My goal this year was to repair water/mold damage caused by inept window installer contractors. They left gaps in the flashing that let water go behind the siding and inside the wall. They also demolished my original drip rails and this of course allowed water to seep behind the exterior flashing and inside the wall.
There's a lot of steps to this job so I was ready to hire multiple contractors and/or coordinate some of it myself. My first attempts to hire licensed contractors yielded people that didn't actually want to repair anything; just slap some siding over it and charge me thousand$. They were pushy and arrogant and I was very dissatisfied with their open ended ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) proposals that required large (tens of thousands of dollars) retainers. OK I can do better.
I made a plan and lined up some unskilled labor ( my buddies and some guys I hired at the Home Depot loading dock; there's guys there every day looking for work and they'll bust their heinies for a few hundred dollars). Stripped two layers of siding and all the sheathing. The sheathing was still wet and there was extensive mold damage. Treated everything with fungicide, did a few small repairs while the walls were open, installed R13 insulation (there was NO insulation), installed new sheathing (the good stuff CDX "Sheathing rated" plywood), flashing, housewrap, flash tape, NEW drip rails, NO LEAKS finally.
Now I'm interviewing siding contractors. Everything is 100% kosher and ALL I need is siding. Well, they want to use THEIR sheathing (can't explain why) and THEIR housewrap (Tyvek isn't good enough?) . They want to rip ALL the flashing off (now that it finally doesn't leak) and basically just cram it right back up my ***.
You can't win at this game. Bottom line is that I don't trust their craftsmanship after being burned before. Maybe I'm going to end up hiring more guys at Home Depot. Yelp has nothing but glowing reviews, even for contractors I know for a fact are shady. They don't want to fix anything; they just want to make money.
There's a lot of steps to this job so I was ready to hire multiple contractors and/or coordinate some of it myself. My first attempts to hire licensed contractors yielded people that didn't actually want to repair anything; just slap some siding over it and charge me thousand$. They were pushy and arrogant and I was very dissatisfied with their open ended ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) proposals that required large (tens of thousands of dollars) retainers. OK I can do better.
I made a plan and lined up some unskilled labor ( my buddies and some guys I hired at the Home Depot loading dock; there's guys there every day looking for work and they'll bust their heinies for a few hundred dollars). Stripped two layers of siding and all the sheathing. The sheathing was still wet and there was extensive mold damage. Treated everything with fungicide, did a few small repairs while the walls were open, installed R13 insulation (there was NO insulation), installed new sheathing (the good stuff CDX "Sheathing rated" plywood), flashing, housewrap, flash tape, NEW drip rails, NO LEAKS finally.
Now I'm interviewing siding contractors. Everything is 100% kosher and ALL I need is siding. Well, they want to use THEIR sheathing (can't explain why) and THEIR housewrap (Tyvek isn't good enough?) . They want to rip ALL the flashing off (now that it finally doesn't leak) and basically just cram it right back up my ***.
You can't win at this game. Bottom line is that I don't trust their craftsmanship after being burned before. Maybe I'm going to end up hiring more guys at Home Depot. Yelp has nothing but glowing reviews, even for contractors I know for a fact are shady. They don't want to fix anything; they just want to make money.
I am so glad I can fix it myself. Roof it, wire it, paint it, plumb it, resurface floor, whatever.
The most unamusing thing I have seen is the house I bought around 1995 from some contractors. The house was built about 1925 and moved to the site about 1970 or so.
While doing a house addition and replacing the electrical I realize that there was no ground at the panel and the gound clamp I saw connecting to the sink pipes did not really go anywhere.
Sure fixed my RF interference problems when I replaced the original panel and grounded properly.
The most unamusing thing I have seen is the house I bought around 1995 from some contractors. The house was built about 1925 and moved to the site about 1970 or so.
While doing a house addition and replacing the electrical I realize that there was no ground at the panel and the gound clamp I saw connecting to the sink pipes did not really go anywhere.
Sure fixed my RF interference problems when I replaced the original panel and grounded properly.
I can fix many things myself. I worked as an electrician as a second (weekend) job for years. I have personally seen many, many ungrounded electrical panels. I have seen ground wires hooked to pipes that were isolated from ground by non conducting connectors, and many ground wires left unconnected by the plumber.
It's usually a plumber or a painter that screws up the ground connection. Hands off guys!
I saw bare THN or THHN run through walls many times. I have seen whole additions to houses wired that way, or else wired to the wrong code (you have to use EMT here, no exceptions). I have seen wrong connectors, kinked EMT, EMT cut with a hacksaw and not reamed; I've seen mistakes, oversights, and fudging in original unmolested wiring too.
I can't work like I used to. I'm visually impaired which makes wiring tricky now. I'm basically Mr. Magoo except I don't drive any more. But I did a whole lot of the work on this project, including some of the demolition, most of the clean up, and all of the planning and coordination. And it looks like I'm going to have to be a siding installation coordinator as well; I was really hoping to let the pros handle it but if they're going to douche me out then hey screw em I'll do that too. I just can't stand when some smarmy young salesman talks to me like I'm stupid, because I'm not stupid. Being old does not automatically make you stupid! Some day the joke will be on them.
It's usually a plumber or a painter that screws up the ground connection. Hands off guys!
I saw bare THN or THHN run through walls many times. I have seen whole additions to houses wired that way, or else wired to the wrong code (you have to use EMT here, no exceptions). I have seen wrong connectors, kinked EMT, EMT cut with a hacksaw and not reamed; I've seen mistakes, oversights, and fudging in original unmolested wiring too.
I can't work like I used to. I'm visually impaired which makes wiring tricky now. I'm basically Mr. Magoo except I don't drive any more. But I did a whole lot of the work on this project, including some of the demolition, most of the clean up, and all of the planning and coordination. And it looks like I'm going to have to be a siding installation coordinator as well; I was really hoping to let the pros handle it but if they're going to douche me out then hey screw em I'll do that too. I just can't stand when some smarmy young salesman talks to me like I'm stupid, because I'm not stupid. Being old does not automatically make you stupid! Some day the joke will be on them.
And when I worked as an electrician, I was working for a group that did gut rehabs to beautiful old Chicago buildings. They made major changes to the architecture and structures of these buildings, like removing parts of floors to make two and three story ceilings, removing the concrete basement floor and repouring it so they could have 8 foot ceilings in the rooms, and of course 100% new utilities. They were converting old apartment buildings into lavish upscale condos; two or three units would be combined into one large unit. I learned a whole lot just being there while the work was done.
Those “home improvement contractors” are absolutely the worst - in terms of workmanship and price. I’m expecting to put in about $200k finishing out the interior of my Barndo and shop - doing every last 2x4, electrical box, water line, fixture and piece of sheetrock myself. From the prices I’ve been quoted, hiring it all out would be in the neighborhood of $600k.
I found a landscaper last year by word of mouth. For $400 he pruned my tree real nice and removed the last of the ugly old bushes, stumps and all. I planted new (small) bushes and I'm pretty happy with the result. Humble and hardworking he was; I really like him.
I can't accept that there are no siding contractors that meet my criteria. As much as I loathe this process of soliciting bids, I will try a couple more guys. I'm looking for cement fiber siding like Hardie board, and I guess only certain (prima donna) contractors deal with it.
I can't accept that there are no siding contractors that meet my criteria. As much as I loathe this process of soliciting bids, I will try a couple more guys. I'm looking for cement fiber siding like Hardie board, and I guess only certain (prima donna) contractors deal with it.
If you or I tried to install Hardie board we’d probably lose 1/3 of it to waste. Too easy to break handling from one end, and you need the right tools. They have you over a barrel and they know it. If you could find a good crew of 3 or 4 guys who will work for $200 a day each cash under the table you might be getting somewhere. You could provide set of hands number four.
Myself and a neighbour installed imitation wood siding from LP on my 2 story garage/loft a few years ago. I liked it more than hardie board. We used typar house wrap over 1/2” exterior ply, did not want to cheap out using OSB which most new builds use because it’s much cheaper.
We also did the window trim, I used silicone to seal the windows before and after the trim. Glad I did it before Covid hit as cost must have gone up substantially
Good luck
We also did the window trim, I used silicone to seal the windows before and after the trim. Glad I did it before Covid hit as cost must have gone up substantially
Good luck
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That's sure how they act.
What kind of "imitation wood siding" is there? I'm so disgusted I just might put real wood siding up there.
I just don't want cheap looking vinyl siding on my house. There's some real ugly siding in my neighborhood; especially the colors that some of it fades to! Just six years ago my neighbor's cheap vinyl siding was a smart blue color; now it's faded to Pink Panther Pink with a tinge of orange. Such an ugly color!
I agree I did not want to cheap out in vinyl siding either but it’s the most economical stuff out there
We have a local skilled handyman whose motto, painted on his truck, is "I Repair What Your Husband Fixed"
Geoff
Geoff
The only pic I have on my phone showing some of the siding we installed and other stuff like the metal work, fm antennas, Bell internet modem and the robins nest on the down spout 🙂
I did not know what bursitis was until it happened to me. Up and down the ladders many times, standing on them is hard on an old man. It has cleared up but it’s still there.
Enjoy
I did not know what bursitis was until it happened to me. Up and down the ladders many times, standing on them is hard on an old man. It has cleared up but it’s still there.
Enjoy
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I'd be wary of doing this on a project that involves ladders - strictly from an accident/insurance/lawsuit risk.
If you want to do everything risk free, then you’re free to pay the crazy prices. Just remember you only get 60% of that back when you go to sell.
You should have seen the precarious positions I had a ladder in when pruning trees after a horrific windstorm a month or two ago. People were cruising the streets offering to “take down those limbs for $500” - And that was for the EASY jobs where they would be in and out in an hour. Some people had multiple thousands worth of clean up work to do. Wasn‘t easy, or safe, but I managed to get all mine done for just 2 days of sweat instead of a few thousand bucks.
You should have seen the precarious positions I had a ladder in when pruning trees after a horrific windstorm a month or two ago. People were cruising the streets offering to “take down those limbs for $500” - And that was for the EASY jobs where they would be in and out in an hour. Some people had multiple thousands worth of clean up work to do. Wasn‘t easy, or safe, but I managed to get all mine done for just 2 days of sweat instead of a few thousand bucks.
Well, after reading this one, I'm pretty well ..... I have a tile roof - Monier 100s. I believe the usual construction, tar paper over plywood, with retainer strips on each row. Terminates at a vertical board about 1.5" above the end of the ply, onto which the gutter is installed.
The problem is, some of those Monier's upstairs leak. Water flows underneath, finds its way around the strips to get to the bottom of the "underlayment", upon which it drops down into the - I guess - ridge ceiling boards, where the strip vents are. Never makes it into the gutter, 1" or so above and on the other side of that vertical board.
Seems like one of those "planned obsolescence" designs, wherein as the roofing material begins to deteriorate, it's setup to take the rest of the house with it. I'm pretty sure if it was shingles over the tar paper, the gutter would have been arranged to catch the water, rather than have it pour inside the ridge ceiling. Why was any leakage through the cement tiles not accommodated into the gutter as well? They bothered to tar paper the plywood underneath - so where does the water go, that protecting the plywood from is necessary?
There's also most severe leaking at the corners, where a series of ridge cap stones terminate. Someone tried a repair, where they tarred the cut tiles underneath the caps to the ridge board. My theory is the water runs along those retainer strips over to the ridge board, then runs down to the corner, where it simply dumps into the ceiling boards - also never making it to the gutter.
Teenager took a bite from a wasp today, as we were disassembling the last couple rows to assess - tar paper all curled, warped under the last row, along with evidence of lots of flow going on underneath the tiles. The "you're dead if there's a leak up above" design just boggles my mind...
The problem is, some of those Monier's upstairs leak. Water flows underneath, finds its way around the strips to get to the bottom of the "underlayment", upon which it drops down into the - I guess - ridge ceiling boards, where the strip vents are. Never makes it into the gutter, 1" or so above and on the other side of that vertical board.
Seems like one of those "planned obsolescence" designs, wherein as the roofing material begins to deteriorate, it's setup to take the rest of the house with it. I'm pretty sure if it was shingles over the tar paper, the gutter would have been arranged to catch the water, rather than have it pour inside the ridge ceiling. Why was any leakage through the cement tiles not accommodated into the gutter as well? They bothered to tar paper the plywood underneath - so where does the water go, that protecting the plywood from is necessary?
There's also most severe leaking at the corners, where a series of ridge cap stones terminate. Someone tried a repair, where they tarred the cut tiles underneath the caps to the ridge board. My theory is the water runs along those retainer strips over to the ridge board, then runs down to the corner, where it simply dumps into the ceiling boards - also never making it to the gutter.
Teenager took a bite from a wasp today, as we were disassembling the last couple rows to assess - tar paper all curled, warped under the last row, along with evidence of lots of flow going on underneath the tiles. The "you're dead if there's a leak up above" design just boggles my mind...
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Yeah... I didn't know what tendonitis was until it happened to me either. Turns out removing popcorn ceiling, mudding, sanding, and painting a 1200 sq ft house will do that. I'm pleased with the result and the tendonitis is mostly gone though.
Tom
Well I can source everything locally and I'm going to scout around for a crew to install it. The Hardie board is cheaper than wood.
There is a house in my neighborhood that had the worst siding and trim. There were large varmint holes patched with scraps of aluminum trim. The trim was hanging off the house and everything wood was thoroughly rotted. The attic was wide open for all types of varmints from hornets to raccoons. I can't imagine living in that house but apparently someone does.
We were walking by that house the other day and there was someone putting up aluminum fascia and soffits with a makeshift scaffold and a hammer. The rotten wood had all been replaced. I went by there today and most of the work is already done. There's housewrap on the gable and it's ready for siding. The guy wasn't there. I saw him Saturday and Sunday. Maybe he's moonlighting. I'm going to keep my eye open for him and hopefully hire him to do my job.
I know those Yelp 5-star contractors were going to give me the Prison Rape special. Upsell everything, charge a fortune for everything, don't worry Grampa you'll love it $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I'll get pics of the project from my buddy.
There is a house in my neighborhood that had the worst siding and trim. There were large varmint holes patched with scraps of aluminum trim. The trim was hanging off the house and everything wood was thoroughly rotted. The attic was wide open for all types of varmints from hornets to raccoons. I can't imagine living in that house but apparently someone does.
We were walking by that house the other day and there was someone putting up aluminum fascia and soffits with a makeshift scaffold and a hammer. The rotten wood had all been replaced. I went by there today and most of the work is already done. There's housewrap on the gable and it's ready for siding. The guy wasn't there. I saw him Saturday and Sunday. Maybe he's moonlighting. I'm going to keep my eye open for him and hopefully hire him to do my job.
I know those Yelp 5-star contractors were going to give me the Prison Rape special. Upsell everything, charge a fortune for everything, don't worry Grampa you'll love it $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I'll get pics of the project from my buddy.
I couldnt get a 25ft piece of tar paper in place in a light rain - breeze enough to tear it before I could make it manageable. Had to backpedal and take it down. Had the thought occurrence that I didnt want to become another ladder casualty those folks working in the ER talk about. Wet, frustrated, hurried - better to just roll it back up and wait for tomorrow. I did paint a coat of deck sealant on the plywood, just before it rained, from about the last rung down to the nasty edge.
Yeah I don't like ladders. Before I lost weight I didn't have good balance at all. But lately I've spent some quality time on the ladder. It's good for my strength and balance and I feel like I've been lifting weights after a few days on the ladder.
Don't want to fall off. I already did that a couple decades back and it messed my knee up real good.
I'm never tired, never hurried on the ladder. It's just get er done and if it gets too windy, or it starts raining, or I get tired and lose focus, I come down. I can still feel my operation when I'm up there for a while (mesh) and I don't like that. But as long as I don't fall off, it makes me stronger. And that's my game now on a daily basis - use it or lose it. Walk walk walk, do big heavy projects, it all makes me stronger.
Don't want to fall off. I already did that a couple decades back and it messed my knee up real good.
I'm never tired, never hurried on the ladder. It's just get er done and if it gets too windy, or it starts raining, or I get tired and lose focus, I come down. I can still feel my operation when I'm up there for a while (mesh) and I don't like that. But as long as I don't fall off, it makes me stronger. And that's my game now on a daily basis - use it or lose it. Walk walk walk, do big heavy projects, it all makes me stronger.