7 ways to refresh the exterior of your home

With longer days and more favourable weather conditions, spring and summer are the ideal seasons for an exterior spruce up and to spend time elevating and maintaining the exterior of your house. These home improvement ideas – some large, some small – will ensure your property not only looks great, but is a pleasure to live, relax and entertain in. 

Out of the box

Most letterboxes are exposed to the elements and, just like our homes, need to be maintained. So refresh them with a lick of Resene paint or stain when you start to see visible signs of wear and tear. If you’re in an area where the houses all look fairly similar, give yours a memorable point of difference by painting your letterbox in a distinctive colour that complements your house. Add a large number sign, too. Use Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat on a wooden letterbox then apply a topcoat of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or use tough Resene Enamacryl gloss for an easy-to-clean finish. For a metal letterbox, start with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer. For a multicolour effect, use a selection of different Resene testpots for your topcoats.

Follow our step-by-step guide and build yourself a brand-new timber letterbox.

Al fresco inspiration

Cleaning your outdoor areas is an obvious pre-summer maintenance job. Go the extra mile with well-thought-out planting and a change of colour scheme to create a stylish usable space. Take a fresh look at how you use your outdoor areas. Do they work? Can you connect different areas with pavers or paths? Getting the most out of your garden is just the same as any other part of your house. You want to be sure it’s designed to suit your needs. Would gates or fences add privacy or security? Would moveable screens help protect from winds and other weather? How can you add colour with paint and plants to make the area visually pleasing? Develop a plan to create different zones in your garden.

The great wall

Many properties in our part of the world incorporate retaining walls in and around the garden, and you won’t believe the difference that a fresh coat of Resene colour will make – both in looks and timber protection. Treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and clean with Resene Timber and Deck Wash, then prime with Resene Quick Dry before applying two coats of Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen for a painted look. Or if you prefer a stained finish, apply Resene Waterborne Woodsman direct onto the fence in your favourite Resene colour.

Common fence

Gold medal-winning landscape designer Ben Hoyle of Blue Gecko says, “Adding colour to boundary fences is the most cost-effective but commonly overlooked embellishment you can do in your garden. Using deep colours even on a standard paling fence is a must if you want to blur your garden edges and make all your foliage pop.” 

Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Gravel and Resene Pitch Black make a striking backdrop to greenery, as does easy-on-the-eye Resene Karaka and Resene Mangrove, which are both deep muddy greens.

Clean that concrete

Whether it’s pavers, paths or driveways, moss and mould love concrete during winter. Not only does the slimy green stuff look awful, but it can also be incredibly slippery and become a major hazard if not cleaned off properly. To treat, liberally spray Resene Deep Clean onto all your concrete surfaces. You can use the concentrated version and dilute it yourself, or if you’re doing a large area get the handy trigger pack – connect it into your hose and you can get the application done fast. Then leave it to work with the weather. If you need a more immediate moss and mould treatment, you can use Resene Moss & Mould Killer. It’s best to apply Resene Deep Clean once or twice a year to keep your concrete in good shape.

House rules

If it’s been a decade since you last painted your home’s weatherboards, then it’s time to do it again using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen or Resene Sonyx 101 waterborne semi-gloss. In between painting cycles, maintenance may be all that’s required to make your weatherboards 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. 

Read our article for more advice about painting weatherboards. 

All hands on deck

Refreshing your timber deck with stain is the gift that keeps on giving and will absolutely transform your outdoor living area, giving it a polished, well-finished look. It can also help it to look its best for longer. Resene stains and oils help to protect decks from the weather, so the timber stays in better shape and will be less prone to drying out, splitting and causing splinters. Clean thoroughly with Resene Moss & Mould Killer followed by Resene Timber and Deck Wash, then apply two coats of your favourite Resene stain or oil.  

• As a general rule, Resene recommends a deck refresh and restain every two to three years.
• Avoid water blasting as it can damage the timber 
• To maintain your deck, spray on Resene Deep Clean every six to 12 months and leave it to work with the weather. This will help to keep your deck finish cleaner.
• If you want a longer interval before you need to apply another coat, consider painting your deck with Resene Walk-on or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen instead of staining it.

Follow our guide to get your deck looking its best for the warmer weather.

There are plenty of options in the Resene range to make the most of your home’s exterior. Bring photos of your painting project into your local Resene ColorShop for advice, or use the free Resene Ask a Resene Paint Expert service online

About MasterStroke by Resene
MasterStroke by Resene is here to help you master your paint and decorating DIY projects. Brush up on your skills with advice, tips and ideas from our trusted experts.

Check out the latest how-to videos on our YouTube channel.