Contemporary Farmhouse – High End Vinyl Siding???
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It’s time to reside our farm house that I built in the 80s. We are going to add an addition on one end and this would be the time to replace the cedar that requires a lot maintenance here in central NC.
I’m trying to work through the siding/trim details with my wife and would like to use high end vinyl on the house. The way that the sun here bakes the cedar, I would really like to find an example of a ‘contemporary white farm house’ to show her, as white vinyl would certainly minimize the risk of any fading over the years.
Any ideas of sites that might have pictures of such projects?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Picture attached (I hope).
Thanks!
Replies
I assume you're looking for 4-6" exposure & a standard lap style (not ship/dutch)?
I still don't understand how folks manage to start threads under two different topics like this.
My bad...
I started the thread in General Discussion, then realized it might be more appropriate in Design Talk. It looked like the software would so an auto re-route. I'll go back to Gen Disc to check.
Bill D
OK, I'd wondered how people caused this to happen. Apparently it's post, then go back and edit your post to change the group it's in. This wonderful software creates a second thread without deleting the first.
keeping the house right for the setting...
Your house currently has kinda a authentic look - so to speak. I like that! Also though, I can understand your dislike for exterior house maintenance.
Re the siding itself, if you want better quality vinyl, get something around .050" thick. Royal siding is one that I have used. It comes in different grades. I think that a 4" to 5" clapboard style would fit your house style well. Smaller exposure siding gets busy on a house of that size and larger is not good for other reasons. Wood grain tends to look a little better but needs to be power washed more often and is a little more difficult to clean.
Another thought would be to use cement board siding and paint with a very high end paint like Sherman Willimas Duration.
Here is a vinyl soffit material that would fit nicely:
http://www.certainteed.com/products/vinyl-siding/vertical-siding/310365
It looks really good - many people mistake it for wood. - OK people uneducated in such things... It comes in both vented and unvented so it is good for proch celings, eaves, etc. It is really dificult to see the vents. I have used it on my last personal house as well as other people's homes. Too bad it doesn't come in light blue - I like that look on porches.
Re the rest of the house I'd look cloesly at what siding accessories are available too. If you do it right it will hardly look like vinyl and you can retain a lot of that "authentic" feel. Things like larger corner posts and less use of 'J' channel gets rid of the "cheap" look. Which brings me to may main point...
If there is one thing I can't stand is seeing a house that looks like it belongs in a subdivision stuck out on some acerage... The "snout house" design is the worse - you know - the ones that have the garage stuck out front because the design is really for a 60' wide lot.... I think you see what I mean. So, design your addition and exterior upgrades so that your "new house" will continue to look like it belongs.... I'd be careful with the faux stone and/or shakes - if there is one thing that screems subdivision is a strip of stone, brick, or shakes up the front. Don't get me wrong - I live in a subdivision.... It's just that a house needs to fit it's surroundings.
Re the vinyl shakes - some look good and some dont. If you really think you want that be sure and go look at a house that has the material installed on it. With some, it is difficult to tell them from cedar shakes (again to an un-trained eye), and some just scream plastic.
BTW - I'm in Raleigh.
All good advice...
Matt,
Thanks. I really like the triple 2 beaded soffit material.
I agree about the J bead. I particularly dislike the look of white J bead with a different color siding.
At the rakes I'm thinking about a frieze board that is shimmed out to create a space for the siding to tuck behind. Probably similar details around windows. The half round windows have me stumped regarding how to trim them out in PVC. The half round on the front of the house has to stay, but since I'll be replacing windows, the other two half rounds could be changed to rectangular.
There are a lot of houses with vinyl shakes at the beach. Some of it looks like vinyl, and some of it you really have to look hard to tell (when driving by anyway). I think that CertainTeed has a nice shake.
I'll post elevations when I get them drawn. The original drawings were drafted (pencil), so I'll have to start from scratch on cad this time.
Thanks, neighbor. (We're a little east of Raleigh.)
Bill D
Trimming 1/2 round windows, etc..
I think we agreed on the need to try and stay away from J-channel, but the only way I know to trim out a 1/2 round window with vinyl siding is that siding supply houses sell a flexible (rubber like) J-channel - in order to be sure the water doesn't penetrate the building at that point. Either that, or make something out of PVC but I'm not sure how that would channel the water away. This could get pretty pricey if you had to buy PVC sheet goods - depending on the thickness they are around $200 a sheet. It seems like it would be possible to heat and bend a PVC 1x4 or 1x6 but I've never done it or know it to be done.
I think the window trim you have now adds signfiicantly to what I called the "authentic" look. The front porch too.
If you are not too far from Raleigh, and need a reference for a vinyl subcontractor I know a great one who is reasonably priced. No, not my bro in law or anything like that just a reliable sub who I have used a number of times on new homes. The salesmen I deal with has actually installed a fair amount of siding, and you can actually have intelligent conversations with him about what you want for the end product and what materials could be used to accomplish that. They are very mindfull of preventing water intrusion and they are serious about standing behind their warranties.
Re the design of the addition, in the pic you posted, would the addition go on the right side of the pic or what? I assume the left side is the garage...
Trimming 1/2 round...
Royal has some PVC trim with integral J that is about 4" wide on the exposed face which would be perfect. When I did a google search, a hit on 'Contractor Talk" seemed to indicate that you can order PVC heated and formed to custom radii for maybe $200 a window. I've got some more online research to do, but it sounds like I can get this bent to the radii that I need.
I'll replace the existing Andersen windows with a good vinyl double hung. I'm thinking of Simonton, but I'm open to suggestions.
With fins on the windows, I can use the Tyvek tape that's made to go around round windows (the wrinkly stuff). Lapping the housewrap over the fin on the top of the window, then installing the PVC with inegral J over the housewrap/Tyvek tape.
I would appreciate the name of the sub. I'll PM you.
The addition will go on the right hand side. The left is the garage, with living space above.
Right now I'm thinking that the addition that attaches to the house will be about a 16' x 16' den with the ridge line oriented the same as the main roof on the existing house, then having a 14' x 22' guest bedroom/bathroom with the ridge turned 90 degrees to sort of mirror the portion of the house with the fan over the half round.
I'm going to try and build the bedroom and/or bathroom using the storm room details that FEMA has on their website.
Thanks,
Bill
Adding another forward facing gable
Personally I think adding another front gable might detract from the current central focal point of the porch, pallidum window, and forward gable there by loosing some of the current "authentic look". Particurally if the new gable is wider (larger) than the existing gable. That is just my opinion though. I'm tired of these subdivision houses with all the front facing gables. I live in one... Wife loves subdivisions though.... Attached is a pic. I'd characterize it as NO focal point. There is more to a house than a front facade though....
OTOH, I really didn't understand some of:
"Right now I'm thinking that the addition that attaches to the house will be about a 16' x 16' den with the ridge line oriented the same as the main roof on the existing house, then having a 14' x 22' guest bedroom/bathroom with the ridge turned 90 degrees to sort of mirror the portion of the house with the fan over the half round."
Are both of these areas on the same level or are they to be stacked on one another? Or you saying the the addition you are proposing is to be 30' wide by 22' deep and in the shape of an 'L'? What is the width of the garage "wing". 24' I'm guessing? What is the sidth of the existing front gable portion of the house (foyer?) maybe 12' I'm guessing....
Good point, but
If you look at the picture of my house again, to the right you'll a nice sized oak. This picture was taken in the winter.
The addition will be behind that oak. So for most of the year the addition will be screened. The addition will only be one story. This one story forward facing gable would be 14' wide on the front face.
I've been swamped with other projects. I'll post a drawing soon.
Bill