Hidden Costs: What the Design of Your Building's Façade ...

First impressions matter &#; even for buildings. 

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The structure's outer shell or façade is the first thing anyone sees when arriving at a building.  

However, façades play more than just a cosmetic role in a structure. They are a shield for a building, protecting it from water and moisture &#; effectively managing water runoff and drainage, and reducing the risks of leaks. A well-designed and built façade ensures structural integrity, building longevity, and perhaps, most importantly, protects against the health risks associated with being in a damp building. 

As you can imagine, as building designs become more complex and environmental and seismic factors have to be taken into account, the trickier it can be to waterproof the façade. 

Unfortunately, despite its critical nature, the waterproofing aspect of façades is often overlooked when it comes to designing and constructing buildings. Not only does this put buildings and occupants at risk, it also can result in costly construction delays, repairs, and more frequent maintenance.  

 

What have the drawings missed? 

A building&#;s plans and drawings can show you a lot &#; but not everything. And, in the construction industry, getting it wrong is incredibly unforgiving.  

In the concept stage, an architect will typically use a cross-section and/or typical detail on the drawing to show how the façade is to be constructed. However, what may look like just two lines intersecting on the plan is an area that will need more consideration on how that transition or termination needs to be waterproofed &#; particularly if a horizontal plane is connecting a vertical one or two different materials will be touching.  

In short, seeing a potential leak on a drawing is tough!  

That&#;s where experience and having your façade and waterproofing specialists involved from the start is so important. 

A recent example is a large building we were asked to get involved with after the previous contractor had abandoned the job. Since a façade expert hadn&#;t provided advice and guidance at the design stage, the contractor couldn&#;t successfully waterproof the façade and didn&#;t have the necessary experience to solve the challenges with the design.  

When we got involved, unfortunately, construction had progressed to a stage where the necessary repairs, alterations, and fixes could no longer be implemented without amending the building consent and redesigning the waterproofing methods for a substantial portion of the façade. This approach made the application more difficult and riskier and increased the likelihood of earlier maintenance, repeated replacements, and weathering issues. 

Ultimately, not getting these issues sorted at the design stage and appointing the correct waterproofing contractor delayed the building&#;s completion date by at least three months and incurred significant extra costs for the developer, not to mention the ongoing maintenance. 

 

Damaged materials &#; happens more often than you think  

While it might initially sound surprising, considering how building materials may have to travel to site and the sheer number of people and activity that happens on a construction site, it is actually relatively common for damage to occur. 

This is something that is never really considered until you have damaged materials turn up on site. 

The installation of precast panels is a great example. These panels have lifting eyes incorporated within them, typically located in the area where waterproofing, sealing, or jointing takes place. When the panels are lifted during installation, it is crucial to reinstate the lifting eyes in their designated positions. However, the areas around these lifting eyes can get damaged due to tight tolerances or mishandling during transportation. 

Transportation limitations sometimes lead to unconventional positioning of the panels. For instance, panels may be loaded sideways on a truck and then rotated into position during installation. This change in orientation means that the lifting eyes, which were originally designed to only be on the top of the panel also ended up on the side. 

 

Protecting your building when its most vulnerable 

During construction, a structure is at its weakest, lacking essential drainage, roofing, and façade elements, making it vulnerable to weather events.  

As we&#;ve been reminded lately, you can&#;t predict the weather. Therefore, buildings should be temporarily waterproofed throughout the construction process. This way, the interior works can proceed in the lower stages of the building while the upper elements remain exposed and incomplete.  

We recently were involved in a project where we installed temporary waterproofing on multiple levels of a building. However, as the project neared its final stages, the client made a commercial decision to forgo the final level that was scheduled for temporary waterproofing. As this was prior to the roof being installed, that unprotected level was exposed and vulnerable.  

Unfortunately, the rain came and the building experienced significant flooding.  

We received desperate calls for assistance in the midst of the rain, but it was too late. 

What had initially looked like a cost-saving measure on paper quickly turned into an expensive disaster.  

 

Experience 

To make sure things aren&#;t missed at the design phase, façade materials are handled and installed correctly, and the building is watertight during construction, we approach things a little differently at Sansom.  

We like to be involved right from the start, using our experience and expertise to guide projects from the initial design phase all the way through to the end, avoiding pitfalls that could delay construction, incur extra cost or require ongoing maintenance. 

By pre-emptively considering potential issues, we ensure everyone involved has the necessary knowledge and means to swiftly address any problems that may arise. This is particularly crucial in the case of building façades, as their construction process is generally quick, adhering to a tight programme. By anticipating and accounting for these challenges in advance, we can react quickly and seamlessly, ensuring the project progresses smoothly. 

Our approach not only solves short-term problems but also prevents ongoing long-term challenges that impact other stakeholders down the line.   

Throughout, our industry-best quality assurance measures provide peace of mind for ourselves, the architect and building owner. 

We sign producer statements and obtain warranties from our suppliers for the materials we use. As approved applicators, we provide quality assurance to our suppliers, who are invited to witness our on-site construction process. 

To make it easy for main contractors and clients to verify construction details, we don&#;t use paper-based systems. Instead, all data is inputted into CONQA, an online quality assurance system, including site inspections and observations by our façade team to create a comprehensive set of live compliance documentation. 

The fact that despite the recent weather events, Sansom has had no callbacks about leaking buildings, shows that our approach to façades works.  

So, get in touch to start the conversation about your upcoming project. https://www.sansom.co.nz/contact-sansom 

Dreaming of a Home Exterior Makeover?

Planning to give your home a much-needed curb appeal revamp is all fun and games when you&#;re in the dreaming phase. Scouring Pinterest, Instagram, and home magazines can leave you feeling excited and inspired. But when the time comes to actually calculate the cost, you might not know where to start.

Understanding the Costs of Exterior Home Remodeling

An average home exterior remodel cost is around $15,000 to $20,000, which includes exterior painting, door and window trim updates, porch railing, and decorations. Although that may seem like a pretty penny, it&#;s one of the less expensive parts of your home to revamp, and the value that it adds to your home makes the investment well worth it.

Also, the actual amount you might pay varies depending on the size of your home, the work you want to be done, if you&#;re merely making cosmetic updates or are replacing building materials, if you plan to do the work yourself, and whether you choose a virtual exterior designer or a traditional one.

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Maximize Your Home&#;s Market Appeal with Top Exterior Renovations

Elevating your home&#;s exterior is not just about aesthetics; it&#;s a strategic investment. The Remodeling Magazine&#;s Cost vs. Value Report reveals the most financially rewarding exterior renovations. Let&#;s dive into these projects that promise the best bang for your buck:

Garage Door Replacement

Surprisingly topping the list, garage door replacements boast a remarkable 102.7% recoup rate. A new garage door significantly enhances your home&#;s facade, making almost every dollar spent count.

Manufactured Stone Veneer 

Adding a touch of elegance with manufactured stone veneer can yield a 102.3% return. It&#;s a stylish way to boost your home&#;s curb appeal and recoup your investment.

Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

A steel entry door isn&#;t just about security; it&#;s a style statement with a 100.9% recoup rate. It&#;s a simple yet powerful upgrade for your home&#;s entrance.

Siding Replacement (Vinyl and Fiber-Cement)

Refresh your home&#;s exterior with new siding. Vinyl siding offers a 94.7% return, while fiber-cement comes in at 88.5%. Both options provide a fresh, modern look and a solid return on investment.

Window Replacement (Vinyl and Wood)

Enhance your home&#;s energy efficiency and aesthetics with new windows. Vinyl windows recoup 68.5%, and wood windows follow closely with a 61.2% return. It&#;s a subtle change that significantly impacts buyer appeal.

Deck Addition (Wood and Composite)

Expand your living space outdoors with a new or updated deck. Wood decks see a 50.2% return, while composite decks offer a 39.8% recoup rate. These additions create inviting outdoor areas that are highly valued by buyers.

These exterior upgrades not only enhance your living experience but also ensure a strong return if/and when it&#;s time to sell. Creating a home that&#;s not just visually stunning but also a wise financial investment.

Average Cost for Home Exterior Painting

Breaking Down the Cost of Exterior Painting

The national average cost of an exterior home painting project is $3,060. Several factors play a role in the cost of a paint project. Paint quality and home size can cause the project cost to increase. If your home has lots of windows and doors with trim that needs to be painted, this could also make the project more expensive.

The Value of Professional Exterior Painting

Even if you&#;re on a tight budget, it is worth it to hire a contractor to paint your home&#;s exterior. From both a safety and quality standpoint, professionals will get the job done with ease. Keep in mind that bright sunlight typically isn&#;t forgiving on uneven paint lines.

Average Cost for Updating Trim on Exterior Doors and Windows

Costs and Impact of Updating Door and Window Trims

When budgeting for your home exterior remodel cost, you can expect to spend about $150 each on installing or replacing the trim on doors and windows, with labor as an additional cost. It is amazing how a fresh coat of paint on a door and clean, new trim on your windows can affect the look of a home.

Transforming Your Home with Window and Door Upgrades

Window panes can also dramatically change your home&#;s appearance. If you want to give your home a midcentury modern look, swap out your vertical window panes for wider, horizontal window panes. Or, ditch window panes altogether and go for spacious windows (especially if your home has a beautiful view). On the contrary, vertical window panes are perfect for traditional, French country, and farmhouse homes.

Installing a new exterior door has an average cost of $1,119, and the average cost for installing new windows is $6,347, though note that there&#;s a huge range of options impacting the cost of the latter. The cost of materials can vary greatly.

Average Cost for Front Porch Railings

Pricing and Design Choices for Porch Railings

Replacing porch railings can cost anywhere between $15 and $850 per linear foot, with a national average of $93 per linear foot. Standard porch railing is typically pretty boring. Most railings just have straight wood planks. Why not mix things up and go with railings that have &#;X&#; shapes? On the other end, sometimes simple is better. Intricately wrought iron railing can sometimes date a house, and this type of railing doesn&#;t go well with every house style.

Another option for updating your railing without installing a new set is to stain the wood a darker color or paint it. Consider matching the railing color to your shutters to create a cohesive look.

Enhancing Curb Appeal With Exterior Home Decorations

Decorations can bring new life to your curb appeal. Of course, there are many different types of exterior decorations you can choose from. When budgeting, be sure to factor in line items for furniture (porch, patio, and/or deck), exterior lighting, and miscellaneous items, like throw pillows, planters, and other accessories.

Personalizing Outdoor Spaces for Comfort and Entertainment

When planning your home&#;s redesign project, think about how you want to use your front yard and back yard. Do you imagine having outdoor dinners with your loved ones? Invest in a firepit, picnic bench, and cozy string lights. Do you want to have your morning coffee on the porch where you can greet the neighborhood good morning? Purchase comfortable porch chairs with cushions and throw pillows. Perhaps you have a pool and want to make your space a blast for entertaining.

Boosting Home Value with Strategic Exterior Lighting and Decor

Even if you aren&#;t planning on staying in your home long, decorations will help potential buyers envision what the home could look like once they add their own personal touches. In addition, exterior lighting &#; think lamp posts and porch lights &#; will give your home a safe look, just in case interested buyers drive by at night to check out the neighborhood.

Investing in Landscaping: Average Cost and Benefits

On average, Americans spend $3,200 on installing new landscaping. And new landscaping is well worth the investment. A home should blend seamlessly with the yard around it, and adding plants can achieve this look.

Landscaping for Curb Appeal and Future Sales

If you&#;re planning on selling your home one day, adding shrubs, small trees, and bright flowers will attract potential buyers. Don&#;t wait until you decide to sell your home to invest in quality landscaping. The more time the plants have to grow, the better they will look when it comes time to put your home on the market.

Working with Professionals for Your Landscaping Needs

While you can certainly grow many of your own plants, partner with a professional landscaper for the difficult projects, and don&#;t forget to do your research. Choose plants that are native to your home&#;s region. You should also contact your state&#;s underground damage prevention organization. They will send contractors to mark sections of your yard that aren&#;t safe to dig.

How Much Can an Exterior Makeover Increase a Home&#;s Value?

ROI of Exterior Makeovers: Is It Worth the Investment?

With all the time and money that goes into a curb appeal revamp, you might be wondering if it&#;s really worth the trouble. After all, it would be a lot easier to list your home on the market as is or move into a new house that already has a dreamy porch, stunning windows, perfect bushes, and a bright door. However, an exterior makeover costs next to nothing in comparison to the return on investment you&#;ll see once it&#;s time to resell. Exterior paint can provide a 141% return on investment, and the first impression of your home can add 20% to your home&#;s value. Plus, the markup on house with a picture-perfect exterior is high, so it is certainly worth it to take on the project yourself.

Take a look at the return on investment for these common exterior remodel projects:

• Exterior painting: 

  Homes with fresh exterior paint sell for 5&#;10% more than houses in the same condition with old paint. So a $500,000 home will sell for $25,000 to $50,000 more with fresh paint.

• House siding: If you replace your house siding, you can expect to get an 84% return on investment.
• Front door: Replacing your old door or giving it a fresh coat of paint yields a

  101.8% return on investment.

• Landscaping: Thinking about planting an expensive rose bush or hiring a professional landscaper? We say go for it. Landscaping shows a 105% return on investment.

 

Average Cost for Home Exterior Design Services

Are you having a hard time envisioning how a certain paint color will pair with your window trim? Or is something missing from your home, but you just don&#;t know what? Seeking help from an industry expert is the way to go.

Unfortunately, exterior designers don&#;t come cheap. In fact, the average exterior designer&#;s hourly rate falls between $100 to $200. Let&#;s say the project takes 20 hours to complete. You&#;re looking at a total of $2,000 to $4,000. Most exterior designers have preferred contractors they work with, which means you won&#;t get to chose your own, more affordable contractors.

Don&#;t let your home exterior makeover cost stop you from investing in your home&#;s curb appeal. Instead of partnering with an exterior designer, work with brick&batten, a virtual home exterior design service.

Brick & Batten: Affordable Virtual Exterior Design Solutions

Here&#;s how it works: Send us a photo of your house, and we will create a photo rendering to show your home&#;s potential. We&#;ll work with you to determine paint colors and find ways to display your personality through curb appeal. Furthermore, you&#;ll get a complete shopping list with direct links to all of the products and materials our experts recommend using.

Remember the beautiful home at the top of this post? That&#;s a client&#;s actual after photo, which they completed based on the design we created for them:

When you work with brick&batten, you&#;ll get the benefit of a professional designer&#;s expertise, but you can complete the projects at your own pace, and your own price. Get started today!

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