dena Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 I have a wood sided house that needs new siding. The currently installed wood siding is close to 60 years old, and starting to rot. Painting it again is out of the question, too far gone. So, do I want to get vinyl, aluminum, or what? SqFt of the house is ~1500, and I need new windows too. Anything I need to look out for? Is one brand head and shoulders above the rest? I am new to this siding and windows thing, and do not want to look like too much of an idiot talking to contractors. The house belonged to my grandfather, and was passed to my parents, and now me. It has been rented until a couple of months ago, and before anyone else moves in, the house needs some work...who knows, maybe I will move there, it is a nice piece of land Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gray gables Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) All up for debate. If I was moving in and the house was going to be for me then I’d do top notch stuff. Windows for instance, if it was me I’d get the windows that have the applied casing on the outside so the new siding tucks in behind it. It gives it a nice clean look. Certainteed is good siding. Edited February 16, 2020 by gray gables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McFeeley Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 Your going to want to see what the sheathing looks like behind the siding first. Some wood siding is just nailed on the studs without sheathing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dena Posted February 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Jim McFeeley said: Your going to want to see what the sheathing looks like behind the siding first. Some wood siding is just nailed on the studs without sheathing. Yes, the house is 60 years old, and I am not sure how well insulated it is. I am almost certain it is not up to modern standards, foam siding, sealed, etc. Should the old wood siding be removed, or the new sheathing just installed over top of the old siding, then the new siding installed? The house is in cold climate Ohio, up near the lake, and sits on a nice 13 acre property. I want the house to do the property justice, so am not looking to cheap out, but do not want to pay more than I should, either. Thanks for the advice. Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FEW3 Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 60 yearsits sheathed/planked. It could have fg or foil encased fg thats an inch give or take. Get some quotes from local companies first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 Strip the siding and at least a couple spots of the interior rock or whatever. If it needs insulation then do it. With the siding stripped ya may can get blown in insulation. Doing the basics like this and good windows are essential. Putting in new windows and sealing all of the openings are a given I would think on a home of that age. But just adding fold-foam gives you ****e worth of R value. Sealing the openings keeps the breeze out, but if yer walls are empty it doesn't give ya anything. Electric? Plumbing? Better to know now. Treat the place like the investment in your future that it is. Don't cheap out, because you may well end up living there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McFeeley Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 I agree you are really going to want to see how it is insulated. I would try to remove the old siding if possible. There are alot of variables that go into making your decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gellfex Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 I have no actual experience with this kind of exterior work, but I'm thinking that if you do have to remove the sheathing it give you access inside most of the walls of a place that small and it's an excellent time to upgrade electric service if it needs it, like running grounded cables presuming 1950 ones aren't, and coax or Cat5 cable if you get cable TV or broadband there. You don't want to be doing that AFTER you insulate. And if there's any plumbing on the exterior walls (hopefully there's not) you can insulate it or move it inside so there's no freezing issues. I'm hoping someone comments on what actual siding products to use. I'm going to be doing this in the next few years and am completely baffled by the variety from vinyl to cement boards. There's some vinyl now that really looks like clapboards, unlike the old stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dena Posted February 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 12 hours ago, gellfex said: I have no actual experience with this kind of exterior work, but I'm thinking that if you do have to remove the sheathing it give you access inside most of the walls of a place that small and it's an excellent time to upgrade electric service if it needs it, like running grounded cables presuming 1950 ones aren't, and coax or Cat5 cable if you get cable TV or broadband there. You don't want to be doing that AFTER you insulate. And if there's any plumbing on the exterior walls (hopefully there's not) you can insulate it or move it inside so there's no freezing issues. I'm hoping someone comments on what actual siding products to use. I'm going to be doing this in the next few years and am completely baffled by the variety from vinyl to cement boards. There's some vinyl now that really looks like clapboards, unlike the old stuff. I am a rookie at this too, and was hoping a siding contractor or tradesman chimed in. I wouldn't mind living there, but it has its drawbacks. First, it is 7+ hour drive to salt water. It is 6 hours from family, and friends, and in a colder climate. What retired couple moves to a colder climate? But, damn, it is a nice property, and my granddad was born on this land, and is the last piece of the section still in the family since the early to mid 1800s. Cabo2005 1 Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roccus7 Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 38 mins ago, dena said: What retired couple moves to a colder climate? We did and wouldn't have it any other way. NFW I'd go down to "God's Waiting Room", FL... And in answer to "what to use", may I chime in that you should consider cemented Kevlar mesh "Hardy Board" and the like, and don't forget to replace all exterior trim w/Azek or other plastic. Loving my Hardy board and slowly migrating all wood trim to Azek. All the the comments about insulation, wiring, plumbing, windows, etc. great to consider. Hell, you'll be "lifting up her skirt" so you might as well check everything out... Shall I go to heaven or a-fishing? - H. D. Thoreau Veni. Vidi. Cepi. - with apologies to Gaius Julius Caesar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly By Nite Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 All depends on the look you're going after. Wood siding can last even longer than 60 years if it's maintained. If yours doesn't look bad and just a few areas of rot can be fixed, you would be doing your home and neighborhood a disservice by replacing it, especially with plastic. Sanding off all the paint, making some repairs, and a fresh coat of paint can keep it looking great and original. If its totally gone from many years of neglect...got to remove it all and start over. 1500 sq feet isn't too big so you can probably side it with cedar again without spending a million dollars. Other option is Hardi cement clapboard siding. Vinyl is horrible stuff especially on an older home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFThunter Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 Currently doing Hardie cement shingle siding on my 1949 cape. 4' panels but gives the look of individual singles. Pretty sure it has a 30 year warranty on the paint? Not the quickest to install, but I think it's worth it in the long run. If you're going to do composite trim, do yourself a favor and get the premade corners. Definitely more money, but worth it 100x over. Old painted cedar on the second floor in the picture for reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dena Posted February 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 15 mins ago, Fly By Nite said: All depends on the look you're going after. Wood siding can last even longer than 60 years if it's maintained. If yours doesn't look bad and just a few areas of rot can be fixed, you would be doing your home and neighborhood a disservice by replacing it, especially with plastic. Sanding off all the paint, making some repairs, and a fresh coat of paint can keep it looking great and original. If its totally gone from many years of neglect...got to remove it all and start over. 1500 sq feet isn't too big so you can probably side it with cedar again without spending a million dollars. Other option is Hardi cement clapboard siding. Vinyl is horrible stuff especially on an older home. Several sections of the house were shaded, or on the North side, and rotted out. Probably 75 -80% OK, with 5% gone, and 15-20% so so. Last time it was painted my dad hired some guy pre 2000, and he diddled around, and watered down paint until the old man ran him off. Since then it was rented out at barely enough rent to pay the taxes, and allowed to go to rot. It was not mine, so I kept hands off. Now, it could be mine, or it might just be sold as is...decisions...decisions. Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lippen Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 6 hours ago, dena said: and was hoping a siding contractor or tradesman chimed in. I did. FEW3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dena Posted February 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 21 hours ago, Ben Lippen said: I did. Thanks. Material abundance without character is the path of destruction. -Thomas JeffersonThere are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. -Soren Kierkegaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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