Though the building industry is experiencing construction delays and some increased material costs, homeowners haven’t been deterred from exploring custom builds for dream homes. Even though the steps to building your dream home can be overwhelming, the finished product—in the end—makes the process more than worth it for many homeowners.
We consulted Liz Marie Galvan, interior designer and author of the Liz Marie Blog, for insights on custom homes. She also weighs in on how one of the most durable siding solutions on the market, LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding, can be part of your dream home. Let’s start at the beginning—the finances.
Completing the financial steps to building a house can help you ensure your project is a success. Exact numbers required to achieve your dream home will vary, of course, but building a home is generally more expensive than buying an existing home.
When you set out to build your dream home, start by setting a budget. What can you wisely afford to spend? Think both long-term and short-term—what do you want the home to include now and how can you think ahead so the home builds value?
Be sure to determine costs for all parts of the build, including house siding options and cost, which may take some research. However, making sure all steps are accounted for will pay off in the long run. If you need assistance, consulting with a contractor can help you get an accurate estimate of potential costs.
Ultimately, “you need to assess those items that are most important to your family and what is available to you in your current area,” Galvan recommends. “I am a true advocate that different seasons of life have different needs.”
To finish your custom home, choosing siding and trim colors will be the ultimate way to convey your style. LP SmartSide ExpertFinish products allow you to side your home in popular siding colors while giving it a durable exterior. They’re also a great example of cost-effective siding with an industry-leading prorated limited warranty.
“With the chaos of our day-to-day, we need to look forward to coming home each day,” adds Galvan. “This can all start from the moment you pull into the driveway,” she says, and designing a beautiful exterior for your home can help make it an oasis you’ll love for years to come.
Start designing now with the LP SmartSide Home Visualizer! Click here if you need ideas.
If you’re not quite ready to begin a custom home project, remodeling your home’s exterior is a great way to make a change on a smaller remodeling budget. “It should be no surprise that a home’s exterior siding is the first thing we all see, and if you are looking at making some updates to your home it’s a great way to put your style on display for all to see,” says Galvan.
Galvan’s family recently updated their home’s siding with LP SmartSide ExpertFinish cedar texture lap siding in Snowscape White. “We chose this color and style to help bring back the 1800s farmhouse charm that was pulled out of the house over the years of remodels and updates,” she recalls. “With the updated siding we have also updated our exterior lights, doors and door hardware to give it exterior charm and better products to maintain great value.”
Check out what LP SmartSide Trim & Siding could look like on your home with our siding visualizer tool, and download a worksheet to help you get started with the siding installation process here.
When it comes to your home’s exterior, choosing siding colors is the perfect opportunity to showcase your personal style while enhancing curb appeal. As 2022 unfolds, let’s take a look at this year’s trending exterior house colors and strike inspiration for your next home update.
Continue ReadingWhether you’re tackling the project yourself or hiring a siding contractor, choosing to re-side your home in warmer months can help the process. Brian Mathis, Construction Services Associate at LP, shares his beginning steps to siding a house and the advantages to re-siding in warmer months.
The beginning of spring is a great time of year to assess your siding for signs of damage. After a hard winter season with weather concerns such as ice and low temperatures, siding damage from winter and its affects can happen. If missed, small fixable areas of siding damage can turn into larger concerns down the road.
With so many options, choosing a color for your home can be tricky. You may want to pick based on trending exterior house colors or to match other homes in your area. On the other hand, many homeowners want to ensure their home has a timeless aesthetic, no matter the trends that come and go.