Lenny | Colony Home Improvement

What Are the Best Interior Paint Colors to Appeal to Potential Home Buyers?

November 25, 20140

Find the best interior paint to appeal to buyers.

The right interior paint can help your home sell faster.

When you plan to live in your home for a long period of time, only you need to be happy with the interior paint color you use; however, if you are planning to sell in the near future, it’s important to take a few things into consideration when making home plans. Choosing the right colors will increase the chances your home will appeal to your potential buyers so you can sell your home faster.

White or Off-White

The idea of staging your home is to help potential buyers see their own belongings inside your home, even when your furniture and other items are still present. If you choose colors that specifically match your décor, the buyer may have difficulty envisioning themselves living there and may be less likely to make an offer. When all else fails, choosing a version of white or off-white can provide the look you want without interfering with what prospective buyers may see.

Earth Tones

If you simply can’t live in a home without a little color on the walls, earth tones are an excellent option for interior paint. Home plans that include earth tones can portray a relaxing, calming feel to those who view your home. Shades of brown, blue, green, orange and even tans and reds will complement many rooms, especially those that feature a lot of wood, glass, stone or metal. These colors work best in the dining room or living room.

The right interior paint can sell your home faster.

Are your walls the right interior paint colors to attract buyers?

Gray

Another alternative to whites or off-whites is to choose a light gray color for your interior paint. When you choose these shades for various rooms in your home, you will provide a neutral platform that shows potential buyers what your home would look like once they are living there. Gray also offers a chic, modern look other colors can’t create. Unfortunately, this look isn’t right for everyone.

Soft Tones

Soft colors are the ideal option for any home you want to sell. You want buyers to focus on the home plans and design, including any special features, to help them decide whether your home is the best option for their needs. Dark, bold colors can make it difficult for prospective buyers to envision their furniture in your home. If they don’t like these colors, they are also more difficult to paint over. Soft colors allow for easy painting and are more likely to match most décor and furniture for buyers not interested in painting.

Before you sell your home, choosing the right interior paint is just the first step in the process. Staging your home will increase the chances prospective buyers will be interested in your home over the other options. Home plans may be a big part of the buying process, but the colors you choose for the interior of your home can also play a significant role.

If you need an experienced home painter to help you choose the right interior colors, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you create a home individuals want to buy.

What You Should Know before You Decide to Paint Your Vinyl Siding

November 20, 20140

Are you considering painting your vinyl siding?

If you aren’t happy with the color of your vinyl siding, consider painting it.

Vinyl siding is meant to last much longer than other siding options, which includes not having to paint it; however, some homeowners want to change the color of their vinyl siding and don’t want to purchase new siding. Instead, you may be able to paint it. Be sure to talk to an experienced siding contractor to determine whether your exterior siding options can be painted.

Proper Preparation

Any surface you intend to paint needs to be properly prepared to ensure it will accept the paint with a lower risk of peeling and other imperfections now and in the future. Vinyl siding is no different, although the preparation process is different than many other materials; however, this siding option requires less prep than other types of siding. A thorough cleaning is often the only step required to ensure the paint will adhere properly. Make sure you use a cleaner that removes mold, mildew and algae because leaving these items under the new coat of paint will cause problems in the future.

You aren't stuck with the color of your vinyl siding.

Do you want a different color for your vinyl siding?

Choose the Right Color

One of the biggest downfalls of painting vinyl siding is you are limited in the colors you can choose. Siding comes in a variety of colors, allowing homeowners to choose exactly what looks great with the rest of their exterior and landscaping options. When you decide to change the color, you will be limited in your choices to those colors that are the same shade or lighter than the current color. Using a color darker than the original shade will cause the vinyl siding to absorb heat from the sun, which can lead to warping and other damage. This isn’t often a concern with other exterior siding options.

Make Sure It Sticks

Before you take on the painting job, you need to make sure the paint you choose will adhere to the siding and won’t chip, crack or peel. Choose a few small areas and apply the paint there first, allowing it to dry so you can monitor how the paint will react to the siding. Use a utility knife or a razor knife to score the paint into a checkerboard pattern, including several X’s. Apply packing tape firmly over the scored areas and then peel away. If a small amount of paint sticks to the tape, you can continue painting your siding; however, if more than a small dot is removed, you may have to choose another type of paint.

There are many exterior siding options, though vinyl siding is one of the most popular. This siding comes in a variety of colors so homeowners can find one that best fits the way they want their home to look. If you are tired of the color of your home, however, you aren’t limited to keeping the same color or replacing the siding altogether. Instead, you can take the right steps to paint the siding and keep your home beautiful.

If you are looking for assistance painting your vinyl siding, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you choose the right colors and apply the paint to your home.

An Outdoor Living Space Can Be Used and Enjoyed Year Round

November 18, 20140

Your outdoor living space can be used all year round.

Bears are known for hibernating all winter, but if you have a home with a beautiful, welcoming outdoor living space, you shouldn’t have to hide indoors when the season changes. With the right outdoor design and living area, it can be a place of refuge year round. Here are some ways to maximize your outdoor living area designs for enjoyment during any season.

Install an Outdoor Structure

If you are looking to spend more time enjoying the outdoors, add a deck with a canopy or roof. In order to use your deck year round, add an enclosure to cover the deck. A glass enclosure or sunroom makes it easy to utilize your outdoor space any time of year. If cost is a consideration and you need time to save up for the expense of building a deck and enclosure, use patio furniture with umbrellas for shade.

Revitalize Your Deck

If you already have a wood deck but have neglected maintenance to the point where you can no longer stand the sight of it, consider having it restored. Over time, decks can become splintered, cracked and weathered. These visual changes to your deck can lessen your enthusiasm for spending time in your outdoor living space; however, paying a large sum of money to replace it is not always the only option. There are many deck resurfacing and restoration products and services available to help you maintain that brand new deck look if your deck is not already too far gone.

You should clean your deck at least once a year to remove algae, dirt, mildew and mold. It is also wise to bring in a professional to refinish your deck every few years.

Ask about the right outdoor living area designs.

Our outdoor living area designs can provide functionality all year round.

Create an Inviting Garden

One of the aspects people often enjoy most in their outdoor living space is the garden. A strategically designed garden with careful consideration to the weather, land topography, fences and trees will be aesthetically pleasing and improve the usability of your outdoor living space. If gardening is not your forte, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional landscaper. An expert will have the knowledge and skills to turn your dream garden into a reality.

Select Attractive Furnishings and Accessories

Seating made from wicker or metal furniture is a good choice for homeowners because it can withstand all types of weather. A fire pit will be a welcome accessory for those cool nights outside. You can also use thick outdoor rugs to keep your feet from touching the cold ground. If you want to dine al fresco, consider adding an outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, grill, counter and tabletop gas urns.

Applying this advice to your outdoor living area designs will not only increase your enjoyment, it will boost your home’s resale value. Many buyers are willing to pay a premium for a home with an attractive and functional outdoor living space.

If you would like to discuss your outdoor design and living space, contact us. Our experienced Massachusetts contractors can help you create an area that can be used year round.

How Do You Know When Your Home Improvement Plans Should Include a New Roof?

November 13, 20140

Find out if your home improvement project should include a new roof.

Should your home improvement project include a new roof?

Making home improvement plans is an essential duty of being a homeowner. Your home’s roof protects the structure of your home, as well as everything and everyone inside it from the outside elements. An aging or deteriorating roof can be quite dangerous if it is left in disrepair for too long. If you have an aging roof or your roof has been recently damaged, you may need a home improvement contractor to inspect and potentially replace it.

Here are some ways to determine if a new roof should be your next home construction project.

Visually Inspect It

As a homeowner, you should periodically look at your roof so you can take note of any changes over time; however, this does not mean you have to climb a ladder It is inadvisable to go up on the roof because many serious injuries have occurred to well-meaning homeowners. It is possible to look at your roof while standing in the yard. If you do decide to get up on the roof, make sure your ladder is secure and you are extremely careful while walking around.

Common indications of a deteriorating roof include bent or torn flashing, algae or moss growth and damaged or missing shingles. You should particularly check to see if the flashing around chimneys and vents is damaged. That can mean there is water seepage, even if you haven’t noticed any water leaks in your home yet.

Ask your contractor if your home improvement project should include a new roof.

A new roof may be necessary as part of your home improvement project.

Next, look at your roof’s ridge and make sure it follows a straight line. Structural damage is likely if you notice the line has a saddle-back in the center or it sags.

Finally, look to see if any debris has accumulated because it can lead to water damage, especially if you have a flat roof. Getting a professional roof cleaning done on an annual basis can prevent water collection and damage due to debris. If you have neglected this task, it could lead to replacing the roof earlier than you expected.

Inspect Your Gutter System

If your gutter system is healthy, so is your roof. However, if your gutter leaks, is clogged or has poor drainage, this can cause problems with your home’s structure. A poor gutter system will spill water and saturate your landscaping, which can potentially lead to moisture accumulating inside your home and damaging the foundation. If you have a flat roof and it is leaking, the likely culprit is the scuppers, which are used for drainage.

When you inspect your gutter system, look for signs of damage or aging, such as granules or pieces of shingle washing out the downspouts. Check the shingles for water damage, as well as inspect for rot or mold along the roof’s edge or eaves. If too much water seeps under your shingles, it will rapidly deteriorate your roof. You should also look for scratches, dents or rust. If you notice any of those problems, it is likely your gutter needs to be repaired or replaced.

If you are looking for a home improvement contractor to work on your roof, contact us. Our experienced Massachusetts contractors can discuss many roofing options with you.

How to Protect Your Decks and Porches during the Cold Months of Winter

November 11, 20140

Prolong their life by protecting decks and porches.

Protecting your decks and porches will ensure they last a long time.

The cold temperatures, snow, ice and other conditions of winter can be harsh on your home’s exterior. It is important to protect decks and porches from damages during the winter season. Here are a few ways to protect your backyard deck design and ensure you won’t need to undertake a deck remodeling project until you are ready.

Clear the Clutter

Review your backyard deck design. It is wise to find an indoor place for anything you may have been keeping on your deck or porch. Consider moving your planters under your deck or to the garage; leaving them out all winter can cause moisture leaching and discolor your wood. If you have patio furniture, stack and store it in the garage.

Remove Debris

Once you have cleared out the clutter, spend some time scrubbing down the surfaces of your decks and porches. You should make it a priority to keep the walkways free and clear of debris all winter. If you notice any debris, clear it quickly. Debris can present a tripping hazard, especially when the walkways are covered with snow or ice. In addition, debris can cause deterioration if it is allowed to rot on the surface of your deck.

Eliminate Mildew or Mold

Mildew and mold are common problems in winter because the moisture attracts it. Decks and porches are frequent locations for this type of buildup, particularly between cracks or tight boards. Check the surface of your deck for any signs of mildew or mold. If there is any mildew or mold present, have it removed.

Make sure your deck remodeling is fully protected.

Your deck remodeling needs to be protected from the elements.

Seal Your Deck

Use a high-quality, water-repellent sealant to fill the cracks and protect your deck from moisture and ice. Sometimes using sealant means you have to remove prior finishes, but the additional work is worth it. You will be pleased when spring arrives because your deck will look great and will not be damaged.

Cover It Up

Use a tarp to cover as much as possible of your deck and porch. The tarp will keep snow from the surface of your deck and will help avoid warping. A tarp will also keep moisture out of any cracks, which will lower the risk of ice forming and making cracks worse.

Clear the Snow

It is important not to let mounds of snow accumulate on your porch or deck. The weight of the snow could cause problems for your deck. You should shovel in the same direction as the boards in order to prevent damaging the finish. Be sure to avoid using ice melting products, such as salt, on your wood deck because they may damage or discolor the finish.

Trim Overgrown Branches

Tree branches that hang over your deck or porch can create a risk, and you need to keep them from falling and harming someone. Keep any overgrown branches trimmed and remove any branches that are weak and in danger of falling.

These easy steps can help you protect decks and porches during the cold winter months. When the weather begins to warm up and it’s time to relax in your outdoor living space, you’ll be glad you made the effort.

If you are thinking about deck remodeling in Massachusetts, contact us. We can design and build the best outdoor living area for your needs.

Author: Lenny