When people think about aging gracefully at home, interior fixtures tend to get the most attention. Accessible showers, taller toilets, and easy-grip cabinet handles are easy to appreciate, and for good reason. Still, many people make a common mistake—they overlook exterior features that can provide great benefits during their golden years.
The fact is, the right exterior upgrades can help to simplify maintenance, provide lasting performance, create value, and ease stress as you age in place. Here is why:
How to Think About Siding in Your Golden Years
Caring for a house can involve significant investments and a lot of hard work and maintenance. The best siding materials ease that burden so you ideally do not have to worry about replacement again.
Durability and Longevity Means Peace of Mind
While no part of your home will last forever, siding is one upgrade that can last for many years. If your exterior is currently covered in wood (common in older houses), a more weather-resistant material such as vinyl or fiber cement can offer long-term, high-quality results.
For example, James Hardie® fiber cement siding is warrantied for twenty-five years and often lasts up to fifty years—giving you decades of performance without worry.
Low Maintenance Is Gentle on Your Budget
Tending to siding can be costly if you need to paint often, or if the material is vulnerable to cracks, dents, discoloration, or weather damage. Repairs and replacement can be hard on a budget.
To minimize upkeep, choose vinyl siding, which never has to be painted, or consider Hardie siding’s ColorPlus® line, which is warrantied to last for 15 years without losing its vibrant hues.
Energy Efficiency Keeps You Cozy
As we age, temperature fluctuations can be hard on the body. Heating and air-conditioning costs are already high, and weather patterns in recent years have left many people facing hotter summers and wetter, colder winters.
Insulated vinyl siding is one solution to this challenge. The added insulation helps keep your home at a steady temperature year-round, giving you more manageable utility bills and keeping you comfortable.
Lasting Curb Appeal Adds Satisfaction and Resale Value
While siding replacement can be a large-ticket item, resist the temptation to invest in the lowest-cost options, which often appear lackluster. Consider the beauty and style that your siding can provide, so you can look on your house with pride—and remember that attractive siding tends to garner a higher price from buyers.
What to Look for in Windows as You Age in Place
Carefully chosen windows also create great benefits for aging homeowners. For this stage of life, the best replacement windows deliver ample lighting, ease of use and cleaning, and enhanced security features that keep you protected.
Increased Natural Light
Natural light plays an important role in how well we sleep—which impacts our overall health. Well-illuminated spaces also encourage a positive mood. Finally, good lighting helps us to see better, so that we can safely navigate around furniture and avoid mishaps around the house.
If your home feels dim or gloomy, new windows with expansive glass panes and slim frames help to brighten your rooms and improve your well-being.
Ease of Operation
Mobility, strength, and reach can all be affected by aging—and even younger people may have physical needs that impede their ability to open, close, and clean windows. Reduce that concern by choosing windows that are simple for everyone to operate.
Look for windows with hardware located low enough to be easily accessed, even for those who cannot raise their arm fully or who may be in a wheelchair. Some casement and awning windows can be opened and closed with the press of an easy-slide operating handle rather than a crank.
Simple Maintenance
Many windows come with convenient tilt-in features that require little effort to operate—which simplifies the cleaning process. Between-the-glass blinds and shades work smoothly and do not require cleaning.
Security Features and Strong Locks
Feeling safe inside your home is non-negotiable for anyone, especially for older adults who may live alone. Today’s replacement windows often come with added strength in their locks for additional security.
How to Ensure Exterior Doors Work for You as You Age
While you plan upgrades and invest in universal design features that make your house more accessible, remember your exterior doors. These fixtures can be easily overlooked, yet having the right ones can make aging in place so much easier.
Wide Openings and Low Thresholds for Safe Maneuverability
To ensure your entry can accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and canes, install a 36-inch-wide door. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, this is the ideal width for allowing those with accommodations to enter and exit without the risk of getting stuck.
If you are unable to widen your doorway, some doors can be installed with offset hinges to create a little more clearance in a narrow space. In addition, you may want to consider removing your storm door (which can make it harder to maneuver through your home’s entrance).
People who have a limited range of motion can find it challenging to lift their legs enough to get past a traditional threshold. To lessen the likelihood of trips and falls, modify your front door’s threshold so that it is flush with the porch, or no more than one-half an inch high.
Age in Place with Confidence—with Attractive, Long-Lasting Accessible Exterior Upgrades from Beissel Window & Siding
Why not make the most of your house throughout all your stages of life? Invest in durable, practical siding, windows, and doors that help you feel secure, comfortable, and in charge of your life as you age in place.
At Beissel Window & Siding, we offer multiple replacement siding, new windows, and door designs and materials to ensure you receive the best fit for your needs—with low-maintenance, high-performance results that give you peace of mind.
