Home Exterior Upgrades To Consider In 2025

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Many of us pay a lot of attention to the interior of our home. But what about the exterior? 

Maintaining the outside of our home is important for preventing water, drafts and pests from getting in. Improvements to our exterior can also affect our home’s overall curb appeal and value. On top of this, certain upgrades could improve security and privacy. 

Just what are some of the improvements to consider making to your home’s exterior? Below are a few of the big upgrades and the impact they could have. 

Roofing

If your roof is looking damaged, it could be time to consider repairs – or potentially a replacement. There are a variety of different roof materials to consider that each have their own benefits. A few popular options include:

  • Asphalt shingles: The most popular option. Cost-effective and good against high winds. 
  • Clay tiles: A durable and fire-resistant solution. Can be expensive and quite heavy though.
  • Concrete tiles: Concrete tiles are similar to clay tiles, but cost less.
  • Slate tiles: The most durable option – slate tiles can last over 100 years. They are also one of the most pricey options. 
  • Steel roofing: Steel roofs are long-lasting and relatively light. They can withstand high winds, but can get noisy in the rain. 
  • Cedar shakes: Cedar shakes offer good insulation and look amazing, but are high maintenance and vulnerable to fire. 
  • Felt roofing: One of the cheapest options. Felt roofs are easy to repair and popular for flat roofs. 

An alternative to considering a new roof could be to consider roof add-ons. Installing solar panels could allow you to generate your own power – reducing the demand on your mains supplier and lowering your energy bills. Installing skylight windows in a roof can meanwhile allow natural light to pour in and give you a view of the stars at night. 

Siding

Siding can also become damaged over time. When this happens, it could be time to upgrade to new siding. There are a few different materials that can be used for siding. 

  • Vinyl: The most popular option. Affordable, low-maintenance and versatile. 
  • Fiber cement: A slightly more expensive, but longer lasting alternative to vinyl. Fire-proof and can mimic wood.
  • Brick veneer: A durable and attractive option. Can be expensive and labor-intensive to install. 
  • Stone veneer: The most luxurious, but also the most expensive option. Very durable. 
  • Cedar: Cedar siding looks great and is a good insulator, but can be high maintenance and vulnerable to fires. 
  • Steel: A modern option that is light and durable. 

It’s worth noting that you may be able to revive your existing siding simply by repainting it or even by jet-washing it. This is likely to cost a lot less than investing in completely new siding. 

Doors

2025 could be a good year to invest in new doors. This could include a new front door or a new back door. Choosing new doors could be an opportunity to improve security and insulation. A few popular door materials to choose from include.

  • Wood: The most common material. Doors can be made from woods such as oak, cherry or maple. Wood is favored for its attractive appearance and insulation qualities, but can be expensive.
  • Steel: The most secure door material. Steel doors are heavy and a more modern-looking alternative to wood. 
  • Fiberglass: Fiberglass offers the best insulation qualities of any material. These doors often have a solid wooden core to also provide security.
  • Vinyl: A cheap option that is very durable and also has good insulation properties. 
  • Glass: Glass doors can help let in natural light. Make sure to choose toughened double pane obscured glass – this will ensure security, insulation and privacy. Such glass typically sits in a frame made of another material.

Of course, replacing your door isn’t the only upgrade you can make. You could repaint your front door to make it more attractive. Alternatively, you could consider a few security upgrades like a video doorbell, motion sensing lighting, a burglar alarm or a new lock. 

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Windows

You could also consider investing in new windows. This could be a chance to improve insulation and security. Windows come in a variety of different styles from sliding windows to casement windows. Upgrading to double pane windows could improve insulation, while toughened glass windows could improve security. 

One of the most important things to consider when choosing new windows is the frame materials. Ideally, you want to use the same window frames throughout your home to maintain a consistent look. Popular frame materials include:

  • Vinyl: The most popular option. Low maintenance and affordable.
  • Wood: Wooden window frames require a lot of maintenance, but have an attractive traditional look and can add value to a home. 
  • Aluminium: One of the most secure and weatherproof options. Good for a modern look. 
  • Fiberglass: Fiberglass window frames are long-lasting and offer good insulation.

On top of replacing the windows themselves, you could consider installing other additional extras. This could include external shutters or flower boxes beneath. Certain windows may even be possible to turn into a Juliet balcony by adding railings.

Gutters

If your guttering is starting to look damaged, you could also consider new guttering. This could be important for maintaining good drainage and reducing water damage to your home. A few popular gutter materials include:

  • Aluminium: The most popular material. Aluminium gutters are corrosion-resistant and relatively affordable.
  • Galvanized steel: Steel gutters are some of the most robust options. They are great for withstanding heavy snow.
  • Copper: A virtually-maintenance free option. Also the most expensive option.
  • Vinyl: The cheapest option. Vinyl is lightweight and doesn’t corrode. 

When upgrading guttering, you could also consider looking into gutter guard installers near you. Gutter guards will help to reduce blockages of leaves and reduce maintenance. 

Driveway

A final part of your exterior that may be worth considering is your driveway. If this is looking worn and damaged, it could be time to consider installing a new driveway: There are a few different driveway materials to choose from:

  • Concrete: The most popular driveway surface. It’s long-lasting and low maintenance. 
  • Asphalt: A cheap surface option that is easy to repair. In hot climates, it may get sticky however. 
  • Block paving: Block paving is durable and stylish, but can be higher maintenance and costs more to install. 
  • Resin: A low maintenance option that is good for sloped driveways. 
  • Gravel: A cost effective and easy to maintain option. Not ideal for sloped driveways. 

When choosing a new driveway, you could also consider upgrades like adding lighting or even underground heating to help melt ice in the winter. Make sure that your driveway also has adequate drainage. 

 

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