Hello,
Re: Help we hate vinyl siding and are desperately looking for an economical alternative
We are trying to build a budget-minded new home in upstate new York. Our plan is to build a “farmhouse-like” home — 2000 square, 2 stories. Our contractor has told us that vinyl would cost about $5000 fully-installed while other alternatives would cost 3 times that amount. We would do just about anything — fiber cement, stucco, wood, etc and pay 2xs the comprable vinyl cost.
We find it hard to believe that vinyl is our only choice. HELP! any ideas
Replies
Where upstate NY? I'm there frequently (I'm on LI). Id be happy to take a look if I'm there before you start. There are soooooooo many choices of siding that it can become mind boggeling. For upstate NY I'd say go with cedar shakes. It fits the area. Are you willing to do any of the work yourself? I'd be willing to help you all get started if you want. Its really not all that hard. thing is....the outside of your home is really important. It invites you into the doorway of your personality IMHO. Kinda like the cover of a book. Dont do Vinyl! I'd rather see tar paper up for a year before I do vinyl untill you all can sock away the difference in your bank. There arent to many sidings that you couldnt do your self's. Dont settle for second best on the face of your home. wait till you CAN afford it or do a little at a time or or or or
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
We are in Athens, New York near Catskill and Hudson. We thought abou cedar shakes but heard that the price of wood is out of control right now and the installation costs are sky-high. We would be willing to do work ourselves so long as we are kidding ourselves about the skill required and the cost-savings (sometime do-it-yourself winds up as a bad idea).
I also thought about cedar on the first story and vinyl on the second story --
DW
I know exactly where you are. My best friend runs a Stiener school (Whaldorf School) right there. If you'd like I'd be willing to come up for a weekend and get you guys started. Its really not tHat difficult if your hearts in it. Let me know. My phone numbers on my website below bro.
Be well
Namaste
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Just scratch vinyl siding of the list. Cedar would be my first choice if I had deep enough pockets and wanted to put up with the maintenance. I put fiber cement on my last house. I don't think I'll ever use anything else. You can do it yourself, but it should only be about 2x the cost of vinyl or about 1/2 the cost of cedar
I was thinking hardiboard in terms of cost per year of life..
Excellence is its own reward!
Oh , just bury me under the cement siding tree. I loved it so... [Why cant we make music notes on here ?]
Tim Mooney
I like the variety that HardiePlank siding is available in, I put the stucco panels on the first story of my house,Hardie Plank lap siding with (Hardie)shingle gables on a recent house, and on the most recent house Hardie Panel with a board&batten look in fact the entire exterior of that house is either Hardie Panel/Trim/Soffet and or Cemplank/Cemtrim the cost to performance ratio seems to be great for these products.SUGARLOAF WOODWORKING
Architectural Woodworking & Quality Restoration of Older Homes
"Anything is Possible"
The cement siding comes in different widths. The big boxes only carry the 8-1/4" wide around here. I like the appearance of the narrower planks 5-1/4" or 6-1/4" 4" and 5" exposure. I order them from my local quality lumber yard.
The Local Lumber yards, around here anyway, have way better turn around times for orders than the "home centers" I can get almost any Hardi or Cemplank product within a week here. For installing these fiber cement sidings we use the Duo-Fast Model RCN-60/225ADJ Round Head Coil Nailer(btw $3-400.00 about $80-$125 for electro plated galvinized ringshank nails or $410.00 for Stainless ring shank, one box usually does more than an average sized house). I saw a job recently where the contractor was installing it by hand nailing, the crew didn't seem to be enjoying themselves much. Also make sure to wear a dust mask when cutting, unless you use shears.
SUGARLOAF WOODWORKING
Architectural Woodworking & Quality Restoration of Older Homes
"Anything is Possible"
Edited 10/7/2002 2:33:51 PM ET by WoodWolf
Ditto on no special orders from home centers.
I use a roofing coil nailer with stainless steel roofing nails. Cemplank recommends either hot dipped or stainless. A $200 box will do a 2,000 sq ft house. Electroplated nails may eventually rust and can streak the siding. For the dust I position a good sized fan behind the cutting table to blow all the dust away from the installers ... works great. I also use a cheap dedicated Skill saw with a dry diamond blade. The dust will ruin the motor of a good saw.
We considered using the roofing nailer but liked the smaller heads on the Duofast siding gun, Yes Stainless nails are the best option.SUGARLOAF WOODWORKING
Architectural Woodworking & Quality Restoration of Older Homes
"Anything is Possible"
Not to beat a dead horse, but I just want to DW know that roofing nails are put in the top inch and are completly covered by the overlap of the next plank ... with the exception of the top course.
Check out this website, go to "product info" then "installation instructions for lap siding" there is a lot of information on this site about details.http://www.jameshardie.com/locators.htmSUGARLOAF WOODWORKING
Architectural Woodworking & Quality Restoration of Older Homes
"Anything is Possible"
I also heard about a Pine Shake product by LifePine of New England. Any one have any thoughts on that.
Thanks...one other thought. our contractor is pitching a Louisiana Pacific composite product. We saw it installed in a house he built 8 years ago...looks great still. Any thoughts?
Correction to my last post. The cost of $1,920 was for 2,400 sq. ft. not a 2,400 sq ft. house. The sq. ft. of the siding varies depending on the style of the house and could be more then double ... or even in the $4,000 to $5,000 range
"pitching a Louisiana Pacific composite"
Don't do too much fishing in strange waters looking for this cheap alternative. I've never ever found anything good to say about LPs products. In any dollar/pound/lifespan comparrison to similar other products, LP is a cur hound. You can feed him and train him and feed him some more, but that dog just won't hunt. Buy from a better kennel and trainer or you'll join him in howling at the moon..
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for the thoughts. Anyone have any thoughts on treated pine siding?
We have heard that Cemplank is a better product than Hardi or Certainteed.... We were told it is slighly less expensive but more importantly much easier to install since it doesn't require special blades or nailing.
We want to use fiber cement but our contractor quoted it at 3xs what we are guessing vinyl would cost. For a 2,400 sq ft 2 story house he quoted $9000 for materials and $5 for labor. Then he said we would have to pay to have it painted after it is installed.
Couldn't we just paint the boards ahead of time, have them installed, then touch them up?
I used Cemplank because my local supplier said it was better then Hardiplank and it was all he carried. I paid $4.00 per plank including 5% sales tax. I used 6-1/4" x 12' planks with 5" exposure that covers 5 sq. ft. per plank. A 2,400 sq. ft. house would be $1,920 for the factory primed siding. Add $250 for stainless steel nails, $50. for a couple of cases of White Lightning caulking and $50 for a roll of painted aluminum flashing and you are only at about $1.00 per sq. ft. for the material. There is almost no waste if installed properly. Even small pieces can be blended in nicely. I ordered for 5% waste and I have almost 5% left over.
The aluminum flashing that I used was a little extra on my part. I cut little 6" squares (actually my wife cut them)and put one behind every butt joint before shooting the last nail.
You could paint the planks ahead of time, but I wouldn't. A good paint job after installation seals joints. Handling and drying that many very flexible planks would be a nightmare, and the soft fresh paint would clog the saw. There is no appreciable difference in the methods of cutting and nailing Hardi Plank vs. Cemplank. A diamond saw blade for a 7" skill saw is only about $40.
Thanks...We know the school and its store We had considered building a hay bale house and looked at one being built near the school...absolutley beautiful. But alas the combination of the price and that fact that we are building on a lot with a "homeowners Association" (we figured the odds of getting a hay bale house approved were just about zero) knocked it out of the running.
I may give you a call. Thanks for the offer.