Straight talk on siding, windows, gutters, and roofing that's built to withstand Portland's rain and seasonal wear. With expert designers and trusted craftspeople, Neil Kelly helps you create fresh curb appeal.
Whether you're refreshing surfaces, replacing worn materials, or rethinking your entire home exterior, Neil Kelly has the tools to make it happen. Choose the scope level that fits your vision.
Better Where it Counts.
The right updates in the right places can change how a home looks and how well it holds up. A Refresh focuses on surfaces and finishes: paint, trim, minor siding repairs, gutters, and similar targeted work. No layout changes, no structural work. A meaningful improvement without a major project.
New Materials. Peak Performance.
Sometimes refreshing the surface isn't enough. When materials have reached the end of their life or just aren't performing the way they should, replacement is the smarter move. A Replace project installs new siding, windows, doors, and possibly even a new roof without changing the structure of your home.
Built Different by Design.
This is the scope for homeowners who want a transformation, not just an update. New rooflines, additions, structural changes, and a complete materials overhaul are all on the table to make the home look and function like something entirely different. The result is an exterior that looks intentional from every angle.
Neil Kelly's Portland designers have worked across Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark counties for decades. They know how to pair siding and trim on a Craftsman without losing its original character, what roofing profile holds up best against Portland's wet winters, and how to update windows for better energy performance without clashing with a home's existing style. That kind of local knowledge comes only from doing this work on Portland-area homes for a long time.
Every designer brings distinct expertise: historic and character homes, energy-efficient materials, weather-resistant detailing, and a range of aesthetic sensibilities from clean and modern to charming and traditional. Your home's exterior is vital, so having that depth of experience on your team matters.
Here's what Portland homeowners say about working with Neil Kelly.
4.6 out of 5 · 2,200+ verified reviews on GuildQuality
It has been a very good experience with Neil Kelly. 5's all across the board, they are wonderful.
Reliable on all fronts, and I know that the project will be successfully completed to my satisfaction. I’m a repeat customer.
I had a problem with rotting in the siding and trim on the south side of my house. The Neil Kelly consultant identified the problem areas and presented how they would fix them. I did not have the expertise to look at the wall and see subtle hints of areas that were rotting but the consultant did which I greatly appreciated. Communication was great between the project lead and myself as well as the lead carpenter and the consultant. Highly recommend Neil Kelly.
Most Portland-area exterior remodels move through six clear phases, including design, planning, and construction, all handled by the same people from start to finish. The process is built so you know what's happening and what's coming next.
A Neil Kelly designer will visit your home for a free 60-to-90-minute consultation. We'll take a look at your current exterior, discuss your goals, your constraints, and what changes are actually possible. No commitment required.
Scope confirmation, design options, and materials direction. You'll see alternatives, get answers to your questions, and further shape the direction of your exterior before we make any detailed drawings.
Complete plans, detailed specifications, and every material selected. This phase is where your vision becomes a clear direction and pricing gets finalized.
The number we agree on is the number you pay. We file permits (if needed), order materials, and set the schedule. No guesswork when construction starts.
Construction by Neil Kelly's in-house craftspeople. Your project manager handles trades, schedules, and daily details while updating you weekly on what's done and what's next.
Final walkthrough. If there's anything that needs attention, we'll address it before you sign off. Your five-year warranty coverage starts on completion.
Between the rain, the code requirements, and the historic district reviews, exterior remodeling in Portland comes with its own rulebook. Here's what we've learned working within it.
Portland's wind-driven rain and persistent humidity mean moisture control comes first, not last. That means continuous weather-resistant barriers, correctly detailed flashing at every horizontal-to-vertical transition, and a ventilated rain screen behind new siding to let any moisture that gets in find its way back out.
Failing siding is common in our climate, particularly aging vinyl and older composite products, which tend to trap moisture behind them and let rot set in unnoticed. Our team will anticipate these issues and investigate before contract signing, but we don't have x-ray vision. If we do find hidden damage once the siding comes off, we price it as an Additional Work Authorization, so you know exactly what you're paying for and why.
Not every exterior change triggers a permit, but enough of them do that it pays to know which is which. Enlarging a window opening or altering structural siding requires local permitting. Homes in historic or conservation districts like Irvington or Ladds Addition face added material restrictions, often favoring repair of original windows and trim over replacement and ruling out certain siding types on street-facing facades.
Portland's energy code sets real thresholds for wall and attic insulation, window performance, and overall building air tightness, and those requirements factor into material and product selection from the start. Recent zoning updates have also eased review requirements for certain green upgrades, including some street-facing window replacements and solar installations, making energy-efficient exterior work easier to permit than it used to be.
Much of Portland's housing stock predates 1978, so exterior work that disturbs painted surfaces falls under lead-safe renovation rules, and we follow certified containment procedures on every project where it applies. Paint selection matters too. The region's wet winters and dry summers call for exterior paints that can handle real expansion and contraction without failing early.
Schedule a consultation with our Portland team and find out what it actually takes to create the curb appeal you're envisioning, no commitment required.
