New siding gives 1942 home renewed curb appeal

My former schoolmate recently posted before and after photos of her home's exterior remodel on Facebook. The transformation was striking, which prompted my asking her about the technical and aesthetic aspects of the facelift.

No one can tease me with their remodeling photos and not expect me to ask them a bazillion questions, followed by my request to share the answers with the rest of the world. Being a writer herself, she was sympathetic to this obsession of mine and agreed to let me blog about the renovation.

Her Long Island, New York home was built in 1942, and the original asbestos siding had been covered with aluminum siding before she purchased the house in 1991. She and her husband had a lot of remodeling done to the inside of the house over the years, but they ignored the outside. On a trip to Mexico last year, she bought painted house numbers, but had no idea it would result in a complete makeover for the home's exterior. She admits that "except for the roof and some windows," they "hadn't touched the envelope." It was due.

In her own words, the following issues begged a thorough exterior renovation:

• The old siding was pitted and unsightly.
• Our heating bill was astronomical! There was no insulation in the outer walls.
• The ancient carport with its corrugated tin roof was an eyesore.
• Most of the windows were original.
• The cement driveway and walkway were cracked.

Quite a contrast from the type of minor, interior cosmetic remodels I have undertaken on my 4-year old home, the exterior of which gets painted every five years by the HOA. No wonder I was fascinated.

Here's what they did to remedy and beautify the problem areas:

• They removed the aluminum siding and replaced any rotted wood. They installed new vinyl siding -- CertainTeed textured clapboard in sage green; new low-maintenance gutters and drains; new shutters.
• While they were replacing the siding, they had ¾"-thick insulated panels nailed behind it to provide a layer of insulation to the exterior walls.
• They removed the functional but "unsightly" carport. Over their side door formerly covered by the carport, they built a small portico to shield family and guests entering and exiting during inclement weather. They replaced the side door and screen with one that matched the new shutters. They installed a new garage door.
• They installed new double-pane replacement windows on the ground floor. The installers sprayed foam in the joints between the windows and wall cavities to prevent air leakage and insulate around the windows. They repainted the original front door to match the shutters and replaced the old screen door with a full-reveal screen.
• All masonry was replaced with new: brick paver walkway, new sidewalks, and a new stoop faced with pavers and topped with bluestone. The old stoop listed to one side. They lined the asphalt driveway with pavers.
• All old fixtures were removed and new accessories added: mailbox, lights, and house numbers.

They did most of the design work themselves using various online siding sites to preview styles and colors but credit their contractor's attention to detail with the complete success of the renovation. They were going for an enhanced cottage look for the front of their house. What do you think?