Ideas please to help improve look of old red brick home on a budget
HU-309674150
last year
last modified: last year
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (8)
Related Discussions
60's red brick farm house
Comments (30)Hi Amelia Like the fine lines of the house with the right planting and garden it will look stunning There may be a few things you would like to consider; 1. Its difficult to tell from the photos but I would check that the ceiling veranda lining is not asbestos - The jointing strips of the lining looks reminiscent of how they used to join that horrible material. Get a professional asbestos remover in to check and follow their advice in getting rid of the stuff. 2. The roof tiles are dark and will absorb heat, they will most likely brake in a heavy hail storm (unless their are really good 'terra cotta' ones like Wonderlicht) and also can let possum and other vermin in, (possum are notorious for lifting tiles) and if you do not have insulation and sizalation on the roof this is the time to put some in - and in the ceilings should you be missing some there. Because now you will have a zincalume roof it is good to earth your electrical system and the roof so that all current overloads are taken to the ground, a good electrician will solve this problem. Also if the roof is replaced with zincalume you should check your "Holding Down" straps to the roof. Because the roof was designed for a tile roof there is always the possibility that the "holding Down" straps were not included or are sparse. Because you are going to a lighter zincalume roof these are to checked and increased or included if missing, especially as you may be in an open area were winds can pick up considerably. 3. Its good that you have north facing veranda's to shield you from the summer sun, and what appears to be a concrete floor with tiles on the veranda. I would not replace it with timber decking simply because concrete does not burn in a fire - and if you are in the country there is always the possibility of fire. However some large white or of white tiles say 500x350 or thereabouts resemble flagstones could be good as long as they are very light in color and rectangular in shape. Maybe something resembling a very light sandstone may give more to a country ambiance than the small bathroom tiles of the 50's. Also I would bring out a roof over the front steps ending it with a "or gable end" pitched end" and provide a nice handrail in the middle and pave the bottom of the steps and area to provide a solid end to the steps using the same tiles as the veranda. 4. The existing aluminum windows are certainly and eyesore and not energy efficient in the slightest. An investment in new double glazed timber windows (Not cedar as cocky's like to eat the frames) or powder-coated white aluminum double glazed windows with "Thermal Break" - which are highly energy efficient would return money in energy savings and look great, especially if your frames are around 50 mm in width or greater. 5. I would not touch the bricks - just use very light colours in the veranda and the, doors, window and frames veranda posts. The garden will hide the brickwork below the veranda level making the roof and the lighter units the main features to stand out. The darker bricks will recede. Hoping this is of some benefit Regards Michael Manias...See MorePlease help/design/ideas to modernise our 80s pool/fence on a budget
Comments (40)Hi Jenny, I'd suggest popping into your local nursery (not big box store). Often they will offer a consultation service where they can come out and help suggest plants that suit your aspect, climate and situation. The other option is to have a consultation with a local landscape designer or horticulturalist who specialises in planting. Check your local landscape association or AILDM for listings in your area. An outlay now could save you $$$'s in the longer term, as well as making sure that what you do spend your money on is going to give you the most bang for your buck. They'll also have local knowledge as to what can potentially become weeds. Just remember you can't plant anything against the fence that can be considered climbable - this can include hedges. Have a look at the link I included above as to what the definition of climbable is. Look for lush and green to link in with the background. Some pops of colour; maybe foliage (eg alternanthera) or flower (bougainvillea or mandevilla) will also help to lift it and make the green more green. Small growing varieties of lomandra may be better than the large one you have there - this could easily be moved, divided and used elsewhere....See MoreIdeas on how to update old cream brick facade?
Comments (20)my suggestions includes cleaning all the brick walls and paving and repair any damaged pointing and grout, extending the roof sideways over a new garage without the Dutch gable, clean and paint the roof tiles in a mid colour or consider replacing tiles with Colorbond Steel for a more long lasting fix and opportunity to upgrade roof insulation, replace gutters in a dark colour and downpipes to match the brick colour, replace the steel fence with simple horizontal rails (and/or raise a solid brick fence to maximum height and render in the darkest fence colour) add Plantation shutters or venetians to allow light inside while retaining privacy and use Kate's idea of the pergola across the rear, add generous outdoor furniture to make an outdoor entertaining area, paint the garden retaining walls and fences in a darker version of the new gutter colour and fill the garden beds with shrubs to block out fences and neighbouring houses, keep the big palms and add some big shrubs and more palms to the front yard and paint the front door in the darkest version of the new gutter colour and what are the flat panels on the outside rear wall??...See MoreImprove and Modernise Existing House Plan (25 year old home)
Comments (15)your house looks like an 80's home with a sunken lounge. I live in an 80's single level house like yours and love the spacious feeling, do you have raked ceilings? If it was me I would make small changes so suggest the following, 1) If the eave is deep enough I would push your sons bedroom wall out this would give him a good sized bedroom with access to the next bedroom and bathroom for his "PAD" 2) There is a flow problem with the house with accessing the bedrooms as you have to step down into and back up from the family/rumpus/living at two points. Keeping the "fireplace" insitu I would take part of the internal bedroom to allow for a passage across from the entrance to the bedroom wing. the reduced bedroom would make a great study or guest room. you can keep both step down points or close off the wall from the fireplace to the master bedroom 3) another problem with the house is internal access to the alfresco, at the moment it would only be via the family/rumpus or master bedroom, I suggest that the alfresco decking be split level to allow for large sliding doors coming off the new open plan kitchen. The door into the existing kitchen be kept but remove the laundry which will allow for a bigger dining table. 4) The laundry could be moved into the planned office/guest.pool room which would be perfect if there was access down the L/H side of the house for hubbie coming home and needing a cleanup which would be done in the same space, which could also be his man cave!! 5) The granny flat needs to be sorted by a local designer to get the best possible result, I have heard that a studio is more readily approved over a granny flat (siriuskey)...See MoreHU-309674150
last year
dreamer