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Exterior AccentsSoffit lighting, faux gables and architectural accents
The details at the eaves, gables, windows and doors change how a house looks from the street and after dark. We install permanent soffit and eave lighting, decorative gable work, windows, exterior doors, and other architectural accents, often alongside siding or roofing.
Finishing details that fit the house
A new roof or siding does most of the weather protection. Accents are what pull the exterior together: light at the eaves, a gable that looks finished, trim that lines up with the windows, and doors that match the rest of the elevation. We plan those details with the rest of the exterior so they look like they belong on the house, not like they were added later.
This work can be part of a larger project or quoted on its own. We're based in Orono and do it on homes across the Twin Cities metro. We'll look at your elevations, talk through options, and put the scope in a written proposal.
Soffit and eave lighting
Permanent LED lighting in the soffit or under the eaves can wash the facade, light entries and walks, and stay in place year-round. Recessed fixtures keep the look clean during the day, with the light itself doing the work after dark.
The same system can be used for everyday lighting and for seasonal or holiday displays, so you're not hanging temporary strings every winter and taking them down in January. We'll talk through layout, brightness and how you want to control the lights.
Soffit lighting is a natural add when fascia, soffit or gutters are already being worked on. If a licensed electrician is needed for a hookup, we'll tell you that up front.
Faux gables and gable details
A decorative gable accent or pediment can add a finished peak to an elevation that feels flat, or bring a gable end into line with the rest of the house. We also fill gable ends with shake, board-and-batten, or a mix that complements the field siding.
These details have to be sized to the roof and the wall, not just applied as decoration. We'll look at the elevation and suggest a proportion that fits. The cleanest time to do gable work is during a siding project, when colors, trim and weather barrier can be handled together, but we can also add or refresh a gable on an existing exterior.
Other architectural accents
Beyond lighting and gables, we install the smaller pieces that finish an exterior. Common items include:
- Corbels and brackets under eaves, porch beams or entry roofs
- Shutters sized and mounted to the window
- Trim and window or door surrounds
- Decorative gable and attic vents
- Columns and post wraps
- Stone veneer accents at entries, foundations or chimneys
We'll recommend materials that fit your house, the rest of the exterior work, and how you want it to look. If a detail would fight the architecture, we'll say so.
Windows
New or replacement windows belong in the same conversation as siding, trim and doors, because the openings, flashing and surrounds have to work as one system. For styles, glass and installation details, see our windows page.
Brands we install include Andersen, Kolbe, Marvin, Pella and Weather Shield. High-end options include lines such as Andersen A-Series and E-Series, Kolbe Ultra Series and VistaLuxe, Marvin Ultimate, Pella Reserve, and Weather Shield Premium Series and Contemporary Collection. We'll help you choose what fits the house and the budget.
Exterior doors
We install entry doors, patio or sliding doors, and storm doors, either with a larger exterior project or on their own. A new entry door should be sized and trimmed to the opening and flashed so water can't get in around it. Patio and sliding doors need the same care at the sill and the head, especially on Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles.
Andersen and Marvin both make entry and patio door lines that can be paired with their windows, and the other window brands we install also offer patio and entry options. We'll look at the openings, talk through swing or sliding operation, and include the door, trim and installation in a written proposal. If you have a specific door in mind, ask and we'll tell you whether we can use it.
Exterior accent questions
Can this work be done with a siding or roof project?
Yes, and that's often the cleanest time, especially for gable fills, trim, surrounds, windows, doors and soffit lighting. We can also quote accents on their own if the rest of the exterior is in good shape.
Do you hang traditional holiday lights each year?
No. We install permanent soffit and eave lighting that can be used year-round, including for seasonal or holiday displays. We don't offer a hang-and-take-down service for temporary light strings.
Will soffit lights hold up to Minnesota winters?
We specify exterior-rated lighting intended for year-round weather. Placement still matters, including snow, ice and soffit ventilation, and we'll go over that when we look at the house.
Can you add a faux gable to a house that never had one?
Often, depending on the roof shape and the existing siding. We'll look at the elevation and tell you whether a pediment or gable fill would look proportional, or whether another accent would be a better fit.
Which window and door brands do you install?
Brands we install include Andersen, Kolbe, Marvin, Pella and Weather Shield, including high-end window lines such as Andersen A-Series and E-Series, Kolbe Ultra Series and VistaLuxe, Marvin Ultimate, Pella Reserve, and Weather Shield Premium Series and Contemporary Collection. Andersen and Marvin also make entry and patio doors. If you have a product in mind, ask and we'll tell you whether we can use it.
Want to talk about lighting, accents, windows or doors?
We'll look at the house, walk through options, and put a clear scope in writing.