Dave & Jenny Marrs Partnership, As Seen on HGTV
From Basic Beige to Sophisticated Charcoal Grey: HGTV Stars Dave and Jenny Marrs Transform a Tornado - Ravaged Home
From Basic Beige to Sophisticated Charcoal Grey: HGTV Stars Dave and Jenny Marrs Transform a Tornado - Ravaged Home
After tornadoes blew through Bentonville, Arkansas, Barb and Roger Ludwig were left with significant damage to their 1990s home. A massive tree crashed into their home, taking down a third of its structure and forcing them to move out of the house they called home for 32 years.
“The biggest frustration has been getting contractors to work with us,” Barb explained. “Storm damage is a unique situation, because you don’t know what’s behind the walls and it could get very big.” “We just love this neighborhood and wanted to stay,” Roger said. “When we got the call that Dave and Jenny Marrs were going to take on our home, we were beside ourselves.”
With committed building partners such as Cornerstone Building Brands, Dave and Jenny felt confident the team had the resources and firepower to repair the damage and restore the Ludwigs’ home. From energy-efficient windows and new, premium vinyl siding to all the finishing touches, Dave and Jenny relied on Cornerstone Building Brands’ product suite to elevate the home’s curb appeal.
“For the last 30 years, this home has been their safe space,” said contractor and craftsman Dave Marrs, who co-hosts the HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous” with his wife, designer Jenny Marrs. “After the tornado, that changed. When they come back, it will be something new, and we get to be a part of it.”
“These types of renovation projects mean so much to us,” Jenny added. “To be able to step in — amidst a huge setback — to help a sweet couple breathe life back into their storm-ravaged home is a beautiful part of our job. We are grateful to have partners like Cornerstone Building Brands, who are up for the challenge and supply products that will help the refreshed home stand the test of time.”
The Challenges: Tree damage presents unknowns
“The foundation around the front door seems to be crumbling,” Dave noted. “And, there’s cracking in the brick that demonstrates that everything in the home has shifted over due to the tree incident.”
When the team first toured the property, much regarding the foundation and structural needs appeared unknown. During demolition and the early stages of the job, the team knew they would face many surprises. Additionally, the Marrs team knew they had to set aside a significant portion of the $210,000 budget to address all things exterior, including windows, siding, soffit, fascia, gutters, doors, lighting and landscaping. Inside the home, the Ludwigs requested new flooring, paint and lighting throughout, as well as a remodeled kitchen and primary suite.
“The Ludwigs have been displaced for about five months now,” Jenny said. “This house is going to take several months, but we’re going to work as quickly as we can for them.”
After addressing the structural concerns caused by the fallen tree, the team stabilized the foundation, framed out the right third of the home, replaced the roof and reworked the interior
systems, such as plumbing and HVAC, on that side of the home before addressing the exterior look and feel.
When they were ready to move to the exterior, they installed durable vinyl siding in a charcoal grey color called Deep Cavern and painted the brick accents to match.
“Barb and Roger lived in the house a long time, so they gave us valuable functional direction,” Jenny explained. “Not only do we want to rework the home to suit their routine, but we also want all the materials to be low maintenance and last as long as they live in this home. As we age, the last thing we want to deal with is home upkeep and repair headaches.”
Modern twist on classic siding adds visual intrigue to the exterior
“Barb wants a dark exterior, so we’re going to do a combination of materials to make it pop,” Jenny said. “We’re including three different elements: brick, Board + Batten vinyl siding, and cedar shake vinyl siding. We’ll paint the brick to match the siding and add white trim and a natural wood front door to add contrast.”
To achieve a cohesive yet visually intriguing look, Jenny integrated 7-inch Mastic® Board + Batten and Mastic Shake and Shingle vinyl siding. The team tapped into the Ply Gem® Portfolio of Brands for Mastic vinyl soffit and Ply Gem fascia, J-channel and starter strip — all in White — to cleanly tie together the exterior elements. Both come with a V.I.P. Limited Lifetime Warranty that provides peace of mind and will never need to be repainted.
Mastic Board + Batten Siding features
Premium .048" nominal thickness makes the panels exceptionally durable against impacts
Advanced locking system and nail hem allows the panels to grip together for easy installation and remain tight under pressure to ensure the siding stays put in challenging weather conditions
Authentic woodgrain appearance
Large range of colors spanning classic lights to premium darks
Shake and Shingle Siding features
Available in Hand-Split Shake, Double 7" Shingle, Triple 5" Shingle and Half-Round
Detailed cedar texture with a deep shadow line for a wood-like appearance
Exclusive, continuous snap-in locking system spans the entire length of the panel, providing up to twice as much support as tab-type systems
Wide variety of colors ranging from standard light colors to premium dark hues
For both types of vinyl siding, Jenny selected Deep Cavern, a dark grey hue, and felt confident it could stand up to intense sunlight because it’s a Mastic brand SolarDefense Reflective Technology™ color. SolarDefense protects against fading with a top layer that disperses heat and a bottom layer that stands up to heat, preventing distortion. It also includes a cooling compound that scatters and reflects light away.
“When we did the initial walk-through, Barb mentioned wanting a dark exterior,” Dave said. “With Mastic, we trust this deep, dark grey will remain vibrant for years to come. The Mastic brand has upped the ante on vinyl siding innovation with fade-resistance technology such as SolarDefense.”
Easy-to-use windows illuminate the interior
Dave and Jenny selected 5500 Casement Windows by Simonton® Windows & Doors for the new and replacement windows at the Ludwig home. The Simonton windows are easy to open and clean, making them ideal for Barb and Roger, who desired minimal maintenance and ease of use. In the primary suite, the team customized the windows with privacy glass that has a textured pattern to maximize privacy while allowing ample natural light into the room.
“We chose Simonton windows, because they’re fully customizable, which works great when you’re designing for a client with unique tastes,” Jenny said. “Barb loves the natural light that pours in through her large, existing kitchen windows. So, for the primary suite, we installed the maximum size windows the space would allow.”
Simonton 5500 Casement Windows features
Frame and sash designs range from traditional to contemporary
The strong, weathertight unit has unmatched durability, longevity and performance
Multipoint locking system tightly secures the window with one handle
Customizable glass options meet ENERGY STAR® guidelines
Selection of glass upgrade options, including triple-pane, sound and security, double-strength, safety, privacy and tinted
Comes standard with a full interior extruded frame fiberglass screen
“I never thought we were going to get to this point where we’re moving home,” Barb exclaimed. “Just look at it! Unbelievable! I love that color on the exterior. It’s absolutely beautiful.”
From the moment the Ludwigs pulled up to the curb, the couple beamed at their family home makeover. The exterior updates made a massive first impression on the duo. They could not stop complimenting the windows, colors, lighting and landscape.
“I love the color and the way it looks on the brick. I love those lights. And the landscaping! The windows are beautiful and the front door color is gorgeous,” Barb and Roger exclaimed. “It brings us into the 21st century.”
Inside, Barb and Roger raved about the engineered hardwood flooring, refreshed kitchen and light, warm feel throughout. The primary suite — which was previously annihilated by the tree — was re-created better than ever with an expansive bedroom, walk-in shower, elongated tub and his-and-her vanities and closets.
“I can’t talk. I just don’t want to ugly cry,” Barb said. “It’s peaceful and everything. The idea that we had a tree come down and destroy everything, and it’s been brought back so much better. This is more than I could imagine.”
“We’re just thankful to see Jenny and Dave come in,” Roger said through tears. “They personalized it for us. They really listened to what we enjoy doing, and they just built it right into this house.”
Dave and Jenny Marrs featured the Ludwig home in the sixth season of their HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous.” Watch the episode “Transforming a Tornado Ravaged Home” to see how it came together. Learn more about the Marrs’ partnership with Cornerstone Building Brands.