By Kriss Swint, Westlake Royal Building Products
A combination of economic factors is impacting the way homeowners think about their living situations. Many who may have once considered moving are electing to stay put longer to hang onto lower interest rates, and instead are renovating the space they have to fix what’s dated, accommodate changing family needs, or reflect shifting lifestyles and tastes.
But even as renovation has become a big focus, rising fuel costs and other expenses are also changing how homeowners go about remodels. People aren’t renovating less — they’re renovating differently.
According to a new Redfin survey of 4,000 residents, 65% of respondents said they made improvements to their home instead of moving in the last year. Of those who renovated, most spent less than $20,000.
Instead of full gut remodels, homeowners are prioritizing upgrades that feel manageable, deliver immediate impact and add long-term value. It’s a trend also reflected in Westlake Royal Building Products’ TrendLine report, which identifies the rise of the “Intentional Home,” where every project is purpose-driven, balancing performance, durability and timeless design.
The home exterior is its first impression, and there are ample ways to give it a needed refresh without fully residing or changing the entire look. If you’re eager to make improvements but hoping to stay within a smaller budget, check out these easy upgrades that make a big impact.
Easy Siding & Trim Upgrades
If a full re-side is out of the budget, switching up components can still dramatically change your façade’s appearance.
- Add texture with stone: Replacing the bottom third of a vinyl-sided front façade with manufactured stone veneer can not only transform the home’s aesthetic, it provides a 208% return on investment, according to the 2025 Zonda Cost vs. Value Report. This can be accomplished with traditional manufactured stone products such as Cultured Stone and Eldorado Stone or with Versetta Stone panelized stone siding.
These materials can also be used to add texture around entryways, to wrap porch columns, or as an exterior accent wall in an outdoor living area.
- Incorporate accent details: Accent panels are another way to create an eye-catching, multi-textured façade. Small design changes, like incorporating vertical accent panels such as Vertälla, adding Foundry shakes to a gable, or installing Cedar Renditions aluminum accents to a bumpout, can create contrast and architectural interest.
- Wrap columns: If your porch posts are showing signs of wear or just look a bit boring, PVC column wraps, such as Royal Column Wraps, are an easy upgrade. These column wraps come in a variety of styles, are simple to assemble and install, and don’t require painting or staining unless a new color is desired.
- Replace shutters: Shutters are another area where a simple swap-out for a new color or style can refresh the whole exterior aesthetic. Options range from simple raised panel profiles to louvered to board and batten.
- Change out lighting — and add new mounting blocks: Refreshing your entryway lighting can provide both a new look and added security. As you’re doing so, consider using cellular PVC mount blocks, which not only provide a mounting surface for light fixtures, dryer vents and more, but they also elevate the aesthetic for a finished appearance. SturdiMount mount blocks, for example, are low maintenance and are pre-flashed and pre-assembled to protect against water damage.
- Choose low-maintenance materials to reduce long-term upkeep. Maintenance is one of the biggest pain points driving renovation decisions. As you decide on new exterior materials, swapping out traditional wood for options like TruExterior poly-ash siding or Celect Cellular Composite Siding can provide the warm, nature-inspired look of wood but with less maintenance and fewer concerns about moisture, bugs and rot.
- Repaint: A new coat of paint, either across the whole facade or in certain areas, is one of the most impactful ways to improve curb appeal. Changing just the color of trim, shutters and entry doors can be a quick job that still has the power to transform.
Upgrade Roofing for Energy Efficiency and Weather Resilience
Roof replacement carries a larger investment, but if you’re looking to break the re-roofing cycle, upgrading can deliver long-term savings benefits. As noted in TrendLine, peace of mind is becoming more critical than ever as homes face growing weather threats.
- Fortify with weather-resilient roof materials: As extreme weather events continue to get more severe and more frequent, upgrading to composite, stone coated steel, and concrete tile roof systems with high wind and hail ratings can better protect the home against climate-related challenges, helping to prevent damage to both the roof and the structure within.
- Protect against wildfires: More and more homeowners in wildfire areas are upgrading their roofs to products like stone coated steel that can be installed with a specific underlayment to achieve a Class A fire rating for the most severe fire-prone areas, providing extra protection from wind-driven embers.
- Increase efficiency: Choosing Cool Roof Colors and Cool Roof Systems can provide added durability while helping to keep homes cooler while lowering energy costs. A Cool Roof System pairs Unified Steel, Newpoint Concrete, and US Tile roofing with specialized underlayment, an Elevated Batten System, and a continuous ridge vent to provide superior insulation and ventilation to help keep homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Elevate Outdoor Living Areas
If you already have a deck or other outdoor living space, lower-cost upgrades can deliver a style or functionality boost.
- Upgrade porch and deck ceilings: Replace a one-note outdoor ceiling with beadboard for a timeless touch. Try it in Haint Blue for a classic Southern style or wood-look Grove Collection. Infusing spaces with warm, nature-emulating materials speaks to the TrendLine finding that biophilic design elements are in demand.
- Increase all-weather functionality: As more homeowners upgraded their outdoor living spaces during the pandemic, the industry responded with an influx of new options to make those areas livable year-round. Add infrared heaters, awnings and shades to keep the space comfortable, no matter the weather.
- Swap deck railings: Railings were sometimes an afterthought when it came to planning decks, but today options abound and railings can add the perfect finishing touch or enhance views. If your railings feel a bit drab or are obstructing sightlines, consider upgrading to something with a bit more style and in a material that doesn’t require meticulous upkeep.
- Emulate the interior: One of the biggest trends in outdoor living is creating the feel and functionality of the indoor space in the outdoors. This includes separating outdoor living areas into “rooms,” such as for dining, gathering, reading or meditation. This can be accomplished quickly with area rugs, planters, fire features and furniture. For a more dedicated application, add contrasting deck boards to picture frame an area or create visual separation.
- Add atmosphere with lighting: Lighting plays a critical role in mood-setting, and it doesn’t have to take a huge chunk of your budget. Diversity is key — think about lighting needed for safety (like step and path lights, as well as motion-detecting flood lights), options for specific activities like dining and gathering, and elements that solely add ambience, such as string lights or flickering electric lanterns.
- Get smart: Smart home devices can take your lighting, shades, A/V and other systems to the next level by allowing you to control and program the perfect mood and security levels — from inside your home or from across the world.
Tackle Maintenance & Repairs
Before you get started, take time to evaluate your exterior and what small changes can be made before bigger investments begin. A bit of freshening up and maintenance can go a long way to revive the look of your exterior.
- Reduce clutter: Just like the inside of the home, too much clutter can make the exterior look unkempt and neglected. Start by minimizing the distractions — clear away obvious, excessive and unnecessary items such as shoes left by the door and kids’ toys, as well as yard debris like leaves, mud and dirt.
- Look for obvious damage: Inspect the exterior for visible damage, such as cracks and chips in trim and siding, faded paint or broken porch railings, and repair those areas. Make note of harder-to-fix issues and make a plan for repairs, possibly with a professional. Even small issues may indicate or lead to larger problems down the road. When doing your own repairs, be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines for both repair method and materials. For example, some window materials may require a specific type of caulk to ensure proper performance.
As part of these inspections, also look for water drainage issues. Moisture is one of the biggest causes of a home’s both aesthetic and durability problems. Make sure rainwater isn’t pooling in areas of the exterior or getting trapped on surfaces.
- Check decks: Poorly installed or maintained decks can cause failures that lead to injuries or even death. Regular deck inspections can help identify repairs that can help prevent failures. Check out Deck Safety Month resources from the North American Deck & Railing Association for checklists and other tools.
- Inspect roofs: It only takes a small area of damage or wear to create large problems in the roofing system, particularly in times of heavy rain and wind. You or a professional should inspect your roof for any sign of failure, which may include but is not limited to asphalt shingles that are missing, damaged or losing granules; a metal roof that is cracked; or a clay roof with cracked or missing tiles. Damaged or deteriorated areas should be repaired as soon as possible (or the roof fully replaced if the problem is widespread) to avoid moisture intrusion issues.
A Worthy Investment
Your home’s exterior doesn’t just leave a first impression on neighbors and visitors, it’s a welcome mat for you and your family every day. Whether your remodel budget is small or large, there are a range of improvements that can make a dramatic impact both in how your home looks and how it performs.
Kriss Swint is the Director of Marketing Communications at Westlake Royal Building Products. Learn more at www.westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com.
