Replies

1. 
   rez | Apr 14, 2002 05:03am | #1

   It can be done but a labor intensive job. You going to do it yourself?

   
   

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   Edited 4/13/2002 10:07:18 PM ET by rez

1. 
   yarrow32 | Apr 14, 2002 03:56pm | #2

   Yes, I'll be doing it myself. Was a framer for seven years, and recently started doing interior trim. It's a nice home but needs a lot of work. We probably won't stay here for long or else I would do everything the right way. For resale value I'm sure new vinyl is the way to go, but I don't have the money or the time to rip everything off and start over. I think it would be a ball however to hunt and peck my way around the house at my leisure replacing bad shingles--just me (maybe the wife), a hammer and cedar, what could be more enjoyable. Of course refinishing the shingles is another story. The shingles in a crawspace under a breakfast nook added later are green, the rest are red.

1. 
   rez | Apr 14, 2002 06:08pm | #3

   Did you buy the house as a fixer-upper to resell? Whole new perspective then. If it's not too bad outside then I would think to concentrate time and money on interior kitchen and bath. You've probably already sweetened the interior trim up. Thing I notice alot in older homes is the folks live in them year after year in lacking niceties then they decide to sell and make these massive involved projects to ready the house for sale and if they had done it to start they could've had the use of the items all that time instead of getting it ready for someone else.

   Edited 4/14/2002 11:19:33 AM ET by rez

2. 
   Qtrmeg | Apr 14, 2002 06:12pm | #4

   I would bet the cedar is toast. I can't believe nailing all over the face of them is a good thing, and I know that replacing an odd shingle or two sticks out like a sore thumb.

   I think you may be at a point where doing the right thing, or doing nothing, is your only reasonable choice.

1. 
   yarrow32 | Apr 15, 2002 01:59am | #5

   Yeah, I sure the cedar is toast, just daydreaming really. Rez, the previous owners completely redid the upstairs including adding a full bath. We've replaced carpet and just need to paint except in the kithchen which at least needs a new counter--I'll try to refinish the oak cabinets. Big issues are the roof which is sagging under two layers of ashpalt on 2x4 rafters, and windows and siding. Probably just better off doing the cosmetic things and getting out. Nice house though, and good location, hate to do that.

1. 
   Qtrmeg | Apr 15, 2002 02:19am | #6

   Good plan Y, if you dig in you will never see your money come back. If you were going to stay you might have a case, (of ongoing insanity).

3. 
   rjw | Apr 15, 2002 02:35am | #7

   Think of all of the nail holes to fill from the vinyl application.  Personally, I never had much luck with filling holes in cedar shingles, or at least in having the filler last very long (although it's been a long time since I tried).

   Also, for the roof.  Skip sheathing with the original cedar shingles and a few layers of asphalt on top aren't uncommon in SE Michigan & NW Ohio, even with 2x4 rafters with one heck of a long span! 

   Take a good hard look at the roof.  Next time it needs it it'll be a total tearoff, resheathing with OSB or plywood, and new shingles added.  These days you're looking at about $250/sq +/- installed in these parts.  Depending on the rafters, you might not have to do anything with them.  Good illustration about how (i) wood quality has deteriorated and (ii) engineers have taken control of things!

1. 
   AlanSenoj | Apr 15, 2002 09:39am | #8

   FWIW,  folks at the end of our block bought the old rundown rental house and fixed it up.  It is a craftsman style bungalo. They tore off the aluminum siding to expose the cedar shingle side walls. Hired a couple of guys to replace maybe a hundred or so shingles, mostly corners and along the bottom.  Repainted, fixed up the front porch, good taste in colours). She got offered a job in Cal. and they left after only a year in the house but at least 50K ahead. Alan Jones

1. 
   yarrow32 | Apr 16, 2002 09:13pm | #9

   Thanks for the info All. Bob, I'm in S.W. Mich., thanks for the numbers. Looks like the reroof is gotta happen this summer (I'll wait till Aug. and hope for a week or two without rain.) I've been pricing shingles, but can you believe I hadn't thought about replacing the skip sheathing. Guess you can't shingle over that. Since I'm down to the rafters, seems like I should lay along side some 2x8's and try to get some venting. Wanna talk ice damns? How about some more dormers, skylights, where do you stop. Part of me wants to stay here forever.

   Alan, thanks for the hope. I won't plan on it working for me, but next year when I can afford new vinyl (I hate even saying that word) I'll start tearing off the old and maybe I'll get lucky.

1. 
   rjw | Apr 17, 2002 04:33am | #10

   I guess I wasn't clear; typically around here we don't remove the skip sheathing; just lay OSB on top of it (after the asphalt and cedar shingle tear off.)