exterior rehabs

From Habitat magazine - issue 25

House exteriors from the 1950s to more recent times can be tricky to update. Check out these stunning before and afters.

Older character houses are almost a cinch to update – pick a colour scheme and set to with a paint brush. Houses from mid-century onwards are a different story, however. Some are just plain ugly and always were. Others sport once fashionable details that haven't lasted the distance – clinker brick, lumpy stucco, leaky plaster, faded cedar, cutesy shutters.

Undeterred by such obstacles, and equipped with a bit of courage and vision, these homeowners have reworked their ugly ducklings into fine-looking contemporary dwellings.

Exterior colour tips

Greyed off, muted colours are often best for exteriors, blending well with both natural and urban elements. Clear, bright colours can look garish.

Remember that colours will always look lighter in our strong sunlight. Use a Resene testpot to try out your choices on various sides of the house (sunny and shady). Paint a sample on card so it's easy to move around.

Many new claddings come with warranties that specify the LRV (light reflectance value) of the paint colour to be used. Black absorbs all light so has an LRV of 0%; pure white reflects all light so has an LRV of 100%. To find the LRV of your chosen colour, simply look on the reverse of the card, or in the online Resene colour library. Ask the staff at your Resene ColorShop or reseller for help if you have any doubts.

While cedar cladding can be left to slowly turn grey this leaves it exposed to the weather. If you want to keep a natural look, stain it using the Resene Waterborne Woodsman range. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to see the colours on various types of timber from pine, to hardwoods and cedar.

Remember to include existing elements like the aluminium joinery and roof colour in your colour scheme. If you can't change either (or have any colour scheme query), send a photograph and details to the Resene free colour consultancy online service or book an appointment with a Resene colour expert.

And the practicalities…

Use Resene CoolColour™ paint for dark exterior colours. This technology reflects harmful UV from the sun and therefore helps protect both the paint and the cladding from damage.

Resene Lumbersider is a popular choice for outdoor use on timber claddings. It's a tough waterborne low-sheen paint with a natural look that is fully washable. Or opt for Resene Sonyx 101 for a semi-gloss finish. The glossier the finish, usually the easier it is to clean. The lower sheen the finish, the better it hides surface imperfections.

If you want to paint timber that has been previously left to weather, use Resene TimberLock first. It's a multifunctional treatment that regenerates wood fibres laid bare by UV and weather attack, so will improve the performance and life of the paint topcoat.

Top tips: When you're planning dark exterior colours, choose Resene CoolColour paints or stains. Use variants of one colour from the handy Resene Whites & Neutrals collection to create a great-looking exterior scheme.

See more ideas for exteriors at www.habitatbyresene.com or www.resene.com/exteriorideas.

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

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