Updating the Exterior

These clients already had a great location and a pretty great house when they called me, but...

 

    

 

But the cedar shingle siding and wood framed windows were rotting. The living room, especially (with it's four exterior walls) was very cold and drafty in winter and hot in summer. The house was not well insulated or air sealed at all. It also had odd, high window placement toward the front and no windows to the side. They wanted the entire place to look more modern from the exterior, to feel like the interior felt with their minimalist Danish Modern furnishings and lighting. And they wanted a patio off the Dining area on the north side of the house -that area of the yard was never used and felt sort of like an afterthough.

Since they had already purchased and installed "Craftsman Style" doors to the garage, and they were drawn to dark siding colors, I suggested we go for a "Modern Craftsman" vibe. We could use some brackets and gable pediments on some roofs and over doors to add architectural detail. I also suggested if we were removing and replacing all the windows and siding, we really should then also take the time and spend the money to properly airseal and insulate the 70s era construction to be more energy efficient and comfortable.

Here are photos of the project before, during, and after. A total transformation with the "Iron Grey" vertical Hardi siding from the weathered large exposure, dated (and insect-eaten!) shingle siding. New Ebony Marvin Elevate windows and industrial style barn lights lean toward the contemporary. I changed the window layout in the living room and entryway- adding tall windows to the east and south in the living room where there were none before. I added a new sliding glass door to connect the Living Room to the back deck. I added a new sliding glass door to the north, with it's own small roof overhang detail, to connect the dining and kitchen area to a new patio in that under-used area of the yard. I designed some stepped planters to avoid having to add railing that might block the lake and mountaian view from the new decks. And I dressed up the basement door area with a roof overhang that helps direct water away (along with a new drain) from the foundation, offers shade from the harsh western sun, and visually breaks up the tall elevation where the basement is exposed above grade. The fireplace chimney received new stone and a metal chimeny cap- upgrades that made it more energy efficient, safer, and more beautiful, since the bricks were in disrepair. Spiffy new galvanized half-round gutters and leaders were installed so this big roof is ready for the large downpours that happen more and more frequently.

 

In terms of efficency upgraades, once the siding and old windows were removed, a fluid applied flashing and air barrier was applied everywhere. (Yes, the neighbors did wonder aloud if pink was the final house color.) This meticulous work will be well worth it when the winter winds whip off the lake and mountains to the west. This surface is also the WRB, meaning that any water will be excluded from entering the wall, which will protect our new windows from having the same issue as the previous units did. Next a rain screen was created, to allow the siding to stay dry. Then rigid boards of insulation (rockwool) are installed to add much-needed R-value to the walls.  New vertical cementitious board and batten and shingle style siding and trim was installed with mimimal1x2 casing around the windows all in a monocromatic color. The A/C was an old system that is replaced with efficient heat pumps, and the underside of the existing roof deck throughout the home was also insulated.