Want to refresh the look of your home’s exterior? An exterior home remodel can range from a whole-house makeover to small updates that make a huge difference.
For quick wins, pressure washing, repainting, or refreshing landscaping can dramatically improve curb appeal with minimal cost and labor. For larger investments, new siding or a new roof can deliver both long-term home value and protection.
By choosing the right exterior home renovation projects — and knowing when to DIY versus when to hire professionals — you can create a visually appealing, functional, and valuable home exterior that stands the test of time. Below, we’ll explore some of the best project ideas and what to expect in terms of costs, return on investment, and labor.
4 Smaller Exterior Home Renovation Projects With Big Impact
These exterior home renovation ideas focus on affordability, speed, and curb appeal. Many can be tackled as DIY projects, while others may benefit from light professional help.
1. Exterior Paint and Color Updates
Exterior paint is one of the fastest ways to refresh the look of your home. Updating paint colors on siding, trim, shutters, or accent features can instantly modernize a dated house exterior and enhance overall design. Even repainting trim or shutters alone can create a noticeable facelift.
Popular exterior color schemes range from classic neutrals and earthy tones for craftsman, contemporary, and mid-century modern homes to bold black-and-white for modern farmhouse-style homes.
- Cost: Small upgrades like shutters or trim can cost as little as $100, while whole-home repainting averages $1.50 to $4 per square foot.
- ROI: Exterior paint upgrades often have an ROI of 150% or more.
- DIY vs. Pros: Most homeowners can tackle small updates to trim or shutters themselves. For big jobs or whole-home repainting, it’s usually best to hire professionals who have the equipment for prepping and painting.
2. Front Door and Garage Door Upgrades
The front door plays a major role in curb appeal and first impressions. Swapping an outdated door for a more modern style — or simply repainting it — can dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal.
Garage doors are another excellent project with one of the highest ROIs among exterior home improvement upgrades. Since they take up a large portion of the home’s visible exterior, replacing or refinishing them can significantly improve the look of your home.
- Cost: Repainting or hardware upgrades typically cost $100 to $200, including paint and supplies. Entry door replacement costs average $2,355, and garage door replacements average $4,513.
- ROI: Front door updates have an average 188% ROI, while garage door replacements deliver an average 194% ROI.
- DIY vs. Pros: Repainting, hardware updates, and front door replacement projects can typically be DIY, unless you want to change the size or position of the front door. Garage door replacement should be handled by professionals to ensure proper handling of tasks such as electrical work and high-tension springs.
3. Outdoor Lighting and Walkways
Exterior lighting improves both aesthetics and functionality. Path lights, wall sconces, and entry lighting highlight architectural elements while making walkways and front yards safer and more welcoming.
- Cost: Simple solar lights or a new light fixture can cost $50 to $100 for one or two lights installed by hand. Complex landscape lighting can cost between $800 and $10,000, depending on complexity.
- ROI: Professionally installed landscape lighting can have an ROI of up to 50%.
- DIY vs. Pros: Solar lighting and replacing existing light fixtures with new ones are usually easy DIY jobs. Consider hiring an electrician to run wiring for new light fixtures.
4. Pressure Washing
Pressure washing delivers immediate visual results, and it’s one of the most cost-effective renovation projects. Removing dirt, mildew, and buildup from siding, walkways, and driveways can make the exterior of your home look years newer.
- Cost: Renting a power washer averages $90 per day. Professionals charge on average between $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.
- ROI: Some suggest that homes that have been power-washed sell for $10,000 to $15,000 more than comparable homes that haven’t been power-washed recently — a huge ROI for a relatively inexpensive task.
- DIY vs. Pros: Most homeowners can handle this job themselves, but if you’re concerned about power washing delicate materials, like stucco, vinyl siding, or wood, the pros know how to do it without causing damage. DIY pressure washing is safest when cleaning steel siding and other durable options.
4 Large Exterior Home Renovation Projects
These projects require a higher upfront investment, but they deliver long-term value, improved performance, and a major transformation to the look of your home’s exterior.
1. New Roofing
A new roof is a critical home exterior remodel that directly affects both appearance and protection. New roofing also protects most other exterior remodeling projects, making it a foundational investment.
Replacing an aging or damaged roof creates a clean, finished look and signals to potential buyers that they won’t have to make large investments in roofing or repairs shortly after purchasing the home.
- Cost: Roofing replacement costs an average of $31,871 for asphalt shingles or $51,865 for metal roofing.
- ROI: The ROI on asphalt shingles is 68%, while metal roofing has an ROI of 50%.
- DIY vs. Pros: Due to safety and technical requirements, roofing is best handled by professionals.
2. New Siding
Installing new siding is one of the most impactful exterior home renovation projects that you can undertake. It completely transforms the look of your home while improving durability, weather resistance, and energy efficiency.
This is particularly true if you’re using modern siding options like TruLog steel siding instead of vinyl or wood. They require less maintenance, offer enhanced longevity, protect against the elements, and deliver fantastic looks in any style, from classic to contemporary.
TruLog steel siding resists rot, pests, fire, and extreme weather while maintaining strong curb appeal for decades.
- Cost: TruLog steel siding costs $4.25 to $8.25 per square foot for the material and $5 to $8 per square foot for labor and installation.
- ROI: The ROI of new siding depends heavily on siding quality. Vinyl siding averages a 97% ROI, while higher-quality siding, such as fiber cement, averages 114%. TruLog steel siding ROI may be even higher, considering that it requires virtually no maintenance while looking good as new for decades.
- DIY vs. Pros: Most siding replacement jobs are best left to the professionals, but TruLog’s interlocking panel system makes it simple to install for experienced DIYers.
3. Window Replacement and Natural Light Improvements
New windows improve both exterior design and interior comfort. Modern window styles enhance your home’s curb appeal, and if you’re replacing older windows, they’ll likely increase energy efficiency, too.
This is a good project to do alongside siding replacement or repainting since fresh windows paired with newly updated siding help create a unified look throughout your home’s exterior.
- Cost: Vinyl window replacement averages $22,073, and the cost for wood averages $26,781.
- ROI: The ROI for vinyl windows averages 76%, while wood windows average 70% ROI.
- DIY vs. Pros: To ensure windows operate properly and provide maximum energy efficiency, they should be installed by professionals.
4. Decks, Patios, and Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor living spaces of all kinds, from decks and patios to fire pit areas and outdoor kitchens, extend usable square footage and improve lifestyle value.
Creating an outdoor living environment is an investment in both your own enjoyment and in making your home more appealing to buyers. Just remember that costs can vary widely depending on the project scope.
- Cost: The average cost of a concrete patio is $3,450. Decking ranges from $3,620 to $10,450, depending on size and complexity, and a full outdoor kitchen averages $51,454.
- ROI: ROI for a concrete patio is between 50% and 90%. Expect an average 83% ROI for a new deck. Outdoor kitchens have a 46% ROI.
- DIY vs. Pros: For safety, hire professionals to install decking or outdoor kitchens. Concrete patios are usually best left to professionals, too, to make sure they’re stable, level, and unlikely to crack. However, simpler flagstone or paver patios are DIY-friendly.
Invest in Your Home With TruLog Steel Siding
If you’re looking for good exterior home renovation ideas, there are many options, from low-cost quick wins to larger investments designed to protect your home over the long term.
TruLog steel siding is one of the best ways to upgrade your home’s exterior because it offers incredible durability and longevity. It also requires next to no maintenance to keep it looking just-installed for decades.
To learn more about TruLog steel siding, download our free catalog. Discover the colors and styles that will give your home’s exterior a beautiful new look.
