Facelift

Over about the past week, our house has undergone a fairly dramatic transformation -- from blue to green, from white trim to more of a slight cream, from white trim around the windows to red, from white gutters to brownish. The guys at Gutter Works did a stand-up job on both the painting and the gutter installation, and we are very happy with the outcome.

There were just a couple of hiccups along the way. First, after removing one of the downspouts on the rear of the house, we found that termites had been eating through the board that lay behind it. So there was more (unplanned) money out the window for the installation of a termite bait system around the exterior of the house. And then there was the red paint. There was some confusion over the finishes available in the trim paint, and we were originally told our choices were flat or glossy. Although we were really hoping for semi-gloss (satin), we went with the gloss, knowing that at least some gloss provided more protection from the elements over the years. We (and Jarrett especially) were not pleased with the outcome. The gloss in the paint really accentuated any imperfections in the window trim, and it was really even difficult to see what color the paint really was in direct sunlight. Later it was determined that we could actually get the trim paint in a satin finish, so we had them do another coat of satin over all of the windows, and now we think it looks fantastic.

So, now for the big unveil.

Before:

After:

Now, once we have the front landscape cleaned up and refreshed, and maybe eventually that new front door and mailbox we have eyed for years, it will really be almost like coming home to a new house. Really, it already does feel that way, and we are thoroughly enjoying the change.