Ideas for Elevation of a Semi Detached 1960s house

3 years ago

My house is the one on the right in the photo. We have done a lot of work and added a loft conversion and a side and back extension but now want to turn our attention to the front elevation.

It looks a little bit council house at the moment even thought it was never council owned and other houses in the street do not look like this.

Our next door neighbour (on the left has done an extension rendered and then changed the roof tiles to a horrible red which is out of keeping with the rest of the street but nothing we can do. I want to make sure what we do works and makes our property look great.

im considering rendering the front of my house and spraying the windows grey and adding a bay window to the main window.

would appreciate some advice here as the the best thing to do as not sure what is going to be best.

The location of our house is great but just want to sort out the front.

Featured Answer

Riverside

3 years ago

Hello! IMHO the front of your house looks fine, not 'council' at all. I think it is the look of your drive that could really be improved and add a more 'wow' factor. Can you move your car further away from the front a bit, or perhaps park on the street? You could do a lot by adding some nice planters along the wall and in front of the house. I find that landscaping and plants are one of the big differences that make expensive properties look attractive. Just my thoughts as I always notice how properties are landscaped.

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Comments (30)

James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you. Yes we will definitely be doing the drive too including planters. I can’t reslly move the car back as it’s a small drive. Thank you so much for your opinion
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Sarah U-S
3 years ago
Can you able to post a photo from further back? You mention work that your neighbour has done regarding roofline- so it would be good to see what you mean. Thanks!
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Hiya. If you click on photo it expands
Sarah U-S
3 years ago
Sadly not on a phone!!!! It stops at the top window frame.
James Garner thanked Sarah U-S
PRO
The Kitchen Lady UK
3 years ago
I like semi detached houses to have a similar look to their neighbours and I honestly think the brickwork is fine. I agree with Riverside that concentrating on the physical drive will do the building wonders.
James Garner thanked The Kitchen Lady UK
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Sarah - this was a picture of my house when the next door was being done up. My house is the one in the middle. As you can see the roof on the house on the right is totally out of keeping but nothing I can do.

The things I am thinking about include
- rendering
- spray painting the upvc windows grey
- Getting rid of the shutters
- Some king of delineation with the house next door
- A bay window
Any advice greatly appreciated
Sarah U-S
3 years ago
I would remove the shutters and then concentrate on making the driveway nicer. Unless you intend extending, render will only make it look more different. I’m similar to Covey - I like semi detached houses to look fairly similar to each other.
I think your ideas will cost quite a lot of money but not add much in terms of value. I’m not overly keen on grey windows, although they can look fab in the right setting. Both sets of neighbours have white windows. One thing I would perhaps change is the windows themselves (depending on their condition of course!) - i’m not keen on those small openers at the top - I don’t like the proportions that they create.
All of this of course is personal choice - we all have very different styles and tastes, and it’s your home - do what makes you happy!!!
Jo@homeinWiltshire
3 years ago
It's a nice looking house but I think removing the shutters would make it look much better. I would keep the windows white because I don't think grey windows will look good against the colour of the brickwork. I also think adding a bay window is not a good idea as it creates too much fuss and is out of keeping with the style of the house. I do not like your neighbour's bay window and all those glazing bars must cut out their light. Why don't you remove the shutters first and live with it for while before you decide on making any further changes.
twamleyk
3 years ago
I agree with you that the brick is awful and it’s a pit the next door neighbour has put red tiles. Might they be interested in rendering their house, it looks like their extension is already white. If you do both houses at the same time you might get a better deal.

I free about removing the shutters - they’re too stuffy for the house. If you do render the whole house, you could think about changing the windows. Grey would look nice then, picture / large casement windows would make it all more modern.

But the Drive is definitely letting you down at the moment!
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Do you mean the brick or the roof tiles are awful? What is wrong the brick exactly?
LTS
3 years ago
I empathise as we are 1950s semi detached & our neighbours have made changes to their house which is making our choices more of a challenge! We like this idea, which I think would work nice on your house too. I’m no professional though!
James Garner thanked LTS
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks - yes the render was my first thought but difficult to know if it’s the right thing To do
twamleyk
3 years ago
Sorry the red tiles are awful, though I’m not a fan of the brick either, personally, as such rendering would improve the house, in my opinion. But as others say it’s difficult unless your neighbour follows suit.
Victoria
3 years ago
The red tiles will dull down with age. They are probably very similar to the existing, aged ones.
M&C P
3 years ago
Don't render (imo) unless it's a structural requirement. It turns into an unnecessary future maintenance task. I say this living in a rendered house. Your brickwork looks fine, as does the house as a whole. Rendering is a decision you can't revert and an expense you can spend elsewhere

Try removing the shutters - which is a reversible change - and then stand back and review.

I think you should look at getting planting in the front garden between your house and the adjoining semi - some form of benign climber. Ie. not an ivy. Use a trellis to define it's growth - maybe a Clematis or Jasmine similar
James Garner thanked M&C P
zeebird
3 years ago
Neighbours new roof tiles will dull down considerably with time. Remove shutters. Add as much greenery as possible not just in planters but proper soil borders. The house will be absorbed into the landscape.
James Garner thanked zeebird
Sandi Robinson
3 years ago
Remove the shutters and have a nice driveway laid, planters.
James Garner thanked Sandi Robinson
maxibird145
3 years ago
You could render the porch area to mirror the neighbours, also to blend with the houses the other side that are rendered on the tops, definitely remove the shutters, way too dark, then as you say the drive and I think that would make a world of difference, nice house though
James Garner thanked maxibird145
Natalie I
3 years ago
Hi James I am with the consensus of removing the shutters and replacing the drive. I don't think anything else will add more in terms of value and in fact may conflict with the neighbours efforts- even though not all are good design choices! Maybe do those two things and then stop and decide what- if anything- to do next? Maybe by then the neighbours red roof might have faded a bit too. It may all be enough for you to feel better about the exterior- or you could always post once done on Houzz and ask again?? Good luck and post when you have finished as it is always nice to see the outcome! Oh and just remembered you mentioned a bay window- not one like next doors as old fashioned but I guess a contemporary box one could work- but are expensive, I believe require planning approval and I don't think would add any re-sale value.
James Garner thanked Natalie I
PRO
PAP LLP
3 years ago
James, removing the shutters 100% will improve the look, when you are replacing the crazy paved drive, lower the levels of the drive so the right hand front corner meets next doors block paving and lose the rendered hill. Finally the wooden fence on the right need to be replaced with perhaps a dwarf wall to match the other side, and yes some planting and it will look much better. If you are not happy after that and I think you will be, consider half tile hanging the front elevation instead of render, cheaper and just as effective. Just my ideas hope it helps
siobhanmcgee90
3 years ago
Agree to remove shutters and change the paving. Would you also consider chaining the front door to a different colour. We have rendered our house and it transformed the look of the house so I would recommend you do this.
James Garner thanked siobhanmcgee90
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you - so many different opinions about whether to render or not. I think Ill start by doing the paving and the planters and removing the shutters and seeing how that looks and then making a decision on rendering or not.
sm09boo
3 years ago
James, I currently have rendering all over my house which a three storey house. The rendering has developed cracks and after some heavy rain, water has got in and seeped through the brickwork and water marks are now showing on the inside. The only way to attend to the cracks is to have scaffolding put up. A great expense to repair some cracks. My advice would be if you can afford to avoid rendering do so. It's one less thing to have to worry about later on down the line. Best wishes.
James Garner thanked sm09boo
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Thats really useful thank you.
nataliewatt
3 years ago
Only my personal opinion...I would remove external shutters, look at the brickwork after this, clean if necessary. (Ideally not render due to costs to maintain). Dont worry about roof it will tone down. Personally I like a uniform look so would have internal shutters on all front facing windows (love these great summer or winter). Plant something beautiful to soften the lines....climbing wisteria always looks good properly supported. Re do driveway, invest in some substantial planters. Climbing plant needed to the right if the door as it's off centre. IF you had the money perhaps consider replacing the fencing both sides of your doorway with uniform fencing/walls (yes I know you are only responsible for one side) depending on your relationship with the neighbours. If not painting fencing facing the drive same colour. I like urban grey or tudor black to provide a dramatic backdrop to planting. (Think about co ordinating colour used on driveway). I would also put in an external light by the front door and think about what if any low level lighting you want at the front or either side of entrance depending on night time lights on the street.
James Garner thanked nataliewatt
YUHASLINDA MOHAMED YUSOF
3 years ago
Old Street
Lena
3 years ago
Ditto updating the driveway, removing shutters and adding greenery.
I love both wisteria and climbing roses. A beautiful climbing rose - any climbing David Austen would do - will make a huge difference in only a few years.
Good luck with your project!
James Garner thanked Lena
greenbeanie8
3 years ago
Remove shutters, sort driveway, add lots of planting - tall / climbing as well. I would be tempted to invest in some sort of tall planting which sits on the border with your neighbour. You could consider adding a square bay but whether this is worth it from a cost point of view I'm not sure.

IMO I would avoid render/grey windows. I've seen a house around the corner from me render and add grey windows in the past few weeks and the old house was so much nicer (similar bricks to yours) and could have benefited from the suggestions above on this thread.
James Garner thanked greenbeanie8
James Garner
Original Author
3 years ago
Awesome - thanks everyone - so helpful

Ideas for Elevation of a Semi Detached 1960s house

Riverside

Comments (30)

James Garner
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