When looking at building or renovating a home, there are many decisions you have to make in order to customize your home how you want it. One of those tough decisions is picking the exterior material of your home. You may not have a choice if your Home Owners Association is strict on making the houses look similar, but if not, there are several different materials to choose from that all have their own pros and cons. Here are some of the best options for exterior materials to use to personalize your home’s exterior!.
1.Natural Wood
The first, most obvious option is a wood exterior. While it can be a plain option, it gives you the choice to repaint as often as you want. If you get tired of the color of your house, it’s easily something you could do on your own with the right equipment. If you don’t want to or can’t do it yourself, you can call a professional painter to get an estimate on your house.
A downside to a wood exterior is that it’s less fire-resistant than other materials that could be used. You also have upkeep about every five years to prevent wood rot. If you do end up having to replace your exterior wood, give VA Home Loans a call and talk about options for refinancing. They can help you figure out the plan that will work best for your situation, and get your house looking great again.
2.Engineered Wood
If you aren’t interested in the upkeep that comes with a true wood exterior, you can opt for an engineered wood exterior. This option is quite a bit cheaper than the true wood material, requires less maintenance, and is better for the environment. With engineered wood, you still have the option to repaint as frequently as you desire. It takes away a lot of the cons that come with natural wood, but engineered wood comes with the possibility of moisture getting trapped in it, which can lead to mold growth.
3.Stucco
Completely different from the previous two options, stucco is a popular exterior in places with a hotter climate. Stucco is fairly similar in price range as the engineered wood, costing around $9000 to cover a 1500 square foot home. It comes with advantages such as high durability, natural fire resistance, and a wide range of colors. Stucco requires little maintenance from the homeowner and can last up to 80 years. Stucco can vary in price based on color and square footage, so call your local professional to receive an estimate on your home.
4.Brick
An older option, but still completely viable, is a full brick exterior of your home. Brick requires almost no maintenance and its look will stay the same for the most part. On top of that, brick has the best fire resistance of any of the other materials. Brick is, however, the most expensive of the materials listed above. You can expect to pay around $20,000 for a full brick exterior on a 1500 square foot home. If you’re looking at building a home, talk to a VA Home Loans Officer about your loan options so you can get that beautiful brick exterior.
Regardless of what material you use on the exterior of your home, VA Home Loans of Idaho can help you. We are always willing to help figure out the option that will work best for you.
