We’re helping a family improve the curb appeal on their 1970s modern rustic home.
This home belongs to Denver and Alexis Damron, who have five children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The couple became empty-nesters last year, but their home is where the whole family plays and prays — and it needs some work.
For starters, Alexis and Denver need to replace their roof for the second time in 27 years, so they’ve decided to go with a metal roof that’s built to last for 50-plus years.
On top of that, Alexis wants her home to get a facelift, so that’s just what we’re going to give it.
We’ll add some unique shutters, clean up the landscaping, repair some siding and resurface the porch.
The Plan
Replace Siding and Paint Trim
Denver and I cut out new siding and make repairs to the framing.
Once the siding and trim are back in place, we caulk the seams and prime the bare wood.
Meanwhile, Chelsea offers three options for the front door and the windows’ trim, and Alexis chooses carbon. We had just a tiny sample of carbon paint but managed to get all the window trim painted with it!
Reconnect the Doorbell
Denver and his son replaced the siding on the house several years ago and left the doorbell wiring behind the paneling. (It happens…)
So, we’re reconnecting it and finally getting that doorbell working again!
Repair the Front Porch
The front porch steps have a lot of bricks with gaps, so we’re going to force mortar into those cracks and crevices. It’s important to fill gaps to keep water out, make the steps safer and — let’s face it — it will look a lot better.
We’re also adding a layer of Quikrete Re-Cap Concrete Resurfacer. The difference between this and regular concrete is the thickness — Re-Cap goes on thin.
Then we smooth it with a trowel and add a textured broom finish.
Metal Roof
The 50-year transferrable warranty, along with the many different styles and options available, attracted Alexis and Denver to choose a metal roof over alternatives.
They used the Metal Roofing Alliance’s website to find answers to their questions and then moved forward.
At the beginning of day two, the roofers arrive to begin installing the new metal roof.
Workers discovered a number of leaks in the roof and had to replace a good bit of decking. After that, they cut the shingles’ overhang. The rest of the roof serves as an extra layer of protection — otherwise, these shingles would have ended up in the landfill — and the metal roof goes on top of it.
Build shutters
The roof and siding have vertical lines, so Chelsea will break that up with horizontal lines on the wood shutters.
WATCH: How to Build Slatted Shutters
None of the houses in Denver and Alexis’ neighborhood have stained shutters — all the other homes have painted ones — so these will really stand out! The new shutters add depth and character to the home.
Add Landscaping
Finally, Chelsea and Alexis tackle the landscaping.
The few plants in the yard are in good shape, but they need to be trimmed.
Bear adds some muscle and digs out trees that are too close to the home, and all we need to do to wrap up this makeover is plant some shrubs and flowers that Chelsea has picked out.
Post-Production Thoughts
Alexis and Denver knew they needed a new roof, but they also knew the front of their home was worn and lacking curb appeal.
There were issues with the siding and the porch, but as Alexis said, “It was just too plain.” Now, the house has a completely different look. The horizontal slats of the shutters contrast nicely with the vertical siding on the house, not to mention the warmth and character the natural cedar adds to the picture.
Changing the trim color to black coordinates well with the new roof color and adds some drama that the house desperately needed.
And details like siding repairs, concealing the A/C lines, resurfacing the porch and landscape upgrades collectively create an enormous positive change that complements the beautiful new metal roof that motivated this project in the first place.
Further Reading
 | Simple Solutions The Best Way to Clean Gutters |
 | Best New Products This Backpack Leaf Blower Has Everything But Gas |
 | Watch & Learn How to Build Slatted Shutters in 6 Steps |
