Here are some pix of a house I’m buying in Oakland, CA. I’m converting it from lower-end rentals to medium-end condos. As such it is in need of a new exterior (and new windows, but I covered that in a different discussion). I’ve had one estimate of about $25,000 to put stucco over the existing siding. I don’t want to remove any existing siding. What are my other reasonably priced options? I’ve been thinking about fiber cement, shingle boards, and masonite boards. Any other ideas? Anywhere I can find a good comparison (w/ costs) of different siding choices? (Note: I’ll be keeping the T-111 siding on the back of the house and residing only the other three sides). I’m undecided on if I want to do the installation myself or contract it out.
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Would you consider siding the building in AOL CDs? I must have a couple of hundred CDs from obsolete programs, AOL and other ISPs. If everyone shipped their old CDs your way you should end up with enough for the walls and likely a reroofing job.
You could go for the painted side in a tribute to Monet of go for the high tech shiny look. Interesting patterns would be easy to create. With an exposure of just under 2" you will have something close to triple coverage and possible energy savings.
You would be doing the entire computing world a favor finding a useful outlet for these discs that are not worth running but too valuable to throw away. Just give the word and I will start the spamming for CDs. The shipments could be there in just a day or two. :)
You post isn't as far fetched as it may sound. Check out:
http://chumor.vo.llnw.net/adult_cdn/01068ABAASQAAAB0DjmnPDR0zHrABW5XkKyncXT6n7I5V3iXsBmCVq8a7GPMNEn68cKYPq9nDItaH.sfMgAldPQ4XDl1CIAKWHio9yPSlaI8-/aoldisks.jpg
Interesting look. I wonder how it would look on an exterior during a sunny day with the shiny side out. You probably wouldn't need house numbers.
From your pictures a good coat of paint would work just fine.
The shiplap siding on the top story will require extensive scraping or an epoxy layer to make look good once its painted. Also, the house just looks strange with the vertical siding on the ground floor and the horizontal above. Anyone have any useful responses to my inquiry? Thanks!
A stucco finish would even out the cutup look of the siding and there are a variety of applied trims that can be used for a different or even unique look. Do you want to fit in with the neighborhood or are you a trendsetter not afraid to go a bit outside the cookie cutter box and dare the neighborhood to spruce up?
Do you think changing the external look of the building will allow you to go from low rent to middle rent? How's the neighborhood - really.
How about the inside? Would you have your friends or boss over for cocktails?
That scabbed on chimney chase could use a little work. Very lopsided and unfinished looking, starting at the second floor. You could bring the chase down to the ground, expand the bottom section a little to each side with a 45 degree corner just above head high and, with stucco, give it a brick look all the way up (just a thought). Since the bottom would be hollow, maybe larger, you could also make it a storage room - semi-conceal the door within the stucco brickwork. Or, if the house lacks closet space, access the new space from the inside.
If you think cement lap siding would be appropriate, you will have to remove the shiplap and attach to the sheathing. Clapboards don't work well over existing lap siding. You could just sheath over but then you have to deal with the trim reveals. Don't know what the labor cost would be for your area but I'm thinking it would be comparable to the stucco figure you have.
There's always vinyl siding. <G,D,R>
You're probably required to keep the external stairway per fire code, but you could think about changing the roof overhang. Something like that stuck on the side of a building is a bit difficult to disguise or make pretty.
Ralph, I like your ideas. I'd like to sort of fit in with the neighborhood, but within about 8 houses in either direction there is just about every type of siding style, so that shouldn't be hard. The interior is somewhat modern, and the new vinyl windows will further update it, so I'd like a modern exterior too.
In fact I was already thinking about extending the chimney chase to the ground to accommodate a ground floor fireplace - the layout of the living room could really use a fireplace.
Too bad I can't put cement lap siding over the shiplap - could I use furring strips to avoid having to remove the shiplap? I'm a bit of a beginner: what is a trim reveal, and why would I have to deal with it?
The external (front) stairway has got to change. As it is now it runs right in front of the ground floor's living room window. I was thinking about rotating it halfway up so it sticks out from the house and avoids the ground floor window.
Are architects or designers able to help me with this sort of situation? I've never hired one before so I don't know exactly what they do.