Ready to list your home? Your real estate agent will have all sorts of crazy ‘tips’ on how to make a good impression. I’ve heard it all: plating yellow flowers, painting the walls white, or even adding a colorful wreath to the front door.
And maybe there’s something to it: They say it only takes seven seconds of seeing something to make a first impression.
Crazy to think: in the time it takes you to walk to the front door and turn the knob? You already have a “feel” for the house.
Even if you aren’t selling your home you might be surprised by how far a facade refresh can go toward changing the way you feel about your home. Today, we’re looking at how mixed facades can bring back that first-love feeling and change your home’s personality without breaking the bank. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
What is a Mixed Facade?
Take a drive through the suburbs and you’ll see the neighborhoods lined with ranch style homes. The name seems like a misnomer, right?
Despite the style name, these homes weren’t born out of Wyoming or Montana. The style originated in California, inspired by Spanish Colonial homes of the region. In the mid 20th c? Ranch style homes became the most popular single family architectural style for new builds.
These homes are an early example of mixed facades. Ranch style homes often utilize two different siding materials to create an exterior with depth in spite of their flat proportions. Style isn’t the only selling point for this material use: mixed facades offer a fresh look for a fraction of the cost.
When using two different materials, you can create an elevated design on a budget- only using the more expensive material where it makes a strong visual impact. We see this often in Pennsylvania with stone veneer and cedar shake. On their own, these materials are high scale…and high budget. But when paired with the right style of vinyl? The overall cost of the project shrinks while still keeping the luxury look.
Curious on how to use a mixed facade to elevate the exterior style of your own Pennsylvania beauty? Let me show you how!
Mix and Match Your Home’s Exterior
In love with cedar shake siding? We are too! This material is a classic beauty, known for its sustainability, 40 year lifespan, and gorgeous look.
But it’s also notorious for its high price tag- ranging anywhere from $7-$14 per square foot.
Using cedar shake alone can max out a budget. Here’s the secret: pair it with vinyl instead of using it as a full facade. They combine perfectly:
This light gray board and batten is complemented by the cedar shake. Notice how little cedar shake is in use, too. Vinyl siding typically costs $3.50-$8 per square foot. By using the cedar shake so sparingly these homeowners are saving without compromising on beauty.
Here’s another great example of matching a high end material with vinyl siding:
Authentic stone veneer ranges from $28-$50 per square foot. Notice how little is in use here, and yet it’s absolutely stunning!
If you’ve read our ultimate guide to stone facades, you may remember another great design secret: stone veneer. Manufactured stone costs $6-$9 per square foot, and- unlike authentic stone facades- it can be installed on most homes without worry of structural weight.
Take a look at this home:
If I hadn’t told you, you wouldn’t have known the bricks are manufactured. I love the earthy tones of the brick against the dark gray siding!
Our vinyl siding manufacturer, Ply Gem, has a popular cedar shake alternative at the fraction of the cost of real cedar:
Who wouldn’t want a gorgeous facade…and a little spare room in the budget for a nice patio set or landscaping?
Mixed Maintenance for Mixed Materials
Choosing colors and styles isn’t the only thing to consider before mixing your siding. It’s important to understand the maintenance needs of each material.
Take real cedar shake for example. This material requires regular maintenance. Think:
- Scrub/Cleaned every year
- Resealed every 5 years
- Regular insect repellent coating
By choosing an alternative material? You’re also saving the headache of maintenance. Vinyl siding needs only occasional scrubbing for algae and has no other regular maintenance requirements.
What about durability?
I have great news: Authentic brick veneer can last for centuries. Even manufactured stone lasts up to 50 years.
Vinyl siding, on the other hand, has an average lifespan of 30 years. That means you’ll need to replace it long before your other materials.
I like to think of this as another budget bonus: By replacing the siding at different points in time you break down the cost in segments.
Time to Give Your Home a New Look?
Whether you’ve found a style you love in your budget, or still have questions about mixed facades, we’re here to help!
When it comes to upgrading your exterior, there are hundreds of different colors and material combinations to consider. We offer in depth resources on choosing siding colors, but we’re also happy to hop on a call and discuss your options one-on-one.
When you work with our team, we take the anxiety out of every project. We’re happy to answer any questions you have, and look over your Pinterest boards or idea books.
Your home is unique, and we treat each new project as such. Ready to set up your free consultation? We’d love to hear from you! Give us a call at 570-345-0436 to get on our schedule.
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