The first impression most people have of a home is its appearance from the street, often referred to as the home’s “curb appeal.” When building a new home, the homeowner is able to more easily tailor the home’s curb appeal to their personal style.  Much of the way the home looks is independent from the chosen floor plan.

Let’s take a look at some factors that make up a home’s curb appeal and how they can vary:

Color & Material Types

There are many types of materials available for the exterior of your home.  Vinyl siding is the most cost effective and therefore the most commonly used material. Often, vinyl siding is used in combination with other materials such as brick and/or stone.  The look of wood shakes is another common feature, however this look is more often achieved with a vinyl alternative rather than actual wood shakes for maintenance purposes.  Some other materials that are occasionally used are stucco/EIFS board and cement board siding.

The colors of your home’s exterior can also greatly change its curb appeal.  Each style of home has a traditional color scheme that is commonly used.  A good place to start is the Behr website, which calls out common color schemes based on the home style.

Roof Structure Styles

Roof structure is another factor to consider. Both style and pitch can change the look of the home. Two main roof structure styles are gables and hips. Gable trusses are the most basic style, with two vertical planes that meet in the middle. Hip trusses are more complex and typically have more than 2 vertical planes that all meet in the middle. Beyond truss style, the pitch of the roof can have a big impact on the feel of the home as well. Lower pitched roofs are more cost effective, but higher pitched roofs will give the home a grander feel from the road.

Window Shapes & Styles

Windows come in all shapes and sizes. The type of windows you select can have a drastic impact on the look and feel of your home. Certain window styles are common with certain home styles. For example, adding a prairie style grill in your windows will automatically give your home more of a craftsman feel. So if you are going for a specific theme, the window you select will go a long way toward achieving it.

You need to consider both how the home will look and how much light will be brought into the home with the windows you select. Local building codes require certain amounts of light for rooms, so it is important to verify that those light codes are met with whichever windows are selected.

Garage Orientation

Garage orientation is another way to significantly change the look of a home’s exterior. Typically the garage doors would face forward on the home, but that is not always the case. The type of lot and floor plan play a factor in the type of orientation a garage can have. A side load garage will make the home look larger, since the garage doors will not be visible from the front. In order to have a side load garage you would need either a corner lot or a lot that is wide enough to have the driveway come in on the side. A concealed third stall requires that the floor plan not have rooms requiring windows by the garage walls.

While the floor plan of your new home is important, the overall curb appeal and the factors that establish it are crucial decisions that will also affect the look and feel of the home.