8 easy exterior spruce ups

An easy way to make your front entry and deck look appealing is to dress it up with pretty planter pots filled with seasonal colour. Cheerful hues that complement your exterior colour scheme add a splash of warmth. Paint timber planters with Resene Waterborne Woodsman wood stain or give an ordinary terracotta pot a makeover. Seal the inside and outside of the pot with Resene Terracotta Sealer before finishing with your favourite Resene colours. For an extra touch of metallic bling, use Resene FX Metallic.

2 That time again

If it’s been 10 years since you painted your home’s weatherboards then it’s time to do it again using Resene Lumbersider (low sheen) or Resene Sonyx 101 (semi-gloss). In between painting cycles, maintenance may be all that’s required to make the woodwork look sparkling new. For an instant revival, wash your home's exterior with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. This is best done once a year. For a slower acting, longer term clean on more weathered surfaces and lightly moss-infested areas, use Resene Deep Clean. While you’re at it, treat the driveway with the same product to take care of lichen and slimy mould that can make it unsafe to walk on.

Left: Freshen your pots with paint. These are Resene Quarter Titania, Resene Campground, Resene ASAP, Resene Citron and Resene Hideaway. Right: Repaint the weatherboards. This is Resene Gravel.

3 Add street appeal

Create the right impression even before visitors or buyers make it to your door. The verge in front of your home and your front garden are the first things they see. Make sure the lawns are mowed, and the paving is clean with no moss or mould in sight and free from cracks and weeds. Use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash for an instant clean, Resene Moss & Mould Killer to treat moss and mould, or for a longer lasting cleaner use Resene Deep Clean, which will keep working over time. Rejuvenate concrete with Resene Concrete Stain or clear Resene Concrete Conserver.

4 It’s a wrap

A weathered and peeling gate and fence are instant turn-offs. They make your home look neglected and sad. Put your best face forward and create the enticing ‘wrapping’ for your home. For a quick and easy option with little prep required, refresh with an exterior wood stain like Resene Waterborne Woodsman, available in a range of colours. Or choose a solid colour finish using Resene Lumbersider waterborne low sheen which is self-priming on timber and can be tinted to your favourite Resene colour. If your gate is metal, prime it with Resene GP Metal Primer before painting. Consider painting it the same colour as your front door so they work well together.

5 Point of difference

If you’re in an area where the houses all look fairly similar, give yours an instantly memorable point of difference by painting the letterbox a distinctive hue that complements the colour of your house. Add a large number sign, too. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat on a wooden letterbox then apply a topcoat of tough Resene Enamacryl (gloss). For a metal letterbox start with Resene GP Primer. For a multicolour effect use Resene testpots to topcoat.

6 All decked out

Decks take a lot of wear and tear, and weathering. If your deck is on the south side of the house in the shade, it will be prone to mildew and mould, which will make it slippery. And if it is bathed in sun, any stain or finish will weather and fade over time. Don’t automatically get out the waterblaster, which can damage your deck by furring the timber. Simply wash it down with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, then scrub with a brush and low-pressure garden hose to remove contaminants. When the deck is dry, wash with Resene Timber and Deck Wash, which cleans up the timber and enhances the stain penetration. Finish with Resene Furniture and Decking Oil, Resene Woodsman Decking Stain or Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain.

7 Icing on the cake

It might be out of sight, out of mind most of the time, but a dodgy lichen covered roof and guttering make your house look scruffy and unkempt. Most types of roofing should be cleaned with a light chemical treatment every three years so it can do its job – keeping you dry and warm – properly. Clean galvanised surfaces with Resene Roof Wash and Paint Cleaner. Treat dirty concrete tiled roofs with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. And for repainting, check out the colour options on the Resene Summit Roof chart.

8 Add the smile

A new lick of paint can transform a tired-looking front door into one of the most cheerful components of your home’s exterior. Be bold in your colour choice. Contrast pale cladding with the deepest black, such as Resene All Black, or a vibrant bright red, such as Resene Pohutukawa. Or vice versa. Add impact to the colour with a high gloss paint like Resene Enamacryl, or use semi-gloss Resene Lustacryl to hide any surface imperfections. Both paints are waterborne enamels so are easy to use and clean up.

Go for a bold front door. This is Resene Lemon Ginger on a house finished in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black, by Barry Connor Design.

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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