Choosing a home’s exterior is exciting.  Once you’ve completed your home construction plans and have the exterior elevation drawings you’re ready to make selections.

This checklist helps you get organized and lists many of the exterior materials you may be choosing for your home and selections, and the order of priority based on most construction schedules.

Not everything will apply to your project, but it may serve useful as a tool for scheduling selection appointments with your home builder & designer, and a useful checklist to confirm all items have been selected and approved.

a home owners guide to exterior selections

Most home builders like their lists in order of the construction schedule, but I also like to

pick things as group so I can compose an exterior with my clients as we go.

Start with your exterior stone, if you have any, or the body of your siding material since that pallet helps us jump off to other things.  I usually have stone material samples, siding material samples, roof shingles, and window colors at my first meeting.

I suggest recording, right on your elevation drawing.  After that is decided I like to look at the fascia, soffit, window and door trim and other items like shutters and window boxes.

Record all information and color up the plan to illustrate details and where notes apply.

home exterior selection checklist

□ Roof Materials – Shingles, or Shakes, Metal Roof, Brands and Finishes

□ Windows – Most Builders sign off on window sizes per plan.  You may be required to choose Brand and Style, Exterior Finish or Clad Color, Interior Finish, Hardware Series and Finish, and Grille Options.  Some offer matching Exterior Trim although most builders supply separately.  There are additional options to consider after a Brand has been selected you may wish to consider.

□ Front Door Assembly – Brand, Design (Panel), Material (Fiberglass, Wood, Clad like windows, Sidelight Pattern or None, Finish.

□ Front Door Hardware – Brand, Design, If 3 point lock need to know at time door is ordered.  Encourage 3 point lock with wood front doors and double doors.

□ Other Exterior Doors and Service Doors

□ Fascia and Soffit Material and Finish

□ Gutters/Downspouts – I pick gutter material early with fascia and soffit, because sometimes I color match.

□ Siding Materials – Vinyl, Cement Board, Stucco, Other,

□ Masonry – Usually per plan, Home Exterior, Chimneys, Columns, Porch Fireplaces

Brand, Stone Type or Blend and Stone Sizes, Mortar Color

□ Stucco – Type, Finish Texture, Color

□ Cast Stone or Applied Materials – Type, Finish Texture, Color

□ Window and Other Exterior Trim – Sizes usually per plan, Material, Finish

□ Shutters – Per Plan, Material, Style, Finish

□ Columns – Per Plan Material, Style, Finish

□ Brackets – Per Plan Material, Style, Finish

□ Louvers – Per Plan Material, Style, Finish

□ Address Stone – Stone Type, Font/Border Style, Number, Location on Home

□ Chimney Caps – Per Plan Clad Material, Finish

□ Finals and other Exterior Embellishments – Per Plan Clad Material, Finish

□ Decking Material – Per Plan, Brand, Material, Style/Finish, Install Instructions

□ Railing Assembly – Details Per Plan, Brand, Material, Style/Finish, Install Instructions

□ Finals and other Exterior Embellishments – Per Plan Clad Material, Finish

□ Ext Front Porch Ceiling – Per Plan, Brand, Material, Style/Finish

□ Ext Screened Porch Ceiling – Per Plan, Brand, Material, Style/Finish

□ Ext Screened Porch Siding Material – Per Plan, Brand, Material, Style/Finish

□ Ext Porch Flooring – Per Plan, Decking, Tile, Other Brand, Material, Style/Finish

□ Driveway Material and Design Per Plan, Material – Asphalt, Concrete, Stamp Style, Concrete Color, Antique Release, Pavers

□ Sidewalk Material and Design Per Plan, Material – Asphalt, Concrete, Stamp Style, Concrete Color, Antique Release, Pavers

□ Patio Material and Design Per Plan, Material – Asphalt, Concrete, Stamp Style, Concrete Color, Antique Release, Pavers