Renovating or building your home from scratch is not an easy task. It requires a lot of patience and persistence to ensure that it is made perfectly. However, with such an extensive list of tasks, you must keep some major points in the forefront and pay them more attention. We have compiled a list of things you should work on and keep on the top of your renovation list! This will ensure that you are able to tackle what is important first and make the best of your remodelling.
Gutters
One of the most important things you should consider when considering the exterior design of your home is the gutters. We know that these are easy to miss out but they hold the key to ensuring that your home is not damaged by the rainwater. There are a bunch of things that you will have to keep in mind when working with the gutters- their placement as well as where they are being drained at. You also need to figure out how you would clean them up.
If you live in an area that has a considerable amount of rainfall, gutters are extremely important. However, make sure that you get them installed by professionals who know how to get them up as well as where to drain them. You can click here to contact professional gutter installers. If your drains are not installed properly, you run the risk of having your whole house collapse. This is because when the gutter drainage is not installed far enough away, the drained water starts getting absorbed by the soil around the house. This will then proceed to get absorbed by the foundation, causing a shift, cracked walls and flooded basements. It’s always a good idea to get a professional’s advice.
Geographical location- and its impact
The geographical location of your house will play an important role in how you choose the exterior design. Take a look around and consider the site it’s being built in. Consider the climate of the place and how it will affect your day-to-day living. For example, if the climate is usually cold, you will need to have internal heating systems installed along with double glazed windows. On the other hand, if it is always raining, you will need to get proper drainage systems to ensure that your foundation does not start shifting. Consider the sunlight, the back garden as well as privacy and views. All of this will play a role in coming up with a design. The material choice, too, heavily depends on the kind of site and geographical location you are in along with the climate.
Make sure you consider the local governmental criteria regarding fire safety when designing your space. In Scotland, it is compulsory to have interlinked fire alarm systems and installing them when you are designing is easier. Also consider the insects and animals, the local flora and animals, and how they can affect the way you build a place- if your place is known to have foxes around a lot (like in Scotland), it is advisable to not have pet doors installed if the place does not have a fence.
Materials
The next important thing on your exterior design list should be the materials being used for building your house. A good functioning house is owed to the use of quality material that works together with other elements. The quality of the construction is often dependent on the kind of materials used- they determine the durability and endurance of your house exteriors. Consider these four things when choosing the materials- aesthetics, maintenance, stability and cost of the material.
The maintenance and stability should be the first consideration, with aesthetics and cost coming in after
Cost
When looking for the cost of materials, you will also have to consider the durability of each. There is no point in buying cheaper yet non-durable materials that can pose a threat to the safety of the house. The weather and climate of the place you are going to be building the house in will also affect the materials used. You need to ensure that all your exterior materials are well and good to be used in the climate that the place offers. Find a balance between cost-efficiency as well as the quality of the materials. Use high quality where required and trade for an average quality where possible.
Availability
It is always better to go for materials that are locally available so that you do not have to pay for transporting the material. The availability will also determine the cost and installation period. Moreover, locally available materials are better suited for the climate and conditions of that place. Always consult a specialist when choosing material, especially if this is your first time designing a house on your own.
Sustainability
With the increasing climate emergency and the evolution of the construction industry, your material choices must reflect accountability towards the environment. Go for materials that are more sustainable and have a low carbon footprint to do your bit for the environment. Sustainable material usage also ensures that our impact on the environment is kept low. Exterior design styles that follow a sustainable build approach also last longer as the focus is more on the quality rather than the quantity. These houses also bear better against the changing climates and have stronger foundations. In fact, recently, the earth friendly design also known as earth pods, has become increasingly famous.
The earth pod design follows the circular environment where natural resources are used and reused. They are also made of natural and upcycled materials and can be partially or completely off-grid. They get their own electricity through photovoltaics, which is converting light into electricity. The earth pod design is made to contain and treat their own wastewater and sometimes even grow food on their own.
These natural models ensure that they last a long time and can be used over the years. Exterior designs that are inspired by these earth models are being seen as the future of architecture and living.
