Search results for "Deterioration" in Home Design Ideas

Updating a modern classic
These clients adore their home’s location, nestled within a 2-1/2 acre site largely wooded and abutting a creek and nature preserve. They contacted us with the intent of repairing some exterior and interior issues that were causing deterioration, and needed some assistance with the design and selection of new exterior materials which were in need of replacement.
Our new proposed exterior includes new natural wood siding, a stone base, and corrugated metal. New entry doors and new cable rails completed this exterior renovation.
Additionally, we assisted these clients resurrect an existing pool cabana structure and detached 2-car garage which had fallen into disrepair. The garage / cabana building was renovated in the same aesthetic as the main house.

With stunning views of the Annisquam River, this beautiful first period home was constructed in 1690 for Nathanial Harraden, sailing master of the USS Constitution. It is believed to be the oldest remaining house in this neighborhood of Gloucester. Our extensive historic restoration preserved the integrity and historic details of the original structure, which had been altered significantly over time. Deteriorated structural elements were repaired or rebuilt, and historic elements including beams were revealed. A bright new kitchen and bathrooms provide a functional layout suited for modern living, and use authentic natural materials that will patina and weather in harmony with the rest of the home. The new island counter was hewn from a large decaying tree on the site, and hand-painted marble tiles adorn the backsplash. New cabinetry was hand-crafted using methods authentic to the time. We preserved the kitchen’s existing brick floor, which originally provided a durable surface for milking animals inside during cold winter months. Using authentic materials and craftsmanship of the era, this special house celebrates its historic character and embraces modern updates that will welcome home generations to come.

This home was a typical Toll Brothers contemporary from the early ‘90’s. The exterior had reached the end of its life, with decayed cedar siding and a deteriorated roof. Greg & Tamara decided to use this opportunity to radically remake their home - to update its modern appeal and set it apart from any other suburban tract house. Spring Creek Design created a new deck, new siding design, entryways and sculptural landscaping for the home.
Design Criteria:
- Replace siding and give the home a bold, modern look.
- Update the home’s landscaping with a spare modernism.
- Add a new deck with an outdoor kitchen.
Special Features:
- Bold new exterior features fiber-cement panels and siding.
-Three different colors are used to clearly define the shapes of the home.
- Cantilevered concrete entryways features “floating” concrete slab landings.
- Azek deck with tempered glass railings.
- Custom wine-bottle light fixtures adorn the outdoor kitchen.
- Massive planting boxes of Cor-Ten steel form the basis of a low-maintenance, dramatic landscape.
- Custom-fabricated square gutters and downspouts compliment the linearity of the home’s design.
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The homes in Heritage Hills in Chapel Hill, NC are representative of the popularity and explosive growth of American Home Ownership that occurred during the economic expansion that followed the end of WW II. They were designed and built to foster the benefits and sense of “community”, where families could come together and share theirs and their children’s lives. They are typically in very desirable locations within their larger communities, and remodeling them with modern amenities, increasing the performance and efficiency of them, and having them Green Certified (independent third-party verified) makes them extremely attractive to buyers, and helps to raise other property values within the neighborhood.
Green Certified Remodeled Homes offer significant value and advantage in the marketplace over similar homes in their area, which is especially important as a new, younger era of home buyers enter the market. Current trends suggest that younger (as well as many “seasoned”) homeowners are interested in smaller, more efficient (and thus affordable) homes situated closer to shopping, their work, entertainment opportunities, and access to the economic and environmental benefits of mass transit.
These older homes also offer an additional value that is continuing to gain visibility and appreciation in the market place. They were built from lumber from slower-growth trees (denser and harder wood), and as such offer superior structural support compared to the same home built using lumber from today’s faster-growing (softer and less-dense wood) trees.
Robin and Kent had lived in their 2-story Gambrel Roof home in Heritage Hills since 1994. The house was structurally sound, due in large part to the old-growth (and denser) yellow pine that was used in its framing. They loved the quiet neighborhood, its sense of community and amenities, and their home. It suited their life-style and needs; and they had decided that they would remain in the home. It was showing its age, and was in need of general repairs and maintenance, and its energy, water, and indoor air quality performance was continuing to increase their ongoing cost of ownership.
Robin loved the screen porch that looked out on their private and nicely landscaped back yard, but she wanted to be able to use it in the colder months of the year. She was unsatisfied with the kitchen and the mud room / laundry room, and the darkness of other living spaces. A previous water leak in the laundry room had resulted in a large patch of mold that had compromised flooring, wall board, and insulation and contributed to the homes reduced indoor air quality.
The home lacked insulation in the crawl, and inadequate insulation in the attic. The single HVAC unit had been replaced a few years earlier with a more efficient unit, but with a single programmable thermostat control on the first floor and aging and un-insulated ducting, the second floor was often over-heated in the summer months.
The original wood windows had begun to deteriorate and were drafty and inefficient, and the original wood-burning fireplace was an open conduit for escaping conditioned air as well as an inlet for wood-smoke smelling air being pulled into the home. The siding had been replaced a few years earlier with a cement-fiber product, but the exterior wood trim was compromised and beginning to look unsightly. Its original architecture had been altered over the years in ways that presented ongoing maintenance and durability issues, as well as disrupting the elegance of the original design.
Kent has worked for over 30 years in the Environmental Sciences field, and is considered to be a national expert in understanding the sources of, and human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments. He had always been very conscious and cautious about the effects on indoor air quality that the construction, furnishings, and products used in home had on him and his family.
Project Goals
Increase the performance of their home by improving energy efficiency by at least 40% and lowering their natural gas and electric utility costs.
Increase the performance of their home by reducing water usage by at least 40% and lowering the water utility costs.
Increase the comfort of their home that was being compromised by an inadequate HVAC design, inadequate insulation, inefficient and compromised wood windows, and copious air intrusions and drafts.
Improve the healthiness of the homes indoor air quality that was being compromised by an open wood-burning fireplace, and prior water intrusion that had allowed colonies of mold to thrive.
Create a new Kitchen, Family Room, Home Office, Mudroom, and Laundry Room that featured some of the latest designs and trends and harmonized with the rest of the homes charm.
Increase the usefulness and aesthetics of the screened porch by creating a warm and inviting semi-conditioned 3-Season Room that extended the times during the year that it was comfortable.
Introduce day-lighting into areas of the home that were dark and uninviting.
Brighten and harmonize all of the interior finishes.
Protect and restore the exterior of the home with superior-performing products and finishes.
Achieve Gold Level Green Home Certification in conformance with the ICC 700-2012 National Green Building Standards (NGBS).

Barrel Cactus is a perfect landscaping solution in desert areas where weather is unpredictable. Our pieces do not rust or deteriorate in the sun, they are built to last a lifetime.

Our client needed help with a safe, simple backyard patio design. The previous deck and landscaping had deteriorated and a new low maintenance style/design was needed. A simple stone patio with a retaining wall to allow for the hilly grade of the property was designed. Lighting, a fire pit and a sail shade make this new space so very inviting and cozy.

This home was built in the 70's and as you can imagine has acquired a few "ailments" over the past 40 years, one of the more serious being the deterioration of the front entrance. The brick started to loosen over the years and eventually started to break apart completely, it got to the point that the family could not use the front entrance at all due to the safety hazard it represented. After interviewing with several contractors the home owners contacted David Sharp with DSLD Land Management and he was able to ease the tension and offer a solution that not only resulted in a beautifully restored front entrance but that also fit comfortably into their budget. The project took less than a week to complete and as you can imagine the home owners are thrilled with the final product!

Basements & Cellars. Finishing Ideas!
Turn your basement spaces into smart areas dedicated to leisure, hobbies, play areas, or entertainment. Unfinished basements are usually a headache for home and business owners, not just because of the waste of space and precious square footage, but because unused basements are more likely to deteriorate, accumulate humidity, mold, allergens, and endanger the overall foundations and structures when there is lack of maintenance.
Improve and transform your space into an additional guest room, a custom-designed home office, a bar or an an entertainment room; add closets and storage space or contact us to help you with more ideas to give your basement a good make over!

This project highlights one of the problems associated with only replacing some of your siding. My client replace 2 walls of siding on his home with Hardie Beaded Cedarmill lap siding because it most closely matched the existing siding. Once the rest of the siding deteriorated and needed to be replaced the siding he used was discontinued. We were able to get a similar product but it was in Hardie's Dream Collection and costs 3 times what the original siding cost. We then finished the siding we replaced with SW Latitude paint.

1445 Sheridan Rd. Frank Lloyd Wright, Ward Willits house 1901. Tore down the existing deteriorated and sinking wood and stucco porch in 1980. Installed superior concrete foundation and reconstructed it with perfectly matching and finishing details for a seamless reconstruction.

We started as a kitchen remodel but discovered there was mold in the majority of the exterior walls as well as the attic. The mold was caused by a number of problems but namely because the waterproof paper wrap on the house had deteriorated and was moisture to pass through the stucco and into the wood framing. In addition there was a leaking air conditioner condenser in the attic that was draining saturating the wood above the master bedroom. The mold was causing health problems it became clear we needed to replace a large majority of the framing and prevent future problems.
So we went from a kitchen addition/remodel to rebuilding the majority of the home and adding 800sqft; including a new bedroom, expanding the master bedroom and bath as well as a walk-in closet.
In anticipating for aging in place, we installed a walk-in shower with a bench and grab bars to allow for future wheelchair access and reduce trip hazards.

Small townhouse deck remodel completed with full replacement of the old painted pressure-treated wood deck using Trex composite decking, Trex posts, and Trex railing for a longer-lasting and lower-maintenance finish.
The project included removal of deteriorated materials, correction of uneven framing, and installation of new level structural components to support the new deck surface. The finished result provided a clean, durable, and updated outdoor space with improved appearance and performance.

At Deskins Siding & Exteriors, we understand that not every homeowner is ready for a full exterior remodel all at once. That’s why we offer flexible, phased solutions—like this recent project in Cypress, TX.
About 5–10 years ago, this homeowner upgraded their failing siding with James Hardie fiber cement, but only patched the OSB-based fascia at the time (similar to today’s LP SmartSide products). During a recent roof installation, much of the remaining fascia was revealed to be deteriorating. That’s when they called us.
We replaced the compromised trim with smooth Hardie fascia and repainted all existing trim to extend its lifespan. The result? A cohesive, durable finish that protects the home and enhances curb appeal—without the cost of a full tear-out.
Whether you're tackling siding, roofing, or trim repairs, our design-driven approach ensures every detail works in harmony.
Ready to protect your home with long-lasting materials and thoughtful design?
? Call now or schedule a consultation to speak directly with Shaun, owner and principal designer. Let’s build something that lasts.

Do you know what ends our time of enjoying the wonderful Fall colors? Rain. The other day when it rained, it took most of those bright yellow leaves and brought them to the ground. It saddened me not only because the colors were gone, but now the leaves have to be cleaned up. And with the trees being larger, those leaves went everywhere. All over the ground, in the tall bushes, stuck on the window sills, lodged in the gutters and up at the chimney. Nature’s going to happen so, what are the effects of Fall rain and the Chimney? Let’s take a further look.
Fall Rain and the Chimney
The Fall leaves are gorgeous and fall is many homeowners favorite time of year. But as with all seasons, it comes to an end. The Fall rain combined with wind takes those colorful leaves and distributes them…everywhere. Especially on the roof where your chimney is located. By having an annual chimney inspection, we’ll take a look to ensure the safety of your chimney stays intact for the upcoming harsher season: Winter.
The Exterior Chimney
With Fall, we have two of the elements to be concerned about and that’s the leaves and rain. Here are a few areas we check and the effects of fall rain and the chimney. Let’s start at the top:
Chimney Cap: The chimney cap is vital for protecting the opening of your chimney which leads to the interior of your home. We inspect the chimney cap ensuring it is tightly secured to the exterior chimney termination. The chimney is typically the tallest part of your home and gets exposed to the harshest winds, rain, snow, animals and blowing debris. All of that hits the chimney cap trying to find that weak spot so it can get inside the chimney. If it does, that debris is easily ignited and can cause harm to your home.
Chimney Crown: This is the slab of concrete that covers the chimney and extends beyond the bricks or materials that make up the chimney. This is to provide protection from the elements. But remember the chimney crown can also develop cracks over time. This is where crown coat can extend the life of the chimney crown ensuring the elements stay where they should… outside.
Brick, Stone and Mortar: The structure of the chimney can be made of brick, stone or other materials. If it is made of brick or stone, then mortar is involved. All of these materials are porous, meaning that it can absorb water and snow melt, which breaks down over time. As a result, this needs to be checked looking for loose bricks, missing mortar, cracks in either one of these materials and more. Tuckpointing is a good solution to ensure the elements stay out. The use of Chimney Saver is a great way to preserve the bricks, stones and mortar as it waterproofs and protects the materials for about 8 – 10 years and slows down the aging process.
Flashing: This is the material that protects the connection of the roof to the chimney. A critical and common area for leaks. The flashing moves the water away from the chimney and down the roof. The flashing adheres to the chimney with a seal, which dries out over time. This area needs to be checked to ensure the seal is strong and doesn’t allow water to get in.
Before the cold sets in and you want to turn on or fire up the fireplace, be sure to take into consideration the effects of fall rain and the chimney. Contact us today at 877-244-6349 to set up an appointment.

Built in 1940, Jim’s Richfield, MN home’s unique façade offered tremendous curb appeal. The house had many charming features that had kept Jim living there for three decades. However, over the years, the condition of the home’s original windows had begun to deteriorate. Even more frustrating was the fact that open and closing many of the windows had become a near impossible task. Wanting the very best windows for his home, he opted for double hung Infinity® From Marvin Windows.

Built in 1940, Jim’s Richfield, MN home’s unique façade offered tremendous curb appeal. The house had many charming features that had kept Jim living there for three decades. However, over the years, the condition of the home’s original windows had begun to deteriorate. Even more frustrating was the fact that open and closing many of the windows had become a near impossible task. Wanting the very best windows for his home, he opted for double hung Infinity® From Marvin Windows.

Transforming this long-standing home on Bradgate Rd required more than a simple update—it called for a careful balance between renewal, structure, and respect for what was already there.
The existing brick bungalow had strong bones, but the exterior was deteriorating, the carport was underutilized, and key interior spaces no longer supported the homeowners’ needs. Having lived in the home for decades, the goal wasn’t to start over—it was to rework the home into a more functional, comfortable space that could support the years ahead.
The scope included a full exterior masonry refresh, where the front layer of brick was removed and replaced while maintaining the integrity of the original structure. The carport was fully enclosed and integrated into the home as a garage, and a new roof tied everything together with consistent detailing and long-term performance in mind.
Inside, the layout was carefully reworked to introduce a new primary ensuite and completely renovate the main bathroom. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems were updated throughout, with a focus on accessibility, ease of use, and everyday comfort.
The result is a home that feels both familiar and elevated—where thoughtful construction and refined design come together to support long-term living without compromising character.

Transforming this long-standing home on Bradgate Rd required more than a simple update—it called for a careful balance between renewal, structure, and respect for what was already there.
The existing brick bungalow had strong bones, but the exterior was deteriorating, the carport was underutilized, and key interior spaces no longer supported the homeowners’ needs. Having lived in the home for decades, the goal wasn’t to start over—it was to rework the home into a more functional, comfortable space that could support the years ahead.
The scope included a full exterior masonry refresh, where the front layer of brick was removed and replaced while maintaining the integrity of the original structure. The carport was fully enclosed and integrated into the home as a garage, and a new roof tied everything together with consistent detailing and long-term performance in mind.
Inside, the layout was carefully reworked to introduce a new primary ensuite and completely renovate the main bathroom. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems were updated throughout, with a focus on accessibility, ease of use, and everyday comfort.
The result is a home that feels both familiar and elevated—where thoughtful construction and refined design come together to support long-term living without compromising character.

Transforming this long-standing home on Bradgate Rd required more than a simple update—it called for a careful balance between renewal, structure, and respect for what was already there.
The existing brick bungalow had strong bones, but the exterior was deteriorating, the carport was underutilized, and key interior spaces no longer supported the homeowners’ needs. Having lived in the home for decades, the goal wasn’t to start over—it was to rework the home into a more functional, comfortable space that could support the years ahead.
The scope included a full exterior masonry refresh, where the front layer of brick was removed and replaced while maintaining the integrity of the original structure. The carport was fully enclosed and integrated into the home as a garage, and a new roof tied everything together with consistent detailing and long-term performance in mind.
Inside, the layout was carefully reworked to introduce a new primary ensuite and completely renovate the main bathroom. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems were updated throughout, with a focus on accessibility, ease of use, and everyday comfort.
The result is a home that feels both familiar and elevated—where thoughtful construction and refined design come together to support long-term living without compromising character.

Transforming this long-standing home on Bradgate Rd required more than a simple update—it called for a careful balance between renewal, structure, and respect for what was already there.
The existing brick bungalow had strong bones, but the exterior was deteriorating, the carport was underutilized, and key interior spaces no longer supported the homeowners’ needs. Having lived in the home for decades, the goal wasn’t to start over—it was to rework the home into a more functional, comfortable space that could support the years ahead.
The scope included a full exterior masonry refresh, where the front layer of brick was removed and replaced while maintaining the integrity of the original structure. The carport was fully enclosed and integrated into the home as a garage, and a new roof tied everything together with consistent detailing and long-term performance in mind.
Inside, the layout was carefully reworked to introduce a new primary ensuite and completely renovate the main bathroom. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems were updated throughout, with a focus on accessibility, ease of use, and everyday comfort.
The result is a home that feels both familiar and elevated—where thoughtful construction and refined design come together to support long-term living without compromising character.
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