Revive Your Home's Exterior

Install a decorative architectural arbor above your garage door to deemphasize a front-loaded garage and provide a place to grow climbing plants.

Surround your outdoor living spaces with lighting that will let you carry the conversation into the evening. Low-voltage lights are a simple do-it-yourself project; or skip the need for electrical wiring by choosing solar-powered lights.

In just a weekend, you can give refresh your deck. Friday night: Remove all furniture and other items from the deck. Saturday morning: Pressure-wash the deck to remove dirt; use warm water, soapy water and a scrub brush to remove old mold and mildew. Sunday morning: Stain the deck using a paint roller. The deck should be walkable by nightfall. Bring your furniture back Monday night.

Give your front porch a personality. Add reproduction finials to porch posts. Consider architecturally appropriate brackets, spandrels, and corbels, too. And don't forget to check out your porch ceiling; perhaps new beaded board is in order. Add a ceiling fan for an extra measure of timeless ambience.

If you live in the city, use water features, such as fountains and bubblers, to mask street sounds so you can enjoy the great outdoors in peace. Outdoor sound systems are also a great way to camouflage unwanted noise. No matter where you live, dress up your deck with a water feature or use one as a focal point in the garden.

A simple, twice-a-year rinse with a garden hose should keep vinyl siding looking spiffy. If the siding has been neglected for years, rub it down with a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach (cover your plants before you apply it). Don't use a power sprayer; the force of the water can bend the pliable material just enough to let water behind it.

Inspect the metal flashing around your chimney and vents for rust, which causes leaks. Replace the flashing as necessary. Also, check your shingles for moss and mildew growth and treat it.

Bent or disconnected gutters and downspouts look terrible and allow water to drain where it shouldn't. Seal gutters that leak at the seams with a smear of silicone caulk. Consider, too, a gutter-cover system to prevent debris from getting in and clogging your downspouts. Before you place any gutters, inspect the fascia boards beneath them; they may need replacing.

Dress up windows on the outside. Step 1: Measure your windows. Step 2: Buy shutters that are sized to cover the windows when closed, even if you opt for the less-expensive inoperable shutters. Step 3: Install according to manufacturer's instructions.

A new front door (or just a fresh coat of paint on the existing one) adds immediate appeal to your home's facade. Weigh pros and cons of leading materials such as wood, vinyl, fiberglass, and metal and pick one to suit your home and budget.

Give your existing front door new verve by replacing the hardware. Also, a well-lit front door makes a home look warm and welcoming, so install or update your front-entry lighting. Use compact fluorescent bulbs to keep your energy bill low.

Not only do cracks in a concrete driveway look bad, they're a magnet for weed seeds. Fix the cracks while they're small. A canister of patching compound or a tube of siliconized latex sealer with a pointed applicator is all you need. Wait for an appropriately warm day, clean out the cracks with a blast of water from your hose, shake the compound well, and apply, following label directions.

A walkway from your driveway or sidewalk to your front door is easy to create and will greatly increase your home's visual appeal. Lay parallel garden hoses to test placement options; try curving the path for additional interest.

Garage door openers are a worthwhile luxury, especially when it's raining. Installing one is a two-person job; you'll be glad to have an extra set of hands to hold one end of the chain track while you mount it. And remember: Most states require the opener to be plugged into a separate outlet on its own circuit.