← Grand Ave Leonia Renovation

Siding, Foundation, and Curb Appeal

21 photos · exterior

The stone foundation had blown-out mortar in places, the original siding was tired, and there was a rusted hose bib leaking onto the wall. I had the masons repoint the foundation, swapped to light blue vinyl lap siding, replaced the hose bib, and cleaned up the meter and telecom mess on the side wall. Front porch got new white stairs and the whole house finally looked like somebody owned it.

  1. Front of the house when I bought it. Old roof, weathered siding, sad-looking trim. Before

    Front of the house when I bought it. Old roof, weathered siding, sad-looking trim.

    exterior
  2. Street view before — small blue cottage on a busy road, garage out back. Before

    Street view before — small blue cottage on a busy road, garage out back.

    exterior
  3. Side yard with the original stone foundation and old siding. Neighbor was building right up to the line. Before

    Side yard with the original stone foundation and old siding. Neighbor was building right up to the line.

    exterior
  4. From the driveway before any work. Garage, siding, all original. Before

    From the driveway before any work. Garage, siding, all original.

    exterior
  5. Driveway and the chain-link line between properties before I put up the vinyl fence. Before

    Driveway and the chain-link line between properties before I put up the vinyl fence.

    exterior
  6. House plus garage with the new fence already in but the roof and siding still original. Before

    House plus garage with the new fence already in but the roof and siding still original.

    exterior
  7. Cracked foundation wall with rusted tie-back anchors. Mason got to it during the exterior pass. Before

    Cracked foundation wall with rusted tie-back anchors. Mason got to it during the exterior pass.

    exterior
  8. Corner of the house — radon vent, deteriorated stone, yard drain. Lots to clean up here. Before

    Corner of the house — radon vent, deteriorated stone, yard drain. Lots to clean up here.

    exterior
  9. Foundation pointing failing along the side yard. Repointing was non-negotiable. Before

    Foundation pointing failing along the side yard. Repointing was non-negotiable.

    exterior
  10. Meter wall with rusted hose bib leaking onto the siding. Replaced the bib and cleaned up the stack. Before

    Meter wall with rusted hose bib leaking onto the siding. Replaced the bib and cleaned up the stack.

    exterior
  11. Exterior GFCI mounted above the basement window — kept the box but replaced the old device. Before

    Exterior GFCI mounted above the basement window — kept the box but replaced the old device.

    exterior
  12. Old TV antenna still on the roof. Came down with the shingles. Before

    Old TV antenna still on the roof. Came down with the shingles.

    exterior
  13. Downspout extension running between a retaining wall and the foundation. Re-routed during exterior cleanup. Before

    Downspout extension running between a retaining wall and the foundation. Re-routed during exterior cleanup.

    exterior
  14. Detail at the front entry — kept the mailbox and house numbers, redid the trim around them.

    Detail at the front entry — kept the mailbox and house numbers, redid the trim around them.

    exterior
  15. Double-hung window framed by new blue lap siding. Cleaner trim detail than the original. After

    Double-hung window framed by new blue lap siding. Cleaner trim detail than the original.

    exterior
  16. Two-story side with the new light blue vinyl on. Stone foundation repointed underneath. After

    Two-story side with the new light blue vinyl on. Stone foundation repointed underneath.

    exterior
  17. Rear of the house with the matching shed and the new siding all the way around. After

    Rear of the house with the matching shed and the new siding all the way around.

    exterior
  18. Front with the new white porch stairs and finished siding. Different house from the listing photo. After

    Front with the new white porch stairs and finished siding. Different house from the listing photo.

    exterior
  19. Back corner showing the new siding meeting the stone foundation cleanly. After

    Back corner showing the new siding meeting the stone foundation cleanly.

    exterior
  20. Street view with the new roof and siding — finally reads finished. After

    Street view with the new roof and siding — finally reads finished.

    exterior
  21. Curb shot at the end. New blue siding, dark roof, garage matching the house. After

    Curb shot at the end. New blue siding, dark roof, garage matching the house.

    exterior
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