Want to give the front of your home a new lease of life? In this guide, we’ll explore what steps you can take to transform the front of your home, how much they cost, and more. Let’s begin!
Add a New Front Door
Average Costs: £300 to £1,200*
Adding a new front door to your property may interest you. A front door can make quite a difference to the look of the front of your home. Thankfully, there are many options to choose from.
In terms of material, common front door types include uPVC, oak, mahogany, composite, and pine. Consider a custom-made front door if you have the budget. Of course, front doors can also vary significantly in colour and style/design.
*Prices often span from around £1,000 to £4,000 in the case of custom-made front doors.
Porch Installation
Average Costs: £2,000 to £3,500
Beyond that, consider having a porch installed. It’s worth noting that you may not want to have a new front door and porch added together, as the porch may obscure your new door to an extent (depending on the type of porch you opt for). This may or may not be a dealbreaker for you, but it’s worth considering before splashing out on a new front door and a porch.
Porches generally cost several thousand pounds to install each. As with having a new front door added, there are many options to choose from.
Regarding the materials used, popular porches include brick, oak, and aluminium. Design-wise, consider an enclosed porch, veranda, open porch, and overhang porch. As alluded to, some porches can obscure front doors to a greater extent than others.
Block Paving/Driveway Installation
Average Costs: £5,250 to £6,250
Having block paving added to a home is often done to create a driveway. Block paving costs, and thus, driveways made using block pavings, can vary greatly.
When adding block paving, you may be interested in a concrete, brick, or composite driveway. Driveways can often range in size from 20m² to 100m². Designs/styles can vary greatly too. Adding a drive to your home can improve its kerb appeal and increase its value.
Many types of driveways and prices and designs can range further. So, be sure to distinguish block paving driveways from all driveways. To learn more about the ideal driveway for you, consult a professional.
Fresh Paint Job
Average Costs: £550 to £1,500
Another great way of transforming the front of your home is to have it (and possibly the rest of your home’s exterior) repainted. In this section (especially concerning cost), we’re focused on repainting the entire exterior of a property.
Naturally, prices can vary depending on the size of the property and the type of paint used. In general, labour costs can differ based on where you live.
Types of exterior paint jobs are gloss, semi-gloss and satin. You’ll, of course, also want to consider what colour to go with. The right colour and type of exterior paint best suited will vary from home to home. If you’re unsure, talk with a professional painter or designer.
It is possible to undertake this work DIY, but only if you have the right skills and experience and know exactly what is involved. Moreover, it’s essential to follow all safety precautions if you want to pay the exterior of your home, including, if using a ladder, having someone hold it from the bottom to keep it on the safe side.
Also, scaffolding is needed if the work takes place four feet or more above the lower level of the property. Working at ten feet above a lower level and fall protection is required.
That said, wearing a safety harness can be a great safety step. This can protect you from a potentially lethal fall and provide peace of mind. However, having a second person hold the bottom of a ladder (if using one) is still essential for safety.
Landscaping Your Front Garden
Average Cost: Several thousand pounds *
Furthermore, hire a professional landscaper to revitalise your front garden. Landscaping work that might appeal to you includes the installation of a gravel or shingle path, a new patio, installing water features, and the addition of artificial grass (particularly if you have no grass in your front garden currently).
*Landscaping an average back garden will generally cost around £4,000 to £6,000 but will probably cost less in the case of a front garden, assuming that you’d require less landscaping work in this case.
Other Considerations
Along with the jobs discussed above, here are other ways to transform the front of your home worth considering:
- Exterior cladding or rendering
- Upgrading/replacing your roof
- Fit a sophisticated garage
- Replace your front windows
- Have a carport added to your property
Please note that for any potential installation or alteration to the front of your property, you should look into any applicable Building Regulations and planning permission rules before proceeding with the project.