Ugly house help!

[AIMD]

Any suggestions /tips on improving an ugly house?

We have a ex council with grey rough cast exterior. It’s literally the ugliest house. Thinking of ways to improve its appearance whilst accepting it’ll never be great looking.

I don’t think re rendering is an option due to cost not being worth while for our house.

Any suggestions.

If I knew how to add a photo I’d add one.

Can you paint over the rough cast? I think I've seen people get it sprayed cream or white - makes a huge difference.

Yep I was going to say paint the exterior in a warmer off-white tone. Can you add a porch?

This might sound a little out there - but why not grow some ivy on the walls?

How to Grow Ivy on Walls

"Ivy-clad buildings can be attractive and are especially useful in adding interest to a shady spot." - Ivy on building

I think if you’re not willing to look at having it rendered then having it painted would be the only remaining option I think, but make sure you use a qualified person so they fill in the cracks etc in the pebble dash or it will be even more of a mess.

White or cream would work best.

Have you seen ugly house to lovely house on C4?

Would definitely give you some ideas/options.

Don’t grow ivy honestly it just messes with the brick work and is a terrible idea.

Pebble dash was often used to cover up poor bricks. Ivy will creep in to the bricks through the pebble dash and cause a major problem.

I completely agree with @Bluntness100, don’t grow ivy it is a terrible idea. As well as the above issue, ivy will also try to grow on the windows and damage the paintwork if your sills are painted and will grow into the guttering and if it gets big enough you’ll be forever trying to keep it under control.

Depends on your budget. Also a photo?

I know it's destructive but I'd still grow wisteria.

You could also grow a climbing plant up a drainpipe trellis or wall trellis so as not to damage the brickwork.

Ivy has actually been proved to preserve brickwork as it keeps the temperature steady and avoids extremes of heat and cold.
Buy or hire a paint compressor and spray the facade off white. Plant some climbing plants. Paint the windows and doors to match.

have a look at www.backtofrontexteriordesign.com for some ideas.

Thank you everyone
I think I will look at painting and getting a porch.
I won’t do Ivy because we spent ages getting Ivy off when we first moved in because it was bloomin everywhere. I was think about some sort of climber and trellis though.

I watched ugly house to lovely house but they were nowhere near as ugly s I was actually very disappointed 😂.

I’d add a pic if I knew how?!

Ivy is a really bad idea with render of any sort so I'm glad you got rid of it.

If you look below the message box there should be a paperclip and you use that to add a photo. If you haven't got that, it may be because you are new member?

Ah yes I am a new member and no paper clip!

Ivy seemed to harbour lots of spiders too. 😬

Wisteria is great and grows like a weed. You need to support it. I’ve been growing it round the front and it is fab when it blooms. However it is deciduous. You can get every green clematis. Which I’m growing round the back of the house. It also needs support, I think it’s the Apple blossom one.

So you could fill the cracks, have the house painted white, and then grow something in big pots, which pretties it up. The green would look lovely against the white, and then when they bloom would be very pretty.

Have any other houses in the neighourhood been improved? Might give you ideas. Some really ugly houses near me have been transformed.
Can you post a pic? On my screen it offers me 'choose file' to add a pic.

Ah I have the paper clip now!
Here is the house. Since this picture we have a new door and fences and have gravelled the front to park on. Gives you an idea of the exterior though.

I think painting and a new over door canopy might be the best option for now.

Oh, it's really not that ugly! Paint it an off-white, then maybe a new porch, or grow something pretty (wisteria, clematis) on a trellis round the front door and it will look quite cute and cottagey. Lovely front garden...

Oh, and is it worth asking the neighbours if they'd like to paint as well? Always looks better if semis are matching, and might cut the price too...

I always think some nice plants in pots by the door makes a house look attractive. There’s a house near me which has two lovely bay trees with plants growing at their base that looks so nice.

I’ve also seen people have their UPVC sprayed dark grey which looks good but might date

@AIMD we’ve just bought an ugly house! I haaaaate it from the outside and it’s quite small on the inside (we were hoping to add space via conservatory or similar!).

The house is already white. And it’s relatively new and I have no idea how to make it look attractive.

Am thinking of painting the front door a sage green, and the side gate and adding lots of flowers. It won’t do much though also a nice slate house number and possibly a rather swanky exterior light.

We only moved here last week and I really dislike it. Our last house was really pretty!

I just googled “ugly house” and found nothing. And then I was going to start my own thread and saw yours.

I feel a little ashamed of my new house :(

Our house is so much uglier than yours, OP! Think brown varnish everywhere. Brown porch, brown door, brown windows, all varnish splashed on. Big thick conifers and 1980s triangular topiary.
We are gradually bringing it into the century but it takes time....
In our case we're more concerned with the interior and the garden than the front. Gradually sorting it though, by painting windows / replacing where we can and porch white, smart new front door, then landscaping front garden with new plants.

@Grumpybuttons it is a little depressing isn’t it. I wouldn’t mind if I could ever see it looking ok but I’m sure it’ll never look very nice at all.

@TiddleTaddleTat sounds like you’ve been very busy.

Maybe we need an ugly house support group