up to extreme weather and moisture, and resist rotting, warping or twisting.
Adding Decorative Trim
Monochromatic siding and trim on the front of the house offer no real character to the place, so we realized the new front door and Merry Beth’s windows needed dressing up.
That’s next on the list for this home’s exterior makeover!
The front door and all the front windows get some detailed polyurethane trim from Fypon. It goes up around the door with help from the foreman, Andrew Fenster.
This one-piece trim is a low-maintenance alternative to the four pieces of wood that would be required to create the same look. (And those pieces would have to be caulked and painted, and re-caulked whenever temperature changes caused the wood to expand and contract.)
Replacing the Deck
The wood deck needed painting every few years, and Merry Beth wanted a low-maintenance option, so we’re installing Fiberon composite decking.
This decking is capped top and bottom, so it’s perfect for a second-story deck. And its hidden fastener system means there are no visible screws.
With the thumbs up from Fiberon’s Dave Jarvis, the backyard deck is transformed, and this home’s exterior makeover is almost complete.
Replacing the Screen Door
While looking for more projects to tackle during this home’s exterior makeover, we found a door that needs some new screen. Suddenly, we had our own project, helping Merry Beth repair the screen door that leads to the deck.
Replacing the screen is easy and requires just a few tools. Watch “How to Repair a Sliding Patio Door Screen” for the step-by-step guide!
Painting Carriage Lights
We know Merry Beth wants everything on her home to match, and when she sees the front door’s new handle, it’s clear that the brass carriage lights clash.
So, we removed those lights and let Chelsea work her magic. She shows Merry Beth how to block out the light fixtures with painters tape and spray-paint that brass black.
Post-Production Thoughts
Following this exterior makeover, Merry Beth’s home has a great new look.
The Therma-Tru fiberglass door adds color, character and energy efficiency, while the new beefier Fypon moldings around it and the window beg neighbors to notice them and the rest of the house.
And the Fiberon decking and rails out back not only look incredible, they’ll continue to look that way for years to come.
Other Tips from this Episode
 | Simple Solutions Woodworking Tip: How to Hold Wood in Place |
 | Best New Products The Best Plug-In Bug Trapper for Your Home |
| Watch & Learn How to Repair a Sliding Patio Screen Door |
Further Reading
- Outside Makeover for First Time Homeowner House
- Adding a Deck and Landscaping the First Time Homeowner House
- Incredible Before-and-After Home Exteriors to Inspire Your Renovation
