Siding suggestions

Jc05 · #1 01/30/07, 10:43 AM

Our old house has some kind of cement shingle siding on it. It was built in the 1930's, and has numerous cracks we would like to maybe take off the shingles, put some kind of insulation in and re-side. I'm not too much of a mechanic when it comes to cars, but with the right equipment, I can do an okay job when it comes with wood. I was thinking of maybe board and batten?

If I hired out, what would be the cheapest siding to have installed?

Bearfootfarm · #2 01/30/07, 10:55 AM

Whatever you like will work fine. For long term value, vinyl would probably be cheapest to have done. Those old cement shingles may have asbestos in them though, so keep that in mind before you start tearing them off

CatsPaw · #3 01/30/07, 12:42 PM

My first thought is asbestos. I've never run into an old siding shingle like that that wasn't asbestos.

Some people will handle it by siding over it, and by theory, encapsulating it. Other will have it removed. Can be very expensive.

Check it out before deciding on the new siding.

Ramblin Wreck · #4 01/30/07, 01:32 PM

I think the existing siding may have asbestos too, at least all that I've seen like that in our area has it. Be careful.

As for replacing it, I like the Hardee Plank (or other cement based plank siding). If properly installed, it looks good, takes paint well, and should last more than one lifetime.

On my personal house, I have Poplar siding that has held up really well. I cut it on the place and had it milled and plained. My garage has pine board and batten that was only milled, not plained. The rougher surface holds pain/stain better. Both types of siding I used have held up well so far.

MaryNY · #5 01/30/07, 01:51 PM

Yup - those "cement" shingles are almost certainly asbestos. They can be covered with other siding, however. Around here you can remove them yourself (as the homeowner), BUT if you hire it done, it must be done by asbestos abatement people. If you pay anyone to remove them -- like your kids or a relative, it must be abated, so relatives can't do it, except if they do it for free.

As to what you could use for siding -- check this out:

http://www.michiganprestain.com/products_shakertown.asp

And this:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:...s&ct=clnk&cd=1

Those shingle panels are the way I would go if I were going to re-side the house.

Good luck!

MaryNY

uncle Will in In. · #6 01/30/07, 01:53 PM

The EPA can get nasty with you if you don't dispose of the old siding to suit them.

Farmerwilly2 · #7 01/30/07, 03:45 PM

Once again the advice of SSS applies------strip,shovel,and shut up about it. It is a mineral product that came from the ground, set it free and return it to the ground it was ripped from. I like to laugh at the folks that act like gazing upon it will turn you to stone or have you coughing your lungs out onsite. Take reasonable precautions, bury it and move on with life. As for what to reside with, that depends on your tastes and your budget.

widfam · #8 01/30/07, 04:36 PM

The siding you have is probably asbestos but don't worry too much about. Just tear it off (comes off fairly easy) dig a hole and bury it. I've handled it many times, even asbestos shingles, just put on a dust mask if you like. As far as re-siding it depends mostly on your budget.

1. Put fan-fold insulation and vinyl siding....it will last your lifetime and budget friendly.

2. Hardee Plank cement siding...will last your lifetime but will need to be repainted in time....unless you really upgrade and buy the prepainted Hardee siding.

3. The suggestion from MARYNY about the cedar shakes would be really great if bought prefinished but you better have a Big pocket book.

4. Board and batten siding looks good if you keep up on the maintenence and there is a lot of that. You use up a whole lot of caulking to try and keep the air gaps out because you should caulk up both sides of every batten you install. Then you have the constant up keep on the wood.

So you have many choices. Think long and hard because you have to live with it and maintain it over the years.

cheryl-tx · #9 01/30/07, 04:50 PM

We used Hardiplank to side our house. The stuff is HEAVY and a bit high cost wise, but we get a discount on the home owners ins and it should last forever, we hope!
We put it on ourselves.

agmantoo · #10 01/30/07, 05:08 PM

You can get a kit at some of the building supply places to make a determination if the material contains asbestos. The kit price was around $35 a couple of years ago. I have seen people install the house wrap and side over the singles. If money is tight I would consider t111 siding and after I got tired of that I would install vinyl siding or whatever. I am into low maintenace!

tiogacounty · #11 01/30/07, 05:28 PM

I know MANY folks who are now dead from asbestosis, including my father. How about a fiber that is so deadly that you end up dying from faithfully washing your husband's work clothes as he unknowingly brought the stuff home, inbedded in his shirts and overalls? How about not having any effects from it for several decades then slowly losing lung capacity and dying because your lungs no longer function? the sad part is that of the many dead and sick I have known, NONE were in a trade that was directly involved with asbestos installation or removal, all received enough "incidental exposure" that it was fatal, electricians, laborers, housewife,etc....
Ripping old asbestos shingles off a house without the proper knowledge and protective equipment is beyond stupid. There is no reason to expose you or your family to a preventable, and extreme hazard. It isn't 1950 anymore. We know darn well that the stuff is toxic, and exposure can lead to a debilating disease and a horrible death. If you have the hillbilly mentality that it's best to rip it off and bury it while nobody is looking, please make sure you are alone. No reason the "kinfolk" need to be exposed to that.

stanb999 · #12 01/30/07, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiogacounty

I know MANY folks who are now dead from asbestosis, including my father. How about a fiber that is so deadly that you end up dying from faithfully washing your husband's work clothes as he unknowingly brought the stuff home, inbedded in his shirts and overalls? How about not having any effects from it for several decades then slowly losing lung capacity and dying because your lungs no longer function? the sad part is that of the many dead and sick I have know, NONE were in a trade that was directly involved with asbestos installation or removal, all received enough "incidental exposure" that it was fatal, electricians, laborers, housewife,etc....
Ripping old asbestos shingles off a house without the proper knowledge and protective equipment is beyond stupid. There is no reason to expose you or your family to a preventable, and extreme hazard. It isn't 1950 anymore. We know darn well that the stuff is toxic, and exposure can lead to a debilating disease and a horrible death. If you have the hillbilly mentality that it's best to rip it off and bury it while nobody is looking, please make sure you are alone. No reason the "kinfolk" need to be exposed to that.

This poster is talking about asbestos insulation.

Asbestos siding and insulation are two very different things. In the siding it is part of a concrete wafer that prevents escape. Unless you were to sand it. You would be fine to remove and dispose of it at the dump or trash hauler. It is not a regulated substance. I'd say remove it if you can because it breaks up as you try to nail over it. So if you were to put vinyl over it could bulge as you go up.

In fact the paint that chips off the house is more dangerous than the siding. So be sure to gather up the paint chips and dispose of them.

Ford8N · #13 01/30/07, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jc05

Our old house has some kind of cement shingle siding on it. It was built in the 1930's, and has numerous cracks we would like to maybe take off the shingles, put some kind of insulation in and re-side. I'm not too much of a mechanic when it comes to cars, but with the right equipment, I can do an okay job when it comes with wood. I was thinking of maybe board and batten?

If I hired out, what would be the cheapest siding to have installed?

I would use the cement fibreboard if you can afford it. Hardee is a brand name, I used an equivalent from Certainteed. You can remove those asbestos shingles and use foam sheeting to cover the old clapboard. The cement board is prefinished and maintenance free. I had the Amish do it. Vinyl siding is half the price in material and labor, but looks cheap and you get what you pay for. If you are going to sell the home soon consider the cheap route or if you on a really tight budget. If you take pride in the home and intend to keep it then don't use vinyl. Just my $.02.

Farmerwilly2 · #14 01/30/07, 05:53 PM

Yea, you're probably right. Maybe he shouldn't take decades to do the job. Maybe a single weekend. Yea, maybe he shouldn't crumble it up and snort lines of it just for a little pick me up. Then again, maybe the global warming/alar-apple/egg-eating/cell phone-radiation/salmonella-cause-you-touched-a-chicken-leg/secondhand-smoke/asteroid-falling-from-the-sky lifestyle will snuff him out long before it's an issue.
Yee-haw.

mtman · #15 01/30/07, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiogacounty

I know MANY folks who are now dead from asbestosis, including my father. How about a fiber that is so deadly that you end up dying from faithfully washing your husband's work clothes as he unknowingly brought the stuff home, inbedded in his shirts and overalls? How about not having any effects from it for several decades then slowly losing lung capacity and dying because your lungs no longer function? the sad part is that of the many dead and sick I have known, NONE were in a trade that was directly involved with asbestos installation or removal, all received enough "incidental exposure" that it was fatal, electricians, laborers, housewife,etc....
Ripping old asbestos shingles off a house without the proper knowledge and protective equipment is beyond stupid. There is no reason to expose you or your family to a preventable, and extreme hazard. It isn't 1950 anymore. We know darn well that the stuff is toxic, and exposure can lead to a debilating disease and a horrible death. If you have the hillbilly mentality that it's best to rip it off and bury it while nobody is looking, please make sure you are alone. No reason the "kinfolk" need to be exposed to that.

if you work with it day in and day out your right 1 tear off isnt going to amount to much

mtman · #16 01/30/07, 05:59 PM

the best advice you got here is to bury it

CatsPaw · #17 01/30/07, 06:14 PM

i was waiting for a chicken little to show up.

certainly be careful how you handle it. in a hard shingle, there should be minimal exposure. might even go with a disposable bunny suit. don't try to bust it up.

i'm still running into all the crap the previous hon-yock that owned my property. if you bury it, bury it in the proper legal places. no point in burying it on your own place.

oh yea....watch out for peanuts while you're at it. they can be a real killers.

TNHermit · #18 01/30/07, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widfam

The siding you have is probably asbestos but don't worry too much about. Just tear it off (comes off fairly easy) dig a hole and bury it. I've handled it many times, even asbestos shingles, just put on a dust mask if you like. As far as re-siding it depends mostly on your budget.

1. Put fan-fold insulation and vinyl siding....it will last your lifetime and budget friendly.

2. Hardee Plank cement siding...will last your lifetime but will need to be repainted in time....unless you really upgrade and buy the prepainted Hardee siding.

3. The suggestion from MARYNY about the cedar shakes would be really great if bought prefinished but you better have a Big pocket book.

4. Board and batten siding looks good if you keep up on the maintenence and there is a lot of that. You use up a whole lot of caulking to try and keep the air gaps out because you should caulk up both sides of every batten you install. Then you have the constant up keep on the wood.

So you have many choices. Think long and hard because you have to live with it and maintain it over the years.

I agree with this guy. Don't try and side over them shingles. I don't belong to Asbestos will kill you crowd if you just take off the siding. I'm still here!!

Like he said wear mask and gloves. If you don't go with Vinyl i would still go with some kind of lap siding. Board and batten is a pain. the battens constantly come and go. I have it on this house and its coming off now. They all have maintenance. You can go with a log look, a channel look or just buy 1 x ? and put it on like with a lap. If ya got a sawmill around you can get rough sawn 5/8. Just sticker and stack outside for a few months. Green wood has to be nailed above the lap so it doesn't split when it shrinks.

Rocky Fields · #19 01/30/07, 06:52 PM

Hey.

Any particulate in the air can cause respiratory duress...wear a respirator to play it safe. It also might be a good idea to hose the siding down to prevent airborne particles. Some garbage services take old shingles without running lab tests first. I wouldn't bury them if you like eating off your land. Also, later you can be held liable for burying hazardous materials. The fine is stiff and cleanup will leave you bankrupt...you never know who might rat you out. There is the possibility of the company who gets the siding job would strip them off for a fee...but they might blow the whistle on you if you don't give them the job and they are asbestos.

Vinyl siding is a cheaper alternative, but a lot of guys try ripping you off. If you're not afraid of heights, it is easy to install yourself.

e.alleg · #20 01/30/07, 07:16 PM

Asbestos is NOT like fiberglass or dust or pollen, the asbestos fibers are barbed like a fish hook. When you inhale them by whatever means there is a possibility that one will get stuck into your lung and coughing won't remove it. If one gets stuck it is a starting point for the cancer to grow. I personally wouldn't mess with it, I bet your state has some type of abatement programs that will help you out in getting it off properly. All it takes is one "OOOPS!! " and you have a dust cloud. If you are bent in doing i t yourself read up on how to do it properly, you will probably have to keep it wet and wear a respirator.