Renovations Increase Value and Curb Appeal

In our previous segments alongside CTV Vancouver, we highlighted the fact that homeowners should focus on home performance renovations.

This focus on renovations will make for a more comfortable and energy-efficient home, providing year-round comfort. In addition to these benefits, homeowners should also consider renovations that generate enhanced aesthetics and increase curb appeal and style.

Do people renovate their home or building to simply make it look better? 

This is an interesting question as most of us find ourselves completing home renovations because something has worn out or is not performing to the level we expect it to anymore.  It’s what we call the fed-up factor.  For example at what point are you fed-up with dealing with roof leaks until you decide to just replace your whole roof. So performance issues generally initiate a lot of renovations, but what is very important is a renovation does not just need to address the performance of the material, it can also be updated to achieve a very specific aesthetic look of the building too. 

Some homes benefit greatly from a transformation. Increasing the curb appeal of your home is incredibly valuable when it comes to the home’s value. The home’s exterior is the first thing and last thing that catches your eye. As we’re seeing today, Vancouver’s real estate market is booming and increasing your curb appeal and aesthetic goes a long way towards increasing the overall value.

If a homeowner wants to improve the performance as well as the look of their home or building, what should they do?

In BC we are all too familiar with the building wrapped in scaffolding due to water ingress and building envelope performance issues, but what we don’t always see is what is going on inside this scaffolding.

As projects like this will require the expertise of a design professional, you have an option to hire either an engineer or an architect to oversee and sign off on the work being done.  This process will address both performance and aesthetic design aspects but one may be more weighted than the other depending on the ability of your designer. We all know the importance of expertise in a field or subject.  Having the ability to involve experts from different sections of a project from the launch allows for more educated and informed decision-making. 

The first thing you want to do is discover what type of architecture you connect with.  Everyone has a preference whether you know it or not, so searching for inspiration is always a good first step.  Everything else will follow, especially if you have the right team.

So what are common architectural upgrades that can be done when completing building envelope renovations?

You don’t need to replace the siding with the same product that is already there.  In today’s industry, there are many more material options to choose from. For example, there is a metal siding that looks like stained cedar siding and there is a cement-based siding material made to look like painted wood siding.  This siding material will upgrade the look of the building as well as reduce the amount of maintenance on the siding.

Balconies are also an important upgrade.  Outdoor living in a condo can be difficult, so by simply designing a modern style railing system, you can generate an enhanced balcony experience.

We've also completed many whole scale upgrade where a dated buildings completely transform and receive a whole new makeover along with improved building envelope performance materials. This type of upgrade does wonders for the residents and the building envelope. Not only does it enhance the curb appeal and value, but it puts that sweater on the building, providing enhanced year-round comfort for all the residents.

We are BC’s Strata Window Experts

We have installed windows in over 300 full-unit Strata complexes, and installed products for thousands more individual Strata homeowners. Not to mention we have been in the industry for over 35 years, with thousands of customer reviews to advocate for Centra. Centra is 100% Employee Owned, which means we are invested in making sure our products and services are the best in the industry, and we stand behind this with an industry-leading warranty. We focus on delivering consistent communication to ensure your Strata complex is fully aware of the details of the installation. All of our Manufacturing team and Installers are full-time Centra employees, which means we control quality and safety standards every step of the way. Our installers are paid by the hour, not by the install, which translates into a focus on quality rather than speed.

We are your certified Window Geeks

Centra Windows is not only the manufacturer but also the installer of its product, which enables us to offer a full warranty, eliminating any confusion between product performance and installation. We view the house as a system and understand how each of the elements must work correctly to maximize the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Contact our local Employee Owners at 1-888-534-3333 or send us an email at info@centra.ca for more information about this topic and many more. You can also sign up for our biweekly newsletter, providing all the tips and tricks about the window industry.