Budget-friendly ways to freshen up your home’s exterior

By Rita LeBleu American Press

Don’t let today’s economy curtail a spring home exterior spruce up. There are plenty of budget-friendly and/or skills-suitable projects to choose from that will make a noticeable difference.

Cleaning makes a powerful difference. Power washing won’t break the bank but it can revive the look of a home, especially after the winter. Professional power washer and handyman Robert Saucier said the inexperienced homeowner can handle power washing brick and vinyl exteriors. Wood exteriors are a little tricky.

“I’ve seen folks not only peel away a good paint job, but the wood itself,” he said. “The distance from the surface, the intensity of the pressure and products used matter.”

He advises the use of bleach for vinyl and brick. “For vinyl I use halfbleach and half-water. For brick I use more bleach.”

Saucier charges $125 to pressure wash a manufactured home and around $200 to $225 for a 1,600 to 2,000 square foot home. The best way to clean vinyl siding if you want to do the job without hiring a professional or renting expensive equipment, according to Saucier, is to use a pumpup bottle filled with a half-bleach, half-water mixture. Spray the surface, top to bottom, then rinse with water. Even a water hose will do. Power washing removes dirt and grime steps, sidewalks and driveways, as well.

A clean front porch is a welcoming front porch. Refresh further by adding chairs or rockers, bright cushions a hanging plant or rug.

Get out the paint and brushes. Consider painting the front door, or simply adding a fresh coat of the existing paint color. Use the same paint for a porch accent furnishing or single