Replacement windows and siding begin

[Bamaram]

Hello everyone. I've been following several threads here for quite a while now. I've really enjoyed Obed and PClausen's threads dealing with home building. I've noticed the community here has been great to offer useful suggestions and years of knowledge. I do not have near as interesting of a project as those guys, but I still need the community's help. I have searched through several contractors and finally found a well known and trusted one. The guy has been in business over 40 years and is the most preferred by several general contractors and other tradesmen in the area. What a process that was! He will be starting tomorrow replacing 24 windows and installing Mitten vinyl siding over the entire house, new gutters, and shutters. There will also be various other additions such as new lights, railing, and landscape lighting. Here is a little background and project scope. We bought the 2500 square feet house over a year ago in foreclosure knowing this was going to be something we would deal with. My wife and I went into this home knowing we wanted to upgrade and add our own touch. Currently we have old wood windows and Masonite siding. We enclosed all but three of the sun room windows on the back of the house as it was poorly constructed and in serious need of repair. We also had to rebuild the chimney and replace the roof and several sheets of decking. I had a local roofing company replace the tired old 3 tab shingles with GAF HD shingles 3 months ago. I plan on posting several current pictures as well as documenting the process over the next week or more. I'll be asking for everyone's opinion on what is going on and any potential problems anyone may see. In short, pictures, pictures, pictures! With that said, to the pictures we go!

Here is the home before enclosing the sun room and replacing the roof.









With new roof installed.



With sun room enclosed and chimney rebuilt. The three middle windows will be have new construction windows installed.



A new chimney topper will be installed as well.


A few various close up shots.





For the record, I wasn't the lazy bum who put a vent in the crawlspace vent.














Now to the absolute UGLY!


If I did not have to clean it up, I'd throw a framing hammer through this thing. This window will be enclosed. It is part of my next project to remodel the master bath.

All advice is highly appreciated! I will post photos of tomorrow's progress and check in frequently to answer any questions and gain knowledge! Thanks in advance!

 

[Bamaram]

Today was a little slow getting everything setup and all the material here. All twenty four windows were removed and the new were set in place. Here are a few pictures of today's events.

Windows being installed.


Removing some rotten wood.


New windows in the sun room.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

People do some silly things. One of our houses we bought to fix up and resell had an outlet hooked up a crawl space vent. Cut the vent screen so you could plug cords into it.

Replacement windows are a very simple item, not too much to mess up if they are ordered the correct size. Most have adjustment screws in the middle that you screw out till they contact the wood so that the vinyl can't spread and allow air to pass through as easily. The two biggest things is to make sure the windows are pushed out all the way to the stops and that they work freely. What type of insulation are they using around them?

 

[Bamaram]

People do some silly things. One of our houses we bought to fix up and resell had an outlet hooked up a crawl space vent. Cut the vent screen so you could plug cords into it.

Replacement windows are a very simple item, not too much to mess up if they are ordered the correct size. Most have adjustment screws in the middle that you screw out till they contact the wood so that the vinyl can't spread and allow air to pass through as easily. The two biggest things is to make sure the windows are pushed out all the way to the stops and that they work freely. What type of insulation are they using around them?

You are very right! Our house was very neglected on the outside and in the sun room. The rest of the home has been better maintained, but that is not saying a lot! The insulation going up is ABT Advanced Wrap found here ABT Foam, Advanced Wrap, fanfold insulation, home insulation, EPS insulation.

the windows are finished up and the two crews began siding work today. Interesting how simple the siding goes up and how precise the cuts have to be. That stuff really hides all the imperfections from the old Masonite. I'll have more pictures this afternoon.

 

[Bamaram]

Day 2 got under way but one crew had to leave early, so progress wasn't as much as I'd hoped to see. Does anyone have any incite on just how fast a crew of two men should move? I feel the crews are moving adequately and if it takes a little longer than expected, but a quality job is produced I'm okay with that. I broke out the cheap Harbor Freight paint sprayer this morning and sprayed my house panel, crawlspace access, and crawlspace vents. I was impressed with the results. Now, if the sprayer will work again, is another matter! I'll post those pictures tomorrow.

Supplies


Up close shot of the insulation


First crew's half day progress










Second crew's half day progress

 

[MacLawn]

Beautiful house, Bama! I like the grey siding too.

 

[creekbend]

That is a fine looking Home. After all the projects are completed, You and your Wife will have a Home that anyone would be proud to own. Best wishes. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Bamaram]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. It has been a long road to here, but hard work, perseverance, and faith in God make anything possible. I worked until after dark yesterday so the following are pictures from today. We are going to be battling rain tomorrow and Saturday, but maybe the guys will be able to get a few hours in.

 

[Tony_S]

I couldn't resist after how lovingly you spoke of that window!

 

[Bamaram]

I couldn't resist after how lovingly you spoke of that window! View attachment 315995

Haha! I'm so glad that thing is gone. When you look at listings and see a stain glass window you expect something other than that! One of the workers said he would take it if I didn't want it. To say I was glad to see it go is a huge understatement!

 

[Bamaram]

The rain held off long enough today to get almost a whole day of work in. They are closing in on finishing the siding. The gutter guy came by today to take measurements and the shutters arrived this afternoon. I doubt any work will be done this weekend as a huge weather front is coming in. Here is today's progress!

 

[dave1949]

You are making that into a fine looking house. Good job.

 

[davedj1]

I'm not a huge fan of novelty siding but it looks like they are doing a nice job and it's really transforming your home. It's amazing what different color schemes can do for a place. Nice choices.

 

[Bamaram]

The rain really slowed work this weekend and completely stopped it today. The crew supposedly will finish hanging the siding tomorrow as long as the weather holds up. I've decided to have them cover my small barn, so one crew will be around a little longer. The gutter guy is due later this week as well. I have a couple of questions for everyone here. Check the last two pictures. Any advice is very appreciated.







Now for the questions.

These three windows are new construction type. They are in the old sunroom. Should these windows have grey trim around them? I hung a piece up beside them for reference.



The next is a section of the roof where the shingles were cut short. Should this section be turned under the shingles instead of the "Z" shape? With gutters this maybe fine.

Profile


Close up

 

[BuilderML]

Bamaram,
You just had the roof redone. Any reason why a drip edge was not installed? Personally i don't like the "z" type bend and in your case could of been avoided.
This applies for both the the rake end and the eves. I am not a fan of going over old siding. Why was it not removed? Also when they did the roof did they replace the step flashing? Or did they reuse the old one? You just installed 30 yr plus products and if they reused the old aluminum step flash again thats something i would not of done. Just my 2 cents. The reason foam is used over your existing type of siding is to give them a flat surface for the new siding. Yes it does give you alittle extra insulation but its not the reason it is used. After looking at the pictures quickly looks like things are good. Again my question are just that. Not trying to say good or bad. Everyone has there own ways of doing things. I don't like covering up the old unless there is a good reason for it.

 

[Bamaram]

Bamaram,
You just had the roof redone. Any reason why a drip edge was not installed? Personally i don't like the "z" type bend and in your case could of been avoided.
This applies for both the the rake end and the eves. I am not a fan of going over old siding. Why was it not removed? Also when they did the roof did they replace the step flashing? Or did they reuse the old one? You just installed 30 yr plus products and if they reused the old aluminum step flash again thats something i would not of done. Just my 2 cents. The reason foam is used over your existing type of siding is to give them a flat surface for the new siding. Yes it does give you alittle extra insulation but its not the reason it is used. After looking at the pictures quickly looks like things are good. Again my question are just that. Not trying to say good or bad. Everyone has there own ways of doing things. I don't like covering up the old unless there is a good reason for it.

Builder, I was hoping you would see this thread and reply. I read through your comments on PClausen's thread not too long ago and found them interesting. Of course as luck would have it, I read through those comments about a week after the roof went on. I'm new to the siding world and hadn't heard of the drip edge vs "Z" method. I would have liked to have the drip edge installed as it does seem like a superior method. The step flashing was removed and replaced in some areas and left in others. Some of the areas it was obvious it needed replacing because of water infiltration and bends. Other areas it looked as if it were new, so it was left and everything got ice/water shield over it as well as synthetic felt. My contractor was up front about leaving the siding and using the foam board. He mentioned you get a little R value, but it is mainly for the flat surface. He felt the old siding was in good enough shape that it did not need removing. I'm sure labor and dump cost played a role in this, but I figured what is one more layer going to hurt? There was only one trouble spot that somewhat worried me, but I was told there was no actual rot just swelling of the old siding. What would be your motive for removing the old siding? I assume you get a completely flat surface when doing this.

 

[BuilderML]

Hi Bamaram,
The extra layer won't hurt anything. The main reason i like to remove the existing siding is so i can see if any water damage has happened and any other problems. Another reason i like to remove it is because your existing windows will look like they are sunken into the siding unless they build them out prior to the aluminum trim. I just don't like that look but like i said its just me and the way i do things. Another reason is a new building wrap could of been installed and all the seams taped. Your water and ice could of been curled up onto the house wall. You are down south so this may not be common practice down your way. Up here we don't worry so much with the rain as we do the ice. Ice works its way back up into every nuck and cranny.
Bamaram i just completed an addition and i'll try to take a picture of how we do the trim on the rake end and post it.

 

[Bamaram]

The crew finished up the siding today and what an absolute difference it has made! I don't think anything could have possibly went any better. The gutter guy is due in the morning and other than a little caulk that will be it. If anyone is looking for a window or siding contractor message me and I'll send you his information. Check out the finished product.

 

[BuilderML]

I am glad all went well.:thumbsup:

 

[mkane09]

Boy, it looks great!

mkane09