Owning a home can turn out to be the best investment you ever make. In fact, homeownership can make your retirement years easier and more affordable. One of the best ways to help you age in place is ensuring you invest in exterior renovations that make your home as maintenance-free as possible. Here we look at the top exterior renovations you can invest in to help age in place through your retirement years.
Age In Place With New Seamless Eavestroughs
It’s easy to overlook the fact that your eavestroughs have become less effective as the metal joints leak due to rust and other damage. To avoid the time-consuming and dangerous job of inspecting your eavestroughs throughout the year, seamless eavestroughs are the solution. Even if you don’t conduct the inspections yourself, it can be costly having a professional installer come out and do it for you every year.
As the name implies, seamless eavestroughs are made of a continuous system free of joints and rivets that can lead to rust and damage. Your eavestroughs become more efficient at collecting water around the edge of your roof to divert it away from your house. Because seamless gutters help keep water away from your home, you avoid the risk of water leakage inside which can lead to damage to paint and drywall. A well-protected home doesn’t require this type of repair and upkeep.
Install Gutter Guards
While your new eavestroughs are installed you should also arrange for gutter guards. Gutter guards are so smart it makes you wonder why no one thought of them sooner. These handy guards snap into place over your gutters to protect them from debris. You no longer have to worry about risky trips up the ladder to clean out the leaves that can clog your gutters and lead to issues with your roof system and foundation.
Instead, you can relax knowing your entire system will become more efficient than ever with no worries of buildup and clogs. Gutter guards not only make your gutters completely maintenance-free but are also very affordable. When it comes time to sell, they also add value to your home, offering one less thing for new owners to worry about.
Attractive, Practical Vinyl Or Aluminum Siding
Nothing is higher maintenance than painted wood siding. Even older aluminum siding that has been painted can lead to issues with peeling. Peeling, cracked paint on exterior siding requires sanding, priming, and painting every few years. If you don’t keep up with this maintenance, it leaves your home vulnerable to leaks and even pests.
With new vinyl or aluminum siding you never have to worry about maintenance. You also gain more insulation so your home stays more comfortable in the heat and cold. This leads to energy savings which can go towards covering the cost. It also adds value to your home by providing a facelift for added curb appeal. Today you’ll find far more colours available as well, allowing you to upgrade your home with a more modern look. You can choose from exciting new colours, and even choose a siding that runs vertically for a completely different style of aesthetics.
Zero Maintenance Vinyl Or Aluminum Soffits And Fascia
Soffits and fascia are part of your roofing system. The soffit sits below your roof’s overhang, and the fascia sits above the soffit. Together they help keep your home dry and comfortable. Soffit uses venting between your roof and attic and fascia provides support for your roof and gutters. However, these roofing elements can become more trouble than they are worth if they are made of wood.
Just like your wood siding, they require ongoing maintenance to ensure the wood is protected and doesn’t allow leaking. If you have vinyl or aluminum soffits and fascia, however, you don’t have to worry about maintenance. You’ll rest easy knowing your home is watertight and has the support it needs to last as long as you remain in your home.
Energy Star Vinyl Windows
Energy Star vinyl windows offer many benefits including being maintenance-free. Wood frames eventually begin to rot, even with ongoing upkeep. And that upkeep is intense, requiring sanding, priming, and painting every few years. Not only does your home start to look uncared for, but it also provides even more ways for water to leak into your home. With leaky windows you not only are at risk for water damage, but you also won’t enjoy comfortable temperatures. If you install eco-friendly vinyl windows, you’ll have many benefits including:
- Increased home comfort using Low E technology
- Improved operation that makes it easier to open and close the windows if you suffer from issues such as arthritis
- Improved security using easy-to-operate yet sturdy locking mechanisms
- Weatherproof for years to come
- Improved energy efficiency for savings on air conditioning and heating costs
- Excellent return on investment and improved home equity
This is an excellent investment for your age in place renovations as it a) offers low maintenance windows b) helps you save money to cover the installation costs and other costs of living and c) provides easier-to-operate windows.
Eco-Friendly Entry Door
Both steel and wood doors eventually require maintenance. From peeling paint to fading, and from inefficient weather stripping to becoming difficult to open and close, old doors equal work. However, replacement with a new steel or fibreglass door will avoid these issues and more. First, they are maintenance-free. Second, they won’t bow or warp over time. Third, they are also energy efficient. Last but not least, they are easier to open and close due to a proper seal and installation. You can not only save more energy with your new entry door but also have a warm welcome for visitors while improving curb appeal.
Aging in place is an affordable way to live in the home you love, but does require more maintenance and labour than other retirement options. All of these maintenance-free exterior home improvements not only make aging in place easier, but they also show pride of ownership for your home. They increase your home’s value, help provide an updated look to your home, and allow you to retire with less work, so you can enjoy your golden years.
If you want to learn more about maintenance-free exterior renovation ideas to help you age in place, click here for a quote today.