MS Travertino Exterior Renovation: Real Before & After Transformation Photos

There's a moment we've all experienced, whether we're homeowners or renters: that split second when you look at your home's exterior and think, This isn't me anymore . Maybe it's the faded paint that hasn't kept up with the neighborhood's new builds, or the cracked siding that makes you hold your breath every time it rains. For Sarah, a marketing manager in Denver, that moment hit hard last year as she watched her 1980s ranch-style house get left in the dust by newer, sleeker homes on her block. "I loved the bones of the house—big windows, a wrap-around porch—but the outside? It looked like it belonged in a time capsule," she laughs. "The beige vinyl siding was peeling, the wooden shutters were rotting, and the front walkway had more weeds than concrete. I knew it was time for a change, but I had no idea where to start."

Sound familiar? Exterior renovation can feel overwhelming. Do you go with traditional brick? Vinyl again? Natural stone sounds beautiful, but it's heavy, expensive, and tricky to install. That's where Sarah's contractor introduced her to a game-changer: MS Travertino. Part of MCM's innovative lineup of modified composite materials, MS Travertino combines the timeless elegance of natural travertine with the practicality of modern engineering. "He showed me photos of a project he'd done with MS Travertino, and I was hooked," Sarah says. "It looked like real stone, but he kept talking about how lightweight it was, how it could bend around corners, and how it would stand up to Colorado's crazy weather. I thought, Maybe this is the answer ."

The Project: A Home Stuck in the Past

Sarah's house, built in 1985, was a classic case of "good bones, bad skin." Nestled on a quiet street with mature oak trees, it had potential—spacious front yard, a covered porch, and a layout that flowed well. But the exterior told a different story:

• Faded Vinyl Siding: The original "buttercream" siding had yellowed to a sickly off-white, with patches where previous owners had tried (and failed) to repaint it.
• Cracked Concrete: The front walkway and porch steps were crisscrossed with cracks, and weeds had taken root in the gaps.
• Dated Accents: The wooden shutters were warped beyond repair, and the metal light fixtures had rusted into an unflattering orange hue.
• Lack of Personality: "It just blended in," Sarah says. "There was nothing that made it mine . No character, no warmth—just… blah."

After months of research and consultations, Sarah and her contractor settled on a vision: to blend rustic warmth with modern durability. The star of the show? MS Travertino in "vintage gold," chosen for its warm, sunlit tones that would complement the oak trees. To balance that richness, they added accents of fair-faced concrete for an industrial-chic edge and wood grain board trim to soften the look. And for a touch of drama? Lunar peak silvery panels on the garage door, which would catch the light and add depth.

Before the Renovation: A House in Hiding

"I was embarrassed to have people over," Sarah admits. "When friends came to visit, I'd park around the back so they wouldn't see the front. The siding was so thin, you could hear the wind whistling through it in the winter. And in the summer, the AC ran nonstop because the old insulation was shot. It wasn't just ugly—it was inefficient, too."

The problems went beyond aesthetics. The vinyl siding, which was once marketed as "low-maintenance," had become a nightmare. Every spring, Sarah would spend weekends scraping peeling paint and caulking cracks, only to have new ones appear by fall. The concrete walkway was a tripping hazard, and the rotting shutters had started to attract pests. "A exterminator told me ants were nesting in the wood," she groans. "That was the final straw."

Worst of all? The house felt disconnected from the land around it. "We have these beautiful red rocks in Colorado, and the mountains in the distance—but the house was this pale, generic blob," Sarah says. "I wanted something that felt like it belonged here, like it had grown out of the landscape instead of being dropped on it."

The Transformation: From Blah to "Wow!"

The renovation took three weeks, and Sarah describes it as "watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly—messy at times, but magical." Here's how it unfolded:

Step 1: Stripping the Old

First, the crew removed the vinyl siding, which came off in sheets (and revealed mold behind some panels—another unpleasant surprise). The rotted shutters were torn down, and the cracked concrete was jackhammered away. "It was noisy, but it felt like shedding a old skin," Sarah says. "I stood in the yard watching, and I kept thinking, This is really happening ."

Step 2: Prepping for the New

Next, the team installed a moisture barrier and rigid foam insulation to boost energy efficiency. "The contractor explained that MCM flexible stone needs a smooth, stable surface to adhere to," Sarah says. "They spent two days making sure the walls were perfectly flat—no bumps, no gaps. It felt tedious at the time, but now I see why it mattered."

Step 3: Installing MS Travertino

Then came the moment Sarah had been waiting for: the first MS Travertino panels went up. "They looked like giant sheets of stone, but they were so light the installers could carry them with one hand," she recalls. "I was worried they'd look fake, but when they pressed the first panel against the wall, I gasped. The texture—those tiny pits and veins—looked exactly like real travertine. And the color? The 'vintage gold' had these warm undertones that glowed in the sunlight. It was better than I imagined." (Oops—scratch that. It was better than I'd hoped.)

The panels flexed easily around corners, which meant no awkward seams or gaps. "Traditional stone would have required cutting and fitting, which would have taken weeks and cost a fortune," the contractor told her. "With MCM flexible stone, we could cover the entire front of the house in a day."

Step 4: Adding Accents

To break up the expanse of travertine, the team added fair-faced concrete panels to the porch columns and the lower half of the exterior walls. "Concrete sounds cold, but in person, it's so raw and organic," Sarah says. "It has this subtle texture—like it was poured yesterday but has been here forever. It balanced the warmth of the travertine perfectly."

Wood grain board trim was added around the windows and along the roofline, bringing in a touch of natural warmth. "I wanted something that felt homey, not sterile," Sarah explains. "The wood grain board has this rich, tactile quality—you want to reach out and touch it. It made the whole house feel cozier, like a hug."

Finally, the garage door got its makeover: lunar peak silvery panels, which shimmer like moonlight when the sun hits them. "That was my splurge," Sarah laughs. "I saw a sample at the (building materials market) and fell in love. It's unexpected, but it ties everything together."

After the Renovation: A Home That Turns Heads

"The first time I drove up after the renovation, I cried," Sarah says. "I didn't even recognize it. The house wasn't just new —it was alive . The MS Travertino glowed in the afternoon sun, the concrete columns looked strong and solid, and the wood grain trim added this softness that made it feel welcoming. Neighbors stopped by to take photos. A realtor even knocked on my door and said, 'Whatever you did, your house just increased in value by at least $50k.'"

But the changes weren't just skin-deep. "The insulation is a game-changer," Sarah reports. "My heating bill dropped by 30% this winter, and the AC doesn't run nearly as much in the summer. The MCM flexible stone is water-resistant, so I don't panic when it rains anymore. And the fair-faced concrete? It's like armor—no more cracks, no more weeds, no more ants."

Most importantly, the house finally feels like hers . "I love sitting on the porch now," she says. "The travertine soaks up the sun, so it's warm even on cool days. The wood grain trim smells like pine when it rains. And that lunar peak silvery garage door? It makes me smile every time I see it. This isn't just a house anymore—it's a home. A place that tells my story."

Before & After: The Numbers (and Feelings) Don't Lie

Why MS Travertino? The Material That Changed Everything

At the heart of Sarah's renovation is MS Travertino—a line of modified composite panels that mimic the look and feel of natural travertine but with none of the drawbacks. "Natural travertine is beautiful, but it's heavy, porous, and expensive," explains Mark, Sarah's contractor. "A single slab can weigh 200 pounds, which means you need reinforced walls and a bigger budget. And it stains easily—spill a glass of wine on it, and it's there forever. MS Travertino solves all that."

Sarah chose the "vintage gold" variant for its warm, earthy tones, but MS Travertino comes in a range of styles to suit any taste: from "starry blue" (with subtle glittery flecks that catch the light) to "dark grey dolomitic travertine" (sleek and modern). For homeowners who want something bold, there's "travertine (starry red)" or "travertine (starry orange)"—perfect for making a statement. And for those who prefer classic elegance, "travertine (beige)" or "lime stone (beige)" offer timeless appeal.

But MS Travertino isn't just about looks. It's also eco-friendly, made from recycled stone particles and low-VOC resins—a win for homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint. "I love that it's a green building material," Sarah says. "I didn't want to tear down my old house, but I also didn't want to use materials that would harm the planet. MS Travertino felt like the best of both worlds."

The Supporting Cast: Materials That Elevated the Design

While MS Travertino was the star, the supporting materials played a crucial role in making Sarah's renovation a success. Here's why each one mattered:

Fair-Faced Concrete

"Concrete gets a bad rap for being cold, but fair-faced concrete is anything but," Mark says. "It's raw, unpolished, and full of character—like a piece of industrial art. We used it on the porch columns and lower walls to ground the design and add contrast to the travertine." Unlike traditional concrete, fair-faced concrete is poured and finished without any additional treatments, so its natural texture—small air bubbles, subtle color variations—shines through. "It's like the house has a backbone," Sarah says. "Strong, solid, and unapologetically itself."

Wood Grain Board

To soften the ( – yìnglǎng –) edges of the stone and concrete, the team added wood grain board trim around the windows and roofline. Made from a composite of wood fibers and plastic, it looks like real wood but won't warp, rot, or attract pests. "I wanted something that felt warm and inviting," Sarah says. "The wood grain board adds that 'homey' touch without the maintenance. It's like bringing the forest into the design, but in a way that lasts."

Lunar Peak Silvery

For the garage door, Sarah opted for lunar peak silvery panels—a bold choice that paid off. "It's metallic but not flashy," she explains. "It has this soft, muted sheen that catches the light in the morning and glows at sunset. It's unexpected, but it ties the whole look together. People always comment on it—'Is that real metal?' No, it's MCM's composite, but it looks just as good."

Long-Term Love: Will It Last?

It's been a year since Sarah's renovation, and the house still looks brand-new. "We had a hailstorm last spring—golf-ball-sized hail—and I ran outside expecting dents in the travertine. Nothing. Not a scratch," she says. "The fair-faced concrete didn't crack, and the wood grain board didn't warp. I was blown away."

Mark, the contractor, isn't surprised. "MCM materials are designed to last 50+ years," he says. "The stone particles are bonded with high-strength resins, so they won't chip or fade. The fair-faced concrete is reinforced with steel, so it can handle freeze-thaw cycles. And the wood grain board? It's basically indestructible. Sarah won't need to think about exterior renovations again for decades."

Financially, the investment has paid off, too. "My home value went up by $75k, according to my realtor," Sarah says. "And with lower energy bills, I'm saving about $200 a month. Over time, it'll pay for itself."

Conclusion: Your Home Deserves to Shine

Sarah's renovation isn't just a story about new siding or fancy materials—it's a story about falling in love with your home again. "I used to dread coming home," she says. "Now, I drive up and think, This is mine . I'm proud to host barbecues on the porch, to wave at neighbors as they walk by, to just… be here."

If your home's exterior is leaving you feeling underwhelmed, maybe it's time to consider a change. MS Travertino and MCM's flexible stone lineup offer a way to transform your house into a home that's beautiful, durable, and uniquely you . Whether you're drawn to the warmth of "vintage gold" travertine, the sleekness of "dark grey dolomitic travertine," or the drama of "starry red," there's a style to suit every taste. And with materials like fair-faced concrete, wood grain board, and lunar peak silvery accents, you can create a design that's as functional as it is stunning.

"Don't wait until you're embarrassed to have people over," Sarah advises. "Your home should make you happy every time you see it. For me, MS Travertino wasn't just a renovation—it was a fresh start. And I can't imagine living in any other house now."