Gym Building — Exterior Refresh
A clean, welcoming face for the building where our students will play, compete, and gather.
BeforeAfterDrag to compare today vs. the rendering
The gym is a big, sturdy building — it just needs to look cared for. Right now the metal siding and doors are streaked and weathered, and the base of the building is bare. This project gives it a fresh, finished look: a thorough wash of the siding and doors, and clean landscaped beds with shrubs, flowers, and tall evergreens framing the entrances. It's a high-impact, satisfying weekend — the kind of project where you can stand back at the end of the day and see exactly what you accomplished.
Power-washing the metal building and its four doors (low and gentle, letting the cleaner do the work), then digging and planting landscaped beds along the building face, setting tall evergreens between the doors, and spreading fresh mulch. Honest outdoor labor, no special skills — just a willing crew, a good Saturday, and ideally a landscaper friend.
- Tall narrow evergreens (vertical accents between doors)
- Low shrubs + mounding perennials for the bed runs
- Mulch (dark), enough for the full building face
- Landscape edging + weed-barrier fabric
- Garden soil / compost for bed amendment
- Building wash cleaner + mildew/algae remover (concentrate)
- Low-pressure spray tip / soap applicator for the washer
- Contractor trash bags, gloves
- Pressure washer (rent or borrow — larger unit for a building this size)
- Garden shovel/spade
- Hand trowel
- Garden rake
- Wheelbarrow
- Garden gloves
- Soft-bristle brush on a pole (for stubborn spots)
- Broom
- Hose
- Ladder or extension wand for upper siding
| Item | Store | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Tall narrow evergreens (3–5 arborvitae/Emerald Green type, ~3–4 ft) | Lowe's | $150–$350 |
| Low shrubs + mounding perennials (10–16 plants for the bed runs) | Lowe's | $180–$400 |
| Mulch, dark (~20–30 bags for the building face) | Lowe's | $100–$180 |
| Landscape edging + weed-barrier fabric | Lowe's | $60–$140 |
| Garden soil / compost to amend beds | Lowe's | $40–$90 |
| Building/siding cleaner + mildew remover (concentrate) | Lowe's | $30–$70 |
| Pressure washer rental (full day, larger unit) + low-pressure tip/soap applicator | Lowe's Rental | $70–$120 |
Wash metal siding at LOW pressure with chemical doing the work. The staining is typical mildew/algae — a mildew-cutting cleaner plus a low-pressure rinse cleans it without denting panels or forcing water behind the seams. Skip the turbo/zero-degree nozzle on the siding. Doors and lower trim can take a bit more, but stay moderate. Wash top-down, rinse thoroughly, and keep cleaner off fresh plantings (wet them down first or plant after washing). Right plant, right place: sunny exposure with a tree line behind — pick sun-tolerant, low-maintenance varieties. Tall evergreens between doors are the signature look; space them evenly and keep them clear of the door tracks. Best planted spring or fall; summer planting needs consistent watering to establish — confirm a water source nearby. The parking-lot edge and walkway stay as-is (just cleaned). The metal building, roof, and doors are washed, not painted or replaced. Mind the overhead power lines at the building's left/front when using extension wands or ladders.
One family comfortable with yard work, or a local landscaping company as a business sponsor (could donate the plants, mulch, or a crew). The power washing is a satisfying task for a family with a teen or two; the evergreens and beds are a nice fit for a family that gardens.
1 supporter
Your family covers the materials and completes the build.
Chip in money — another family handles the work.