Virtually all modifications to the exterior of your home must have prior approval of the Reston Association (RA) through the Design Review Board. As soon as you have decided to undertake a project, please submit your Design Review Application and work with our Reston Association Covenants Advisor. More information on this process can be found in Reston.org’s Application & Review Procedures.
Each type of modification, from air conditioners to windows, has specific guidelines for how it should be done and what approvals are required. Reading the guidelines for your specific project should be the first step in the process. Some information specific to our Cluster is below. Note that the information is unofficial; Reston Association maintains the official design guidelines also here.
- Paint (Stain) Color Palette: See Neighborhood Layout
- Deck Staining: Homeowners can let their decks weather naturally with no stain or stain the decks to match the house siding color, as was originally approved for our Cluster. Additionally, there are three transparent stains approved by the Reston Association Design Review Board:
- Behr “Natural Clear”
- Behr “Cedartone”
- Behr “Browntone”
- Behr solid stain, “Tugboat SC-141”
- Behr transparent stain, “Clear 500/400”
- Behr transparent stain, “Cedar Naturaltone 501/401”
- Behr transparent stain, “Cordova Brown T-104”
- Behr semi-transparent stain, “Cedar ST-146”
- Behr semi-transparent stain, “Tugboat ST-141”.
- To use a color not approved for our Cluster, you must submit a Design Review Application and obtain approval through the Reston Association Design Review Board
- Fences: All fencing must be painted with Pittsburgh stain (not paint) white, and follow the Cluster Guidelines.
- Window Grids and Screens: In April 2000, the Reston Association Design Review Board approved the Cluster standard option of removing window grids with the stipulation that all window grids on any house (front and back) be consistent, i.e., all with grids or all without. Replacement grids and screens can be ordered directly from Anderson Windows, (888) 888-7020. You will need the window glass size and the numbers and letters etched on the bottom corner of the window.
- Light Fixtures: The original Cluster standard for light fixtures is no longer available. Lights not on this list MUST be approved through the Reston Association Design Review Board process. The following stipulations apply: Original lights may remain but must be clean/polished AND the front and rear lights must be the same color. Approved replacements include:
- Front: Hampton Bay Outdoor Wall Lantern, polished brass, 5.5″w by 16.25″h. Model #: HB8053PSTL-01 (Discontinued)
- Front: Westinghouse 18.5″ Tall Outdoor Lantern Wall Sconce Model # 6692400
- Front: Hampton Bay, 1-Light, Dusk-to-Dawn, wall-mount, lantern sconce, color: white. Model # BPP1611-WHT Internet # 100580735
- Rear: Hampton Bay Outdoor Motion-Sensing Polished Brass Wall Lantern (Discontinued)
- Rear: Heath Zenith Bayside Mission 150-degree Matte White Motion Sensing Outdoor Wall Lantern Sconce Model #HZ-4132-MW Internet #205958265
- Rear: Heath Zenith 150 Degree Polished Brass Traditional Coach Wall Lantern Sconce with Clear Beveled Glass Model #HZ-4170-PB Internet #206452143
- Decking: Trex Select (Select Saddle or Woodland Brown)
- Exterior Siding: James Hardie, Select Cedarmill, fiber cement, 5″ exposure (Colors Autumn Tan, Boothbay Blue, Harris Cream, Timber Bark, or Florida Everglades).
- Roofing: Owens Corning, TruDefinition, architectural shingles, color: Driftwood or CertainTeed, Landmark, architectural shingles, color: Weathered Wood