No doubt you’ve driven down a street and seen a house. “Yikes! What were they thinking?”
A home’s exterior can invoke a strong emotional response. Colors can be both private and public. They make a first impression and can highlight and soften certain attributes.
“Homeowners can be influenced by many sources — friends and neighbors, magazines, TV shows or the guy at the hardware store — so you’ll need to be careful you’re not just chasing the latest trend; otherwise, your house might be the one that people end up rolling their eyes at,” says PBS home improvement expert Vicki Payne.
Payne suggests these eight tips to help you choose the right colors for your home’s exterior.
1. All other decisions will be influenced by the choice between cheerful, bright colors or deep, rich tones of earth.
2. Select colors that are harmonious with your surroundings.
3. Be sure that the siding and trim you choose doesn’t clash with other materials, such roof shingles, bricks, stone, or tile.
4. It is important to consider the size and location of your home. A house can look larger if it is painted in light colors, while a house that is darker can appear smaller.
5. The seasons will change the colors and growth of landscaping, so it is important to consider trees, shrubs, and flowering gardens.
6. Use neutral colors to emphasize things like an air conditioning unit, gutters, or downspouts. Instead, use accent or contrasting colors for architectural details, porch railings.
7. Although computer visualizers may give you a rough idea of how colors will look, large swatches (2 by 3 feet) can show you what the colors might look like in your home. Take a look at the swatches at different hours of the day. As the light intensity changes, the colors will appear different.
8. Do it right the first time. Do you really want to spend thousands of dollars each year on re-painting? Pre-painted planks are an alternative, but they degrade as fast as paint. Cladding products that are guaranteed to keep their colors over time are better. Vinyl siding and other polymeric siding manufacturers incorporate color at the beginning of production, blending the pigment into their formulation. The color won’t crack, peel or pit, so homeowners can rest assured that the finish will not need to be painted or repaired. Vinyl siding, trim, trim and accessories are available in a variety of colors. They can be found in classic light colors as well as deep barn reds, hunter or sage greens, deepblues and many other colors.
“Keeping your home’s exterior looking fresh and timely doesn’t have to be challenging,”Payne.
Find out more about certified vinyl sidingPlease visit www.vinylsiding.org.
